http://desicritics.org/ Superior South Asian bloggers on Culture, Media, Politics, Sport, Business, and Technology. en Copyright 2006 by the authors Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:04:40 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss BC custom software http://desicritics.org/2007/10/11/000440.php shobantwal<p>While I began to research the subject of dowry abuse and bride burnings in India for my debut novel, THE DOWRY BRIDE (released in Sept 2007) I came across something highly interesting. Apparently the tables have turned in the brides' favor in recent years.</p> <p>The dowry system is now being used conveniently by some shrewd young women to get out of a bad marriage by claiming dowry abuse by the husband and in-laws. Men are crying foul that they are the innocent victims of vicious women on a witch hunt - or in this case a warlock hunt - even when there was no hint of dowry in their marriages.</p> <p>As a feminist through and through, this little discovery tickled me to no end. For centuries, India's brides have been subjected to the humiliation of having a husband bought for them. And then, in some cases (rare, of course) there is abuse and even death if the dowry falls short of expectations or does not materialize as promised. My book is built around one extreme case of dowry abuse.</p> <p>As the old adage goes, what goes around comes around. It seems India's decadent dowry system is in the process of making a landmark turn to come around to bite the male of the species. Modern Indian women are more educated than their mothers and grandmothers, and often have successful careers of their own, so suing a husband for divorce is not all that outlandish. But to use an existing law to suit one's purposes in this particular manner is devilishly clever.</p> <p>I cannot wait to see how much this practice will proliferate. Perhaps more such cases will eliminate the evil practice of dowry from the social and cultural fabric of India. One can only hope.</p> Culture6509@desicritics.org Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:04:40 EDT