India, Feb. 2 -- "Families of those children who run away and have love marriages will face a social boycott," declares the bearded man reading from a long register. He elaborates on what this means: No invitations to social events, no employment. No milk to be delivered, no barber services. Those who break the boycott will be punished by a similar boycott. The all-male crowd surrounding the man nods solemnly in agreement.

India's dread of love marriages just became official in Panchewa village, one of the 1,089 villages that make up Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district. The video quickly went viral and news of the announced boycott was widely reported, wide enough to prompt a visit by Piloda Janpad Panchayat chief executive officer B.S. Han...