The story of Sageni Pandanna from Andhra Pradesh is both unconventional and captivating. Pandanna, a resident of Gullelu village in Alluri Sitarama Raju District, has recently made headlines for marrying his third marriage with the full support and facilitation of his first two wives.
Pandanna first married Parvathamma in 2000. Seven years later, in 2007, he married Appalamma with Parvathamma’s consent, as they did not have children. The remarkable twist in their story came when Pandanna expressed his desire for another child. His first two wives not only supported his decision to marry again but also took active steps to make it happen.
Pandanna chose Lavya, also known as Laxmi, from Bandhaveedhi in Killamkota village as his third wife. Parvathamma and Appalamma personally visited Lavya’s house to finalize the match. The marriage ceremony took place on June 25, 2024, and was attended by both sides of the family. Following the wedding, the family decided to relocate to an undisclosed location to avoid public attention, as their story had become a topic of interest in the Telugu states.
Pandanna, who belongs to the Kodadora caste under the Scheduled Tribes (ST), works as a daily laborer and owns agricultural land. His wives support him in his work, forming a unique and collaborative family unit.
The legal aspects of Pandanna’s marriages have sparked discussion. According to one advocate, under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1954, Pandanna’s marriages would not be illegal unless his first wife files a complaint. In this case, since there is no objection from either the first or second wife, the marriages are considered valid based on their mutual understanding. Another advocate from Vizag argued that, as Scheduled Tribes, they fall under the Special Marriage Act of 1955, making their marriage legal.
Advocate Venkateswar Rao explained, “According to the Hindu Marriage Act, 1954, Pandanna’s marriages will not be illegal unless his first wife complains about the other two. Here, there is no objection from the first and second wives, so everything goes well. It is just their internal understanding.”
Vizag-based advocate Abdus Saleem added, “Scheduled Tribes cannot be claimed as Hindus. Hence, they come under the Special Marriage Act of 1955. Therefore, their marriage is legal.”
Sageni Pandanna’s story highlights a unique familial arrangement that challenges conventional norms and showcases the power of mutual understanding and support within a family.