Whatever Happened To ... The Father Who Wants To Undo The Child Marriage He Set Up?
Lumbaram married his 15-year-old daughter to a man who was in his 40s and had a reputation as a heavy drinker. It was part of a family trade. That same night, Lumbaram made a vow to her: "I will fix this."
Lumbaram. Swati Vashishtha for NPR
It was a daunting challenge. To break the marriage, Lumbaram would need permission from a group of elders. Typically they require a father who wants to end a match to pay the husband's family a fine of about $7,000 — an unaffordable sum for Lumbaram, who makes his living as a construction worker. Ending the marriage without the elders' signoff was technically possible. After all, the elders have no legal authority. But they would have declared Lumbaram ostracized for life if he were to act without their approval. No one would do business with him. Even his relatives wouldn't be able to talk to him.
Lumbaram’s daughter, Durga. Image: Swati Vashishtha for NPR
So Lumbaram set about playing a long game. First, he used the boarding school as an excuse to delay the start of Durga's life with her husband, telling him, "As long as she's getting a free education I won't send her to live with you." Lumbaram was able to keep the groom at bay even as Durga went on to graduate from high school and enroll in a local college.
Did it work? Read the full story to find out!












