Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site harvard.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ucbvax!ucdavis!lll-crg!seismo!harvard!paturi
From: paturi@harvard.ARPA (Ramamohan Paturi)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.india
Subject: Re: dowry
Message-ID: <441@harvard.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 19-Oct-85 16:19:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: harvard.441
Posted: Sat Oct 19 16:19:33 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 21-Oct-85 06:20:24 EDT
References: <3110@ut-sally.UUCP> <344@mordred> <420@harvard.ARPA> <2114@amdahl.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Aiken Computation Laboratory, Harvard
Lines: 37

Deepak Sabnis writes
> 
> Go on fellas. Feel indignant about the injustice.
> However lest we forget -
> 
> Freedom and rights have seldom been given away by oppresors to the
> oppressed. Almost all forms of liberties, including those from
> social dogmas, have been won only when the victims of oppression
> were willing to stand up and fight for their rights.
> Flaming the perpetrators of injustice, when the large majority
> of the victims are not willing to suffer the consequences of
> refusing to submit to the injustice, is not going to solve any
> problems.
> 
> -- 
In s sense, we all are victims of both the arranged marriage system and the
dowry system. Some are more directly affected and the others less directly.
I feel that the discussion on the net about the dowry problems is not just
flaming the "perpetrators". It tried to assert that dowry in whatever form
is evil. (In these days, unequivocal statements are hard to be found.)   
It stated that dowry is also common among Indians living in USA. Some
people tried to offer explnations. More enthusiastic people have suggested
some "action" in combating this evil. 

It is true that not many people (except Linda Seltzer) have yet talked 
about the equality and the education and the opportunities for women.
Equality for women in all respects is a sure way to get rid of the dowry
system. More commnets on how this equality can be achieved should be welcome.

Even though Deepak fails to mention how the victims can fight the evils,
I assume that while writing his letter, he has in his mind such ideas like 
the active participation of women in combating the dowry system and the equlity
for women. I hope Deepak's  letter is just not an expression of indignation 
over indignant people.

-Ramamohan Paturi
paturi@harvard.HARVARD.EDU