Evil thrives

Sir — The recent dowry death case in Kerala, in which a young ayurveda doctor was found dead at her husband’s house in what is suspected to be suicide, has shaken the consciousness of the state as well as that of the nation. The deceased doctor is said to have sent WhatsApp messages to her family, sharing photos of the alleged torture over dowry that she was subjected to. The incident is even more horrific given that Kerala is generally believed to be home to a relatively more progressive and educated society. It is also shocking that around 200 women have lost their lives in the state owing to dowry-related harassment in the past 12 to 13 years.

A targeted study in various states would certainly reveal a staggering number of deaths of women and cases of physical violence because of the evil of dowry. The latter was banned in India decades ago; in order to give more teeth to the legislation, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was enacted in 2005. Sadly, even though such strict laws exist, in most parts of the country domestic violence still thrives and is often closely linked to dowry matters. Making matters worse is the fact that law enforcement departments and organizations tasked with tackling these problems on time mostly choose to remain mute spectators. Most often, political pressure from various sources result in cases being dropped or not filed at all.

Dowry is a massive blot on the image of a modern and progressive society. There is no claiming that India is developing fast and emerging as a global leader while we continue to turn a blind eye to the atrocities being perpetrated against the women of the nation.

Dowry must be completely eradicated from our society. Unless our local leaders, the governments at the Centre and in the states, our law enforcement agencies and civil society take dedicated steps to put an end to this social evil, India will continue to witness more dowry deaths. Gender equality and respect towards women must begin at home and must be actively taught in schools. Young people should be made aware of the consequences of demanding or giving dowry; they must be encouraged to get involved in anti-dowry campaigns and take the lead in ridding their society of this menace.

M. Pradyu,
Kannur

Bad choice

Sir — A few days ago, a member of the legislative assembly from the Shiv Sena, Pratap Sarnaik, had urged the Maharashtra chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray, to join hands with the party’s former alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said this would be to the benefit of the Shiv Sena. However, if Thackeray goes back to being on good terms with the BJP by cutting ties with its current alliance partners, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress, then, among other things, it will lose the goodwill and the votes of the Christian and Muslim communities in the state.

The BJP has made a name for itself as a proponent of intolerance; it has made it clear that it does not support or care about minority communities. Thackeray should think twice before joining hands with the BJP; doing so would only be to his party’s own detriment. The Shiv Sena has done a rather good job in Maharashtra during the last 22 months of its tenure; it has also handled the coronavirus pandemic in the state admirably. It does not need — indeed, Maharashtra does not need — the BJP.

Jubel D’Cruz,
Mumbai

Other side

Sir — It was both amusing and thought-provoking to read about the bride in Uttar Pradesh who called off her wedding when she discovered that her groom had weak eyesight, a fact she was not aware of earlier. She found out when the groom failed to read a newspaper without spectacles. It can be claimed that the actions taken by the bride were a bit extreme. On the other hand, it is also interesting to remember that in India, women’s physical attributes have, for decades, been subjected to the most gruelling scrutiny — and rejection — by grooms’ families, often without question. Can we object to the tables turning, however minutely, now?

Arko Mitra,
Delhi