By Lipi Mehta:
Just in the last 3 years, 24,771 cases of dowry deaths have been reported in India, and so have 3.48 lakh cases of cruelty on a woman by her husband or relative. With thousands of cases going unreported, the practice of [envoke_twitter_link]asking for and giving dowry is a shameful crime that is still very much a reality in India[/envoke_twitter_link].
Moreover, thousands of women suffer in silence and are living with the unspeakable burden of being commodified and equated every day, to what her family could afford for her dowry. But recently, one woman refused to be treated in this way. Remya Ramachandran from Kerala broke off her engagement and posted this bold status update on Facebook (translation below):
കൂട്ടുകാരെ, വിവാഹദിനം എന്നാണെന്ന് ചോദിക്കുന്നവര്ക്ക് ഒരറിയിപ്പ് . നിശ്ചയത്തിനു മുന്പ് വരെ എന്നെ മാത്രം മതിയെന്നു പ…
Posted by Remya Ramachandran on Wednesday, 2 December 2015
Friends,
Here is an announcement for people asking me about my wedding day. The person, who before the engagement, used to say that he needed just me, is now demanding Rs 5 lakh and 50 sovereigns of gold. Since I am completely against dowry and believe it will be a losing proposition to buy into a family that cannot keep its word, I have decided not to go ahead with this alliance. Thank you.
Remya
(Source: The Indian Express)
Her brave move has been met with enthusiasm and support, with her post being shared more than a 1000 times and people saluting her courage in the comments. You go, Remya!