Hi again Mango Smilers! This is Mini - the person who informs you about Indian culture! This time I thought about telling you about the dowry system in Indian weddings.

An Indian wedding is an elaborate thing. People think about it for months and months. Sometimes parents save money for their children's wedding from the time the child is born! There is also the custom of "dowry"(the bride's parents give money and gifts to the bridegroom's family). The custom is quite old and probably originates from the patriarchal nature of Indian society and the fact that traditionally, the entire responsibility of the bride is borne by the groom's family after marriage. Although such customs are inconsistent with a modern society and giving or taking dowry was made illegal in India in 1961, still the practice prevails.

Often, in conservative urban families and more illiterate rural families, parents of the bride are forced to give the dowry because they are scared that if they don't give it then their daughter will be tortured at her in-laws house! The government has made quite a few laws to stop this age-old custom. But still the custom prevails because the people are supporting it! But, as you read on you will see that individually we all can do our part to fight this evil custom. A few days back a girl protested against this custom. Her name is Nisha Sharma. She called and complained the police about her in-laws and got them arrested when they demanded dowry from her father on the day of her wedding. You can read about this at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3027683.stm and http://www.countercurrents.org/gender-dhavan400503.htm

Nisha Sharma's in-laws demanded dowry from her father and threatened him that they would walk away from the wedding ceremony if he did not give them the dowry, an act that is socially associated with immense shame on the bride's family. When Nisha's father did not agree to give the dowry; Nisha's would be in-laws assaulted her father and uncles! One of Nisha's brothers informed her about the situation and Nisha in turn called the police and lodged a complaint. The police came and arrested Nisha's in-laws.

Everyday many parents are giving dowry for their daughter's wedding. They don't protest because they are afraid that the society will not support them. But Nisha Sharma showed everyone that you should stand up for yourself and everyone would support you.

I, Mini Chatterjee, am proud to be a citizen of the same country to which a brave girl like Nisha Sharma belongs!

- M. Chatterjee, Age 16

Go to:

Front cover
Mustard Seeds Report
A visit to Sunderbans by Saptak Mohanta
Mustard Seeds Haiku Contest
The disappearance of my glasses by Chotku Parekh
Mini Chatterjee's Culture Corner: Dowry system in Indian weddings
Tanabata by Megumi Takemura
Write Me by Shohini Sen
Cooking and Science - Try It!
A Rainy Watery Excursion by Maura Aunty & Malini Basu
Association for peace exchange with Indian and Pakistani youth
More Haiku
Book Review by Arnab Chakraborty
Mango Bite: Interview with Puja Paul by Aparupa Biswas and Mini Chaterjee
Back cover
MUSTARD SEEDS MAIL ART CONTEST