Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan Goes On A Day-Long Fast To Protest Against Dowry
If you’ve been paying attention then you know that the last two years haven’t exactly been uplifting for women. On the contrary, actually. Our country has seen three times more rapes, murders and domestic abuse cases. And recently, to no one’s surprise, there has been a surge in dowry deaths. It sounds like such an archaic practice, doesn’t it? But unfortunately, our society refuses to move forward with time. Just a few days ago, a woman in Ahmedabad committed suicide after she was brutally harassed for a dowry of Rs 15 lakh. We’ve been asking for our politicians to take some kind of action against dowry for a long time now. It finally seems like some of them have heard our pleas.
On Wednesday morning, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan went on a day-long fast to protest dowry and other violent crimes against women. The fast was scheduled from 8 am to 6 pm at his residence, the Raj Bhawan. This is one of those rare times where an Indian politician is doing something for the progress of women instead of demeaning us. And while the practice isn’t going to vanish by a one-day fast, we love that he attempted it.
This fasting protest campaign was initiated by various Gandhian organizations to create awareness against the practice of giving and taking dowry. Organizations such as Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi also partook and several Gandhians observed a dawn-to-dusk fast at the Gandhi Bhawan for the same noble cause.
Hon'ble Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan's appeal to the people to say NO to Dowry. "Girls and boys should come forward to boldly say NO to a marriage that involves Dowry", he said. Please click on the link below to see message: PRO,KeralaRajBhavan
https://t.co/eMVDUnzPWd— Kerala Governor (@KeralaGovernor) July 13, 2021
Also Read: This Woman From Ahmedabad Committed Suicide After Being Tortured For A Dowry Of Rs 15 Lakh
In a video message issued on Tuesday evening, Arif Mohammed Khan said that this is a “grave injustice and ignominy to the dignity of women”. He said, “Our beloved state of Kerala was in the news recently for a tragic death due to dowry. It is sad that this spectre of dowry continues to raise its ugly head in our state which has been globally acclaimed for its social indicators including literacy and life expectancy.”
Further adding, “Mahatma Gandhi said that any young man who makes dowry a condition for marriage discredits his education and country and dishonours womanhood. The Sthreepaksha Keralam initiative of the state government emphasizes the need to ensure the dignity of women by saying no to dowry and related practices.” While recognizing the contribution of women to Kerala’s growth, he said, “Let us make Kerala a true ‘God’s own land’ where boys and girls come forward to say no to marriages which involve dowry.”
Abolishing the vile practice is going to take a long time and a lot of effort. Accomplishing it requires changing the regressive mentality that our country has rigidly held on to for generations. However, in the meantime, we hope that more politicians are inspired by Arif Mohammed Khan’s noble initiative. We’ve lost way too many women to this practise.
Parents Regret Not Bringing Daughter Home Earlier After She Dies Due To Dowry Harassment
