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Despite awareness that demonises dowry and almost 60 years of now having an anti-dowry law, this tradition is still followed in very creative ways.
This is written to those who feel that the ‘tradition’ of dowry is OK, or even accept or expect ‘gifts’ from a bride’s family for being the groom’s side.
Please know that although I am not judging you, it says a lot about your belief system if you are okay with the practice of dowry (in its present form), and are willing to follow it, or support those who indulge in this practice.
Firstly, it is pretty clear that following this tradition is more important for you even when it has been declared a criminal offence under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, and if it’s reported and/or proven that someone was indulging in dowry, they will be arrested.
Secondly, you are willing to put another family under financial, psychological, and physiological pressure just so that this tradition is followed.
Thirdly, you are willing to follow a practice that has resulted in a number of women being killed, raped, harassed, divorced or even die of suicide. You are also fine with this arrangement which results in families being burdened with massive loans which they are not able to repay.
And finally, if you still agree with the practice of dowry, you are willing to put someone under pressure to give you money that is not yours with absolutely no intention of returning it.
Forget about returning the money with interest, as you would do if it were a loan, you are not even considering giving back the principal amount.
Maybe I can go so far as to call dowry a euphemism for extortion or blackmail. You can let me know if I am wrong or right about this.
A version of this was published here.
Image source: shutterstock
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Dear Women’s Web Community Member,
You may have wondered at our being on the quieter side during the last couple of months. Thank you for your patience, and we wanted to come back to you with a detailed note on what’s been happening at our end of things.
When we first began Women’s Web, as a blog from one woman’s desk along with a few like-minded souls, little could we have imagined the heights that it would soar to. Over the years, Women’s Web has published over 20000 stories (almost all by women), empowered countless women with the ideas, community and resources to chase their dreams, employed hundreds of women in core and project-based roles, and in the process, emerged as the OG women’s community in India. It has also inspired many others to build communities of a similar nature, all enabling women (and other-underrepresented groups) in their own ways.
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