ANTI - DOWRY

DOWRY – the demon claimed 8391 lives across India in the year 2000. Which means a bride is burnt almost every hour across the country. We all boast of a lot being done and so many stringent laws introduced to curb the devil of dowry through all these years, then Why this spurt in bride burnings?

This barbarism owes its very existence to ‘widening social gaps, disintegration of the joint family system, consumerism, globalization and commercialization of marriage. So eventually, it is a rhetorical question because the outcome is known and of course is well in control of both the parents and children. It is up to you to decide whether you want your marriage be a ‘MATRIMONY’ OR just a ‘MATRIMONEY’.

“We request your gracious & benign presence to solemnize the divine Marriage of our daughter ………..” this is the common invite we receive, right? But, please hold on to your feelings for you may be elated or perturbed……you never know!

Marriage is an entity of benign omens and configurations made in heavens. It is a gracious threshold to unification of two souls and two subsequent families.  But soon these heavenly bonds and configurations turn into ugly demands, unethical expectations and harassments.

As a prime religious ceremony of Hindu wedding, its zenith lies in a Father’s courage to give away his piece of heart to another man in ‘KANYA DAAN'.

On daughter’s part … Dad, at this hour, this moment I am flying far away to a different nest.  My letters shall be your only memories now and your teachings my only precepts.  I hope my new life is filled with Happiness & joy. 

I hope…. Just hope.  It must take a father’s breath away to give away his child with such deep feelings and subconscious fear for his daughter’s well being in her new life. 

Marriage is invoking loud chants, seven circuits of the holy fire, an inception of blushing emotions, a moment of coy as the bride and the groom decide to share their life together, by conjoining and vowing to be inseparable.  The couple vows each other’s Healthy relationship, Righteous Lifestyle, Prosper Living, Harmony & Faith. Thus creating a family together, praying for longevity of their marital relationship and loyalty to sustain companionship. 

If these are the Sacraments we preach and practice over centuries in India, THEN WHY? 

WHY does the Holy Fire change into a Burning pyre? 

WHY some brides are estranged, silently suppressed, Emotionally Harassed and some burnt to DEATH?

Is the idea of marriage – a companionship or a competitive sale?

Has Education and Urbanization taught us nothing at all?

Has religious devotion taught us to suck Father’s blood if he desires to see his daughter settled happily?

When shall we cease inequalities between Daughters and Daughters – in – law?

The people who are bargaining their sons today, will they be even ready to bargain their daughters tomorrow?

Is being educated, belonging to a good family & having values just not enough for being happily Married?

How would it feel to lose a young daughter?  How would it feel to hear her cry?

How would it feel to face such a crises which haunts more fathers and most daughters in India?

If Dowry means “STRI DHAN” then why is she tormented and trampled for her own wealth?

Who should be blamed for Dowry as a social parasite?  The girl’s parents, the girl herself, the in-laws or the society and its state of mind that forces us to such immoral acts through its injurious social comparisons.

Is India really worthy of containing the benefits of Globalization if its daughters are strangled by such a social evil?

These are some questions that dismay parents in India and abroad as their daughters turn marriageable or are in a marital relationship. 

If we still wait for somebody else to be a Spartan to SAY NO then who shall be the one to pull the string? Who would be the one to break this vicious cycle? 

Today it is happening to someone else’s daughter. Tomorrow, it could be you or your daughter.

THINK ABOUT IT!

Let Marriage remain a social institution, a spiritual unification and not a daunting auction!

DON’T LET SOMEONE CRY……. DON’T LET SOMEONE DIE…….

SAY NO TO DOWRY - MAY IT BE GIVING OR TAKING.

Today, Let us pray for all those precious lives that have been lost over the years on account of Dowry harassment, Suicides and burning of brides and vow to tear off the social evil of Dowry from our lives.