What goes around, comes around- The other side of Dowry

[malgudi]

Below is a depiction of a very common scene in most Indian movies. A young and beautiful women (lets say Ablaa) is marrying a man who hails from a rich background. The wedding ceremony is going on, and suddenly the grooms family demands money from the bride's father. The groom's family demand money immediately, else they threaten to walk out of the wedding ceremony. The grooms family is seen humiliating ablaa's father (lets call him Mr. Bechara). Bechara is shown begging to groom's family, not to break the wedding. Bechara is crying, but he is taunted by the groom's family. Bechara cannot bear the greedy behaviour of the groom's family. Bechara falls on the feets of the groom's family, but to no avail. Bechara sometimes manages to give money somehow. Say by selling his house at a throwaway price, etc. Most of the times, grooms family is saying, that Bechara hasn't given all the money that he had promised to give. In movies, what they show next is that the groom's family leaves the wedding. Bechara and Ablaa are left weeping. Then some young man from the crowd comes, and says, he is ready to wed Ablaa. In some scene's Ablaa stops her father, and says, she doesn't wants to marry such a greedy groom, and gives a lecture on morality to the groom's family. The audience gives a loud applause to the courage shown by the bride - Ablaa. Films like Lajja, have depicted such scenes.

By showing such drama in movies, the Indian masses have been brainwashed into believing that young brides are a harassed species, and such brides need to raise their voice. Around 10 years back, a news was flashed on all major news channel. It said, similar story had happened, but the courageous bride called police, and got the groom's family arrested for demanding additional dowry on the wedding day. The bride, Nisha Sharma, instantly became a national hero. She gained the status of a youth icon. Majority of Indians who were seething in anger over alledged rising dowry cases, were happy. Nisha was invited to Oprah Winfrey Show. Nisha was hailed as the new face of Indian woman. She was (and still is) depicted as a symbol of women's empowerment. For days, news channels kept focusing on her courageous story. People were calling all sort of names to the groom and his family .

Nisha invited to Oprah Show - Times Of India

Oprah Winfrey chooses Nisha Sharma for her talk show : EYECATCHERS - India Today

Asia Times Online - The best news coverage from South Asia

"In Nisha's case, events unfolded as dramatically as in any Bollywood potboiler. ...... She was to drive off in a new black Maruti Esteem that cost US$10,000, bought by her father for the use of her husband's family, the rights duly transferred in their name. But, they wanted more. The baraat (marriage procession), with the groom's mother as master of ceremonies, asked for cash ($30,000) to be hand-delivered at the reception area itself, before her son, who followed on a traditionally bedecked horse, would condescend to alight. The father of the bride demurred, and was therefore pushed, abused and finally slapped by the groom's mother. When Nisha, in her traditional finery and mehendi (temporary henna tattoos) heard the commotion, she reached for her cell phone and called the police. The rest is history. "

The police arrested the groom and his family. The groom and his family were publicly humilated. Taunted of being greedy. Nisha's story made it into school textbooks ( NCERT STD VI). The husband (Mr. Munish Dalal) was depicted as a villian. School children were (and still being) taught how Nisha was harassed by a greedy person called Munish Dalal.

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Dowry woman becomes textbook star

However, now comes the twist. In 2012 after almost nine years, the court pronounced its verdict on the trial. The court aquitted Munish Dalal, and his family. In fact, the court made the below observation,
"The court ruled that Nisha was close to Navneet Rai and had wished to marry him instead of Munish. Nisha’s family had also approached Navneet for the marriage but when the proposal did not work, her marriage was fixed with Munish. Nisha who was not happy with her marriage then levelled false allegations of dowry demand.

Nisha Sharma dowry case: Court acquits all accused - Indian Express

Man's ten-year dowry nightmare in jail finally ends | Mail Online

This was not a surprise to many Men's Rights Activists(MRA's) since more then 98% of dowry cases are false. And Indian laws never punish young wives, who openly make false charges against anyone in public, police station and courts. Hence the court even though it acknowledged that the charges were false didn't take any action against the Empowered Women.

Now reality bites. Nisha Sharma herself is a dowry accused. Her brother's in-laws have filed a case of dowry against Nisha and her brother, Dnyaneshwar Sharma. Manisha, wife of Nisha's brother has allegded that she was harassed for dowry. The marriage happened three years ago, and the couple has a kid, They had been forcing Manisha, to give divorce, or bring money. Manisha has alledged that her in-laws have been beating her for not bringing Rupees twelve lacs. A case has been registered against Dnyaneshwar Sharma, D.D. Sharma(Nisha's father), Hemlata Sharma(Nisha's mother) and Nisha Sharma. Following IPC sections have been put, 498A, 504, and 406. Nisha's brother has been arrested by Police on 8th January. Nisha Sharma is absconding. Those who know her whereabouts please inform police.

निशा शर्मा के खिलाफ दहेज उत्पीड़न का केस - Dowry case against Nisha Sharma - Navbharat Times


Cursed Indian Male: True Story: How a famous women victim became a criminal

 

[harpoon]

This case was depicted in Sony TV program, Crime Patrol.