Need to destroy dowry, annihilate greed and toxic patriarchy in India

By IMPRI Team
Talking about an evil ever-persistent in our society and highlighting the presence of toxic patriarchy, #IMPRI Gender Impact Studies Center (GISC), IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi organized a panel discussion on Destroy Dowry: Annihilation of Greed and Toxic Patriarchy in India under the series The State of Gender Equality – #GenderGaps on May 4, 2022. The chair for the event was Prof Vibhuti Patel, Former Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai and a Visiting Professor, IMPRI.
The distinguished panel included – Asha Kulkarni, General Secretary at Anti Dowry Movement, Mumbai; Kamal Thakar, Sahiyar Stree Sangathan; Adv Celin Thomas, Advocate at Celin Thomas and Associates, Bengaluru; Shalini Mathur, Honorary Secretary, Suraksha Dahej Maang Virodhi Sanstha Tatha Parivar Paraamarsh Kendra, Lucknow and Secretary, Nav Kalyani Foundation, Gender Resource and Training Centre; and Dr Bharti Sharma, Honorary Secretary, Shakti Shalini, New Delhi.
Prof Vibhuti Patel started her discussion by defining dowry and stated the practice was earlier followed only among aristocrats but later, with time, became generalized among all castes and groups. She commented on the brutalization of the bride by the greediness for dowry and talked about how dowry demand can escalate violence. The current condition highlights that husband’s family should be given compensation in the form of dowry. Many deaths due to dowry have been addressed as kitchen accidents. Prof Vibhuti lastly talked about how a marriage foundation should be based on respect, love, and care and not on the dowry or monetary valuation of the bride.
Ms Kulkarni stressed bringing a change for youngsters in multiple ways. She started her discussion by focusing on banning Kanyadaan as according to her, this practice designates a bride as an object which is donated to the groom’s family. She believes that there are many rituals which need upliftment or abolishment as they encourage inequality, for instance, a woman changing her surname after marriage. Another important aspect she focused on was how weddings today are very expensive and pressurize the bride’s family in many ways. She stressed more awareness programmes related to dowry and Streedhan and asked to celebrate 26th November as Dowry Day. She concluded by saying that girls are not a burden on the family and that boys should support women and encourage them.
Dr Bharti started her discussion by stating that dowry was and is still present, no matter how educated or developed the families are. Although dowry cases are less when compared to violence cases after her investigation, she found that the root cause for violence in the majority of cases is dowry. She stressed the fact that in terms of dowry, it doesn’t matter how educated people are, as even highly educated people follow such practices. She asks the men to understand the real value of a woman and concluded by asking us to focus on mindset change and an integrated approach.
Starting her discussion by highlighting why only women are asked to adjust all the time, Ms Kamal said that majority of dowry cases are registered indirectly in the police station. She discussed in detail the practices in Gujrat and highlighted the fact that these days wedding expenses are too high, and the bride’s family is obliged to do that along with the expenses demanded by the future in-laws. She questioned whether marriage is the sole objective of a girl’s life. She claimed that the girls need to be independent before considering their decisions about marriage.
Adv Celin started her discussion by defining dowry and streedhan in a legal way. She then moved towards discussing the Dowry Protection Act (DPA), 1961 and in detail talked about legislatures and provisions of this law. Adv Celin then shared the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data and stated that although dowry deaths have been declining for the past three years, it is still prevalent. She thinks that there is less stigma and more status attached to this problem. She discussed the administration of justice, the evidence which is counted as proof under DPA and the court’s decision in some dowry cases. Lastly, she concluded that religious places should come forward and contribute their role in making people understand and spread awareness, stigma of live-in relations and taking divorce is going away.

Ms Shalini started her discussion by highlighting that the patriarchal mentality is persistent even with high education and high incomes. A very important point brought by her was that in a recent survey people below the poverty line decreased due to measures by the government, but after some time they were again below the poverty line; the potential reason could either be the medical expenses or wedding expenses. Talking a bit about legality she stated that DPA alone isn’t sufficient and needs support from other sections. She suggested giving some allowance to section officers and that the wedding guest list should be reduced. Ms Shalini believed that urban exposure or geographical change for a girl from rural villages makes them feel more independent. She highlights how youngsters today fear marriage and questions whether we, as a society, are doing right. She concluded by stating that the National Education Policy should bring ways to improve girl’s life and asked the government to celebrate 26th November as Dowry Day and limit the gift exchange at weddings.
Prof Vibhuti concluded by stating that we need to focus on simpler weddings. Education and awareness are strong pillars which need to be executed rightly for girls in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. She asks to make girls independent and not agree to dowry centred marriages. She emphasised understanding the real foundations of marriage, i.e. trust, respect, care and not support dowry.
---
Acknowledgement: Sunishtha Yadav, research intern at IMPRI

Comments

Abrogation of Art 370: Increasing alienation, relentless repression, simmering conflict

One year after the abrogation by the Central Government of Art. 370 in Kashmir, what is the situation in the Valley. Have the promises of peace, normalcy and development been realised? What is the current status in the Valley? Here is a detailed note by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties , “Jammu & Kashmir: One Year after Abrogation of Art. 370: Increasing Alienation, Relentless Repression, Simmering Conflict”:

Release of dabang neta: Rule of law can't be allowed to be slave to political rhetoric

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* When we look to politicians for solutions and politics as the 'final solution' for every evil then we are disappointed most of the time. In politics, we knowingly or unknowingly become part of the propaganda tool of the ruling elite which exists everywhere across different castes. We often provide issues and talk about them in binaries which suit our elites. The minorities among the marginalised who have no political space and representation rarely get heard by these majoritarian parties whose agenda remain power communities. Every political party in today's time is following the 'successful' formula of 'democracy' which is keeping the 'powerful' 'jaatis' with them leaving aside the marginalised one. The BJP started this but yes they cobbled together all other communities too through a diverse narrative.

Why are 17 Indian cos, including Sterlite, blacklisted by Norway bank

By Venkatesh Nayak* Readers may recall the gory incidents that took place at Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India on 22 May, 2018. Thirteen protesters died on the spot when the police opened fire to disperse an assemblage of thousands of local residents and representatives of civil society groups. They were protesting against the adverse environmental impact of the industrial operations of Sterlite Copper which runs a copper smelter plant in the area. Accusations against the company have ranged from polluting local water resources to plans for expanding the installed capacity of the plant without the necessary environmental clearances. A ground report published in The Wire recently, mentions the decision taken by Norges Bank a few years ago to not invest funds from Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) in Sterlite “due to an unacceptable risk of complicity in current and future severe environmental damage and systematic human rights violations

India’s macroeconomic resilience amidst global fragility: facts, factors, forecasts

By IMPRI Team Under the series, The State of the Economy – #EconDialogue , Center for the Study of Finance and Economics (CSFE), IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi organized #WebPolicyTalk, a distinguished lecture on the topic India’s Macroeconomic Resilience amidst Global Fragility: Facts, Factors and Forecasts, by Dr Deepak Mishra. Dr Deepak Mishra is the Director and Chief Executive of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) , New Delhi. The session was chaired by Dr Rafiq Dossani, Director, RAND Center for Asia Pacific Policy , a Senior Economist and the Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School . The discussants of the event were Prof Nilanjan Banik, Professor and Program Director (BA, Economics and Finance), Mahindra University, Hyderabad , Dr Pooja Misra, Associate Professor and Area Head, Economics, Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida and Mr Arvind Chari, Chief Investment Officer, Qua

Upcoming monsoon: No lessons learned from past flooding, waterlogging of Vadodara

Letter to MoEF&CC, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Vadodara Urban Development Authority, Collector Vadodara, Chief Secretary, Gujarat, GPCB, CPCB and Others by Concerned Citizens of Vadodara*: *** Let us take into account the uncertainty of weather and climatic conditions and the prevalent erratic rainfall. Let us hope that we remember past floods and waterlogging and have learnt lessons from those disasters and tragedies. So, let us act immediately before the upcoming monsoon of 2023. It is apparent that, practically, no lessons have been learned from the past flooding and waterlogging events and from the ill-advised and ill-conceived rejuvenation efforts of Vishwamitri River. No action has been taken yet by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation in terms of identifying and removal of the debris from the ravines, water ways, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and low-lying areas. Instead, dumping of debris and other wastes continues into the river environs. Even clear directions given by the con

Why was this BJP leader forced to call off marriage of his daughter with Muslim boy?

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* A marriage of two individuals belonging to different faiths was ultimately postponed as the 'champions' of the social morality dominated the discourse and threatened the father of the girl who happened to be the chairman of Pauri city municipality. Yashpal Benam, a BJP leader, posted the invitation of his daughter's wedding with a Muslim boy from Uttar Pradesh. Both the boy and the girl became friend during their B Tech course and were in relationship. There were reports that they already got married in the court but we don't know the reality. Perhaps the family of the girl wanted to send a message of 'acceptability' and 'appreciation' of such a marriage by the society.

Against genuine pace, spin Rohan Kanhai was best player, on par with Viv Richards

By Harsh Thakor Rohan Kanhai took creative genius in batting or aesthecism to regions unexplored. He virtually gave the art of batting a new dimension, being the equivalent of a Beethoven or Rembrandt to batting. He in full flow was manifestation of a divine energy. He could literally invent strokes of his own. He could eviserate any bowling attack, in any conditions.

Adherent of Charu Mazumdar who failed to confront policy of annihilation of class enemy

By Harsh Thakor Communist Revolutionary leader Chandi Sarkar expired at 76 years old at his home in Krishnanagar of Nadia on, 5th April, at 11 pm. He has carved a permanent niche amongst the great Communist Revolutionary leaders of India. Till his last breath he blazed the spirit of revolution. Few leaders in West Bengal, more ressurected spirit of Naxalbari. Only with characters like Sarkar, can the Indian revolution ever advance. With unflinching resilience he defended Mao Tse Tung Thought and concept of peoples War. Chandi Sarkar was born on 15 August 1947 in a landlord family of Maharajpur village of Chandra Police Station of Nadia district. His father’s name was Ashok Sarkar. He was an accomplished sportsman since childhood, being given a trainee job as a for hockey player.

In terms of sheer statistics Sydney Barnes was indisputably the best of all bowlers

By Harsh Thakor Late Sydney Barnes just reached the milestone of 150. Born at Smethwick, Staffordshire, April 19, 1873. Died at Chadsmoor, Staffordshire, and December 26, 1967. Sydney Francis Barnes was the second son of five children of Richard Barnes who spent nearly all his life in Staffordshire and worked for a Birmingham firm for 63 years. The father played only a little cricket and Sydney Barnes pledged that he never had more than three hours' coaching. Billy Ward of Warwickshire gave him the tutelage in his cultivating the off break from which he developed a leg break.Barnes was a gaunt faced man with wide eyes and an austere expression. Action and Style With a bouncy run up his long strong fingers could spin, swerve and seam a cricket ball in the air at medium pace, a but a stock speed well above medium..He bowled with his middle finger over the seam with the first and third spread on either side. His full circular swing enabled him to produce a smooth, coordinated delive

Killing of Atiq raises questions regarding lapses in cops' professional competence

By Prof Sudhanshu Tripathi* What next or who next? The ongoing narrative in popular media over the slain Atiq Ahmed began with CM Yogi’s oft-cited speech in the state assembly that “iss mafia ko mitti mein mila denge.” And consequent encounters of four shooters by the UP police involved in the cold blooded murder of Umesh Pal -- the only witness alive in Raju Pal’s broad daylight murder by Atiq and his henchmen -- in February 2023. Further, few more encounters by the UP police since then have boldly underlined the oft-cited zero-tolerance policy of the Yogi government.

Search This Blog