Indian women still suffer under dowryーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Key Concepts

• Dowry: A traditional custom in India where the bride's family gives cash or valuables to the groom's family.
• Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: Legislation in India that banned the practice of dowry.
• Dowry-related violence and death: Harm, abuse, and fatalities resulting from dowry disputes.
• Grassroots support groups: Community-based organizations working to combat social issues like dowry.
• Women's rights education: Empowering women with knowledge about their legal and social rights.

The Persistent Practice of Dowry in India

Despite being outlawed by the Dowry Prohibition Act in 1961, the traditional custom of dowry continues to be prevalent in India. This practice involves the bride's family providing cash or valuables to the groom's family. The persistence of dowry leads to severe consequences, with young women frequently becoming victims of dowry-related violence and even death. Officials report that over 6,000 individuals have died in such cases.

Case Study: The Tragic Story of Mayori Gorab

In 2023, NHK World's Nomra Yusuke documented the harrowing experience of Mayori Gorab, a 23-year-old woman from the western state of Maharashtra. Mayori took her own life on September 10th, just four months after her marriage. The abuse began on the very day she joined her husband's household. Her body bore evidence of severe burns and bruises, indicating physical beatings.

Details of the Dowry Demands:

• Engagement: Mayori's fiancé and his family initially demanded over $730 for a gold ring.
• Escalation: Their demands subsequently increased, requesting funds for wedding attire for the entire family and furniture for the new home.
• Total Cost: These demands amounted to approximately $11,000.
• Payments Made: Mayori's parents had already handed over more than $9,000 through various instruments.
• Abuse: Her husband subjected her to abuse whenever payments were delayed.

Mayori's father recounted a phone conversation on the day of her death, where she expressed being tortured and pleaded for the money. Tragically, she died before her father could intervene.

Efforts to Combat Dowry: Grassroots Initiatives

Recognizing the escalating nature of dowry-related cases, support groups are actively working at the grassroots level to eradicate this practice. For the past eight years, one such group has been compiling a book on women's rights. They have visited 5,000 villages across India and distributed 300,000 copies of their educational material.

Sonia Dande's Role and Perspective:

Sonia Dande, who has been with the group for three years, is herself a survivor of spousal abuse related to dowry. She emphasizes the critical role of knowledge in driving change: "To change something, we must have knowledge about it. One cannot change anything if one has no idea what is right and what is wrong."

Dande actively engages with female university students, urging them to challenge the notion that money is more important than human life. She advises them to tell their parents: "Instead of spending money on dowry, they should spend it on education so that tomorrow you will not need to pay a dowry." Her speeches are described as highly motivational.

Signs of Progress and Continued Fight

The efforts of these support groups are beginning to yield positive results. One man, inspired by their campaign, refused to accept dowry when he married five years ago. He stated, "In Indian culture, this is a big social evil and we must remove it. When my son gets married, it will surely happen without dowry."

The commitment to ending this tradition is unwavering. As one activist declared, "Till the day the dowry tradition is ended, we will continue the fight. It's possible the change will come after many years. So we will keep fighting so that the next generation should not be forced to commit suicide and not face torture over dowry."

Conclusion: A Long-Term Struggle for Societal Change

Admitting that a deeply rooted tradition is wrong is not an easy task. However, ongoing efforts in India are focused on changing people's mindsets to ensure that women no longer suffer in marriage due to dowry demands. The fight for a dowry-free society is a long-term endeavor, aiming to protect future generations from the devastating consequences of this harmful practice.