Introduction – Tree on Dowry Violence, Mayo Hall
With dowry in its present form the commodification of women is total and complete- what with her value being weighed against the gold, cash, gifts and other household luxuries that she brings to her marriage- her failure to meet the continuous flow of demands for more and mere material goods often sees the woman subjected to all forms of abuse- physical, verbal, mental and emotional, often resulting in her death.
It is no exaggeration to state with certainty that at least three die every single day because of domestic violence including unfulfilled dowry demands. Of these violent deaths the burns ward at Victoria Hospital accounts for at least two deaths by burning. During the festive seasons, these figures rise drastically because young brides are expected and are demanded to bring all kinds of valuables.
On the 14th March we took the liberty in spite of the ‘tight code of conduct’ for elections to gather under a magnificent peepal tree opposite Mayo Hall, Bangalore. While sipping on our little cups of tea offered by a generous gentleman, we discussed how dowry violence has cut through, deeply, our conscience to demoralize, demean and devalue women.
In the light of the forthcoming elections we grabbed this moment to sit under the ‘Marmara’ to discuss issues relating to the violence of dowry that we want to put before those candidates (cutting across all parties) standing for elections- the people who had gathered vented their ire at the failure of the legal system to provide justice to the victims of the dowry system.
Prior to the discussions, there was a short play enacted by a group from Vimochana. The play displayed the satire in ‘dowry violence’…
Lakshmi is married to a boy from her village…both are educated and working…but Lakshmi’s parents have to expend a lot of money towards dowry. Lakshmi depicts ironically how she has to buy her way to happiness.
Lakshmi, a young girl in her mid-twenties is married to Lakshman; after marriage Lakshmi is living with her in-laws. On their wedding night, Lakshmi refuses to make love to Lakshman. The confused Lakshman questions Lakshmi the reason for his denial; Lakshmi answers by saying, she loaned her love to ‘Jodi Finance’. Since her parents had taken a loan of 10 lakhs for wedding expenses, she would have to repay the same…She also says that, if they have to make love, Lakshman would have to wait for 15 years. Baffled by her words, Lakshman walks away.
The next morning, Lakshmi was watching TV with great pleasure while her mother-in-law was making breakfast. The mother-in-law was taken aback when Lakshmi was making merry…she came to Lakshmi and asked her why she didn’t go to work? To this Lakshmi said, ‘mother-in-law…how can I work? If I work, that would be a problem!’ the mother-in-law was quite confused. Lakshmi then explained to her about loaning her work to ‘Jodi Finance’. The mother-in-law didn’t understand what she was really talking about….so Lakshmi reminded her of the dowry her parents had taken in order to buy all the jewelry that her mother-in-law had particularly demanded. Listening to what had been spoken, the mother-in-law smiled with shame.
Few days passed by as Lakshmi tried to adjust with her married life…her husband is worried about the plans of them having a baby. He asks his mother to confront Lakshmi. When Lakshmi is spoken to by her husband and the mother-in-law about these plans, Lakshmi flips out by saying that would mean a disaster for her. They were shocked after hearing these words. How could a woman speak like this! They asked her the reason for this kind of resistance. Lakshmi then, very gently comes closer to her husband and says to him that, she had loaned out her womb to ‘Jodi Finance’. Since her parents had taken dowry for the cash, utensils and business capital to be given to her husband and in-laws, she had loaned out her womb as a means for repayment.
The play ends with Lakshmi’s husband and mother-in-law putting their heads down in shame…
The play led to a dialogue between the bystanders/passersby…
Many present there expressed their rage at the refusal of the police in registering cases, in abetting the accused to abscond etc. Equally vehement was the anger at the manner in which political interference destroys the processes of accessing justice.
Introduction >> Photos of the Marmara >>