Young boys and girls belonging to various colleges including Muslims, Hindus and Christians join hands to declare a war on the dowry. Taking part in the elocution competition, some students were noticed exceeding the time limit of their speech. They knew they would be disqualified but they preferred to express their deep anger and protest against the dowry system.
Aleem Khan Falaki, the President of the Socio Reforms Society said in his speech that “Today it was not merely the speeches of the young boys and girls but an announcement of most important decision of their lives. Their speeches itself is an oath or a pledge to boycott not only the dowry but also the boycott of the extravagant wedding parties. Today the youths declared a war against their own elders, society and the system which is destroying the morale and economy of the society. Since the dowry problem is faced by the Hindus as well as Muslims, Sikhs as well as Christians, therefore, today all have joined hands to fight against this evil together.”
The competition held at the Chamber of Commerce (FAPCCI) auditorium on Sunday, 2nd Sept, 2012 was attended by many dignitaries from various faculties as well as many students and parents. Separate prizes were presented the boys and girls. Saif Ahmed, Abdul Rahman, Mohammed Amir, Zahra Butool, Amrutha Vallabhaneni, Sucharitha Majeti, P. Kasi Annapoorna,Sameera Fareesa and Qudeja Zunnoor were among the prize winners.
Mohammed Khan Atif of Fitji College said those who do not realize how the parents of the bride are suffering, they too suffer far more than them when they beget 2 or 3 daughters.
Most of the girls told with determination that they will not marry that groom who will follow the system of the dowry whether it is by default or by demand. The boycott of the wedding day dinner which has to be given by the parents of the bride’s side is not according to the Sunnat, therefore, some speakers said it is inevitable to boycott such dinners. One students stressed the need to start the matrimonial offices where the dowry-free proposals can be registered. Some students blamed the religious Scholars and the leaders who do not boycott such Un-Islamic marriages and attend. As a result, the people get encouragement.
Zahra Butool said the men are selling themselves by taking dowry. She said it is an open begging, all the men have become beggars. They do not ask but if they do not get according to their hidden expectation, they remain reluctant all the life and show their anger in various shapes. Dr. Qudeja Zunnoor said all the immoralities of today’s world like lies, thefts, bribery, feticide, infanticide, prostitution and marriage to non-Muslims are the by-products of the dowry system. People are compelled to opt these immoral ways due to the dowry system.
While many spoke of experiences their close relatives faced, others focused on the societal repercussions of the dowry practice which is still widespread. Amruta Vallabhaneni, one of the winners, pointed out that 80 per cent of the loans are for dowry. She highlighted how the dowry deaths remained just statistics. Quoting an Amnesty report, she noted that 25,000 women are killed each year because of the practice in India.
Aliya Fatima, another speaker, lamented how blessings were turning out to be curse for the bride because of the ineffective implementation of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. M. Sucharita pointed out that the dowry system is mainly responsible for the increasing number of infanticide. Syed Abdul Rahim said the dowry trend is more in the illiterates although most of them hold the degrees. He cited one example of a well known personality of the city who gave 1kg gold, I crore Rs in Joda, and many other items in the dowry with dinner to thousands of guests.
Mrs. Arshia Ayyub, Chief guest, pledged that she will perform her children’s marriages purely on the basis of the Islamic way. She stressed that due to a few rich people who can afford easily, are destroying the whole society by setting the trend.
–Agencies