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Bride Burning Hindu Hoodlums
Updated 10:09 PM May 28, 2000
By Sid Harth
Books on Dowry and Bride Burning in India (including Sati)
Here is a list of books compiled on a specific request. The status of availability is not confirmed and the current prices may not correspond with the ones shown below. To place an order please send email to ordproc@dkagencies.com and for inquiries write to custserv@dkagencies.com
1. Achar, M. R. (Mundaragi Ramachandra).
M.R. Achar & T. Venkanna's Dowry Prohibition Act & rules (central & states) : with state amendments and a chapter on dowry death, cruelty to married women and relevant sections of Code of Criminal Procedure, Indian Penal Code and Evidence Act. -- 3rd ed. / thoroughly revised by B.K. Sharma. -- Allahabad, India : Law Book Co., 1990.
xxx, 351 p. ; 22 cm.
Spine title: Dowry Prohibition Act & rules; caption title: Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
First ed. published under the title: Dowry Prohibition Act : containing an illuminating commentary on the act and states notification.
Includes index.
ISBN 81-85470-04-9
1. Dowry--Law and legislation--India.
$13.30 DK-81704
2. Agarwal, R. D. (Rameshwar Dayal), 1925-
Law relating to dowry / by R. Dayal [i.e. R.D. Agarwal]. -- Allahabad : Premier Pub. Co., 1995.
lxxix, 1530 p. ; 24 cm.
Cover title: R. Dayal's law relating to dowry.
Includes index.
1. Dowry--Law and legislation--India. 2. Marriage law--India.
$40.00 DK-96821
3. Antony, M. J.
Landmark judgements on dowry related deaths / M.J. Antony. -- New Delhi : Indian Social Institute, c1995.
31 p. ; 22 cm.
1. Dowry deaths--India--Cases. 2. Women--India--Crimes against--Cases. 3. Crime--India.
$1.50 (pbk.) DK-94298
4. Aravind, Nirmala, 1957-
A video, a fridge and a bride / Nirmala Aravind. -- New Delhi : Rupa & Co., 1995.
264 p. ; 20 cm.
A novel.
ISBN 81-7167-270-1 (pbk.)
1. Indic fiction (English).
$6.30 (pbk.) DK-93532
5. Atrocities against women / [editor], Neshla. -- New Delhi : Harman Pub. House, 1997.
xiv, 297 p. ; 23 cm.
Papers presented at the Seminar on Atrocities Against Women, held at Kurukshetra during 19-20 January 1993.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [289]-297)
ISBN 8185151946
1. Women--Crimes against--India--Congresses.
$29.30 DK-107803
6. Awasthi, S. K. (Shailendra Kumar), 1951-
Law relating to dowry prohibition : as amended by act no. 43 of 1986 / by S.K. Awasthi & U.S. Lal. -- Allahabad : National Law Agency, 1993.
xxiv, v [i.e. iv], 308 p. ; 23 cm.
Cover title: Dowry prohibition; caption title: The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (Act no. 28 of 1981).
Originally published: 2nd ed. 1986.
Includes index.
1. Dowry--Law and legislation--India.
$10.00 DK-86235
7. Benei, Veronique.
To give or not to give --- : from brideprice to dowry in Maharashtra (Pune District) / Veronique Benei. -- Pondicherry : Institut Francais de Pondichery, c1995.
72 p. : ill., map ; 25 cm. -- (Pondy papers in social sciences ; 19)
Includes bibliographical references (p. [53]-59)
1. Dowry--India--Pune (District). 2. Dowry (Hindu law). 3. Pune (India : District)--Social life and customs.
$10.40 (pbk.) DK-101355
8. Bhatnagar, J. P. (Jai Prakash), 1928-
Cases & materials on Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (amended by Act no. 43 of 1986), alongwith dowry death and bride burning cases / by J.P. Bhatnagar. -- Ed. 1988. -- Allahabad : Ashoka Law House, 1988.
vii, 300 p. ; 25 cm.
Spine title: Dowry Prohibition Act; caption title: The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (Act no. 28 of 1961); cover title on jacket: Bhatnagar's dowry prohibition : along with dowry death and bride burning cases.
Includes index.
1. Dowry (Hindu law).
$8.00 DK-59195
9. Bhatnagar, J. P. (Jai Prakash), 1928-
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 / J.P. Bhatnagar ; alongwith Dowry death & bride burning [sic] cases, with state amendments by S.K. Awasthi. -- 3rd ed. -- New Delhi : Ashoka Law House, 1996.
xlii, 850 p. ; 25 cm.
Cover title: Bhatnagar's Dowry Prohibition Act: along with Dowry death and bride burning cases.
Includes index.
1. Dowry--Law and legislation--India. 2. Marriage law--India.
$32.00 DK-108516
10. Biswas, A. K., 1946-
Sati : saga of a gory practice / A.K. Biswas. -- New Delhi : Blumoon Books, c1997.
59 p. ; 22 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 59)
1. Sati--India. 2. Widow suicide--India.
$1.70 (pbk.) DK-108669
11. Dai, Lummer.
Bride price / [Lummer Dai ; translated by] Jogendra Nath. -- Patna : Himalayan Publishers, 1994.
xiii, 127 p. : 22 cm.
A novel.
Translated from Assamese.
Translation of: Kanyar mulya.
ISBN 81-86393-10-2
1. Assamese fiction--Translations into English. 2. English fiction--Translations from Assamese.
$10.00 DK-95383
12. Diwan, Paras, 1924-1997.
Dowry and protection to married women : dowry prohibition acts, stridhan, dower and Muslim wife's right to maintenance, dowry-deaths and protection to battered wives, Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, maintenance under section 125 Code of Criminal Procedure, etc. / Paras Diwan and Peeyush Diwan. -- 3rd rev. and updated ed. -- New Delhi : Deep & Deep Publications, 1995.
viii, 373 p. ; 23 cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
Includes index.
ISBN 81-7100-704-4
1. Dowry--Law and legislation--India. 2. Marriage law--India. 3. Married women--India.
4. Women, Muslim--Legal status, laws, etc.--India.
$25.00 DK-93025
13. Diwan, Paras, 1924-1997.
Law relating to dowry, dowry deaths, bride burning, rape and related offences / Paras Diwan and Peeyushi Diwan. -- Delhi : Universal Law Pub. Co., 1997.
xxxii, 340 p. ; 25 cm.
Running title: Dowry.
Includes index.
ISBN 8175340657
1. Dowry--Law and legislation--India. 2. Rape--Law and legislation--India. 3. Women--Crimes against--Law and legislation--India.
$22.70 DK-105522
14. Documentation [sic] on women & dowry. -- Pune : Streevani, Documentation Centre, <1995-96- >
v. <2 > : ill. ; 29 cm.
Press cuttings.
Cataloged from v. 2.
Vol. 2 rec'd now.
1. Dowry--India. 2. Women--Crimes against--India. 3. Women--Suffrage--India.
$7.90 (pbk.) (v. 2) DK-111467
15. Ghouri, Umer Hayat Khan.
[Islamic nizam-e-ma'shrat aur jahez ki rasm. English]
Dowry and Islamic social system / Umer Hayat Khan Ghouri ; translated by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj. -- Delhi : Markazi Maktaba Islami, 1996.
55 p. ; 19 cm.
Translated from Urdu.
Originally published: 1st ed. 1990.
"Ishaat-e-Islam Trust publications no. 872"--T.p. verso.
1. Dowry (Islamic law). 2. Marriage--Religious aspects--Islam. 3. Muslims--Social life and customs.
$1.00 (pbk.) DK-107305
16. Jeyaraj, P. Daniel.
The triumph over dowry : a real story (narrated) / by P. Daniel Jeyaraj. -- Delhi : Navdin Prakashan Kendra, 1991.
43 p. ; 18 cm. -- (Development education series ; 11).
With reference to dowry in Tamil Nadu.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 41-43).
ISBN 81-7241-016-9
1. Dowry--India--Tamil Nadu--Case studies.
$1.00 (pbk.) DK-83122
17. Kali's yug : empowerment, law and dowry deaths / editor, Rani Jethmalani. -- New Delhi : Har-Anand Publications, c1995.
158 p. ; 23 cm.
Contributed articles.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 81-241-0360-4
1. Women--Legal status, laws, etc.--India. 2. Dowry--India.
$16.70 DK-94893
18. Mathew, P. D. (Puthukulam Devasia), 1943-
The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 / P.D. Mathew. -- New Delhi : Indian Social Institute, 1993.
19 p. ; 22 cm. -- (Legal education series ; no. 27).
Originally published: 1989.
1. Dowry--Law and legislation--India.
$1.00 (pbk.) DK-84106
19. Mohite, Vijayrao.
Law of cruelty, abetment of suicide, and dowry deaths / Vijayrao Mohite, Vandana Chavan. -- 1st ed. -- [Bombay] : Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa, 1993.
xxix, 704 p. ; 25 cm.
Running title: Cruelty, abetment of suicide & dowry deaths.
Pages 703-704 left blank for notes.
1. Cruelty--Law and legislation--India. 2. Suicide--Law and legislation--India. 3. Dowry deaths--Law and legislation--India. 4. Criminal law--India.
$37.50 DK-87895
20. Naik, R. D. (Ramesh Devidas), 1940-
A study of dowry practices : based on study conducted in Greater Bombay / R.D. Naik. -- Pune : Dastane-Ramchandra & Co., c1996.
vi, 184 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.
Study was sponsored by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of India and was conducted in 1982.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 818508095X
1. Dowry--India--Bombay.
$6.30 DK-110418
21. Narasimhan, Sakuntala, 1940-
Sati : a study of widow burning in India / Sakuntala Narasimhan. -- New Delhi : HarperCollins Publishers India 1998.
xii, 325 p., [9] p. of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.
Originally published: Viking, 1990.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [302]-314)
Includes index.
ISBN 8172232926 (pbk.)
1. Sati--India. 2. Widow suicide--India.
$13.00 (pbk.) DK-109455
22. Paul, Madan C. (Madan Chandra), 1955-
Dowry and position of women in India : a study of Delhi metropolis / Madan C. Paul. -- New Delhi : Inter-India Publications, 1986, c1985.
xvi, 211 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.
Bibliography: p. [196]-207.
Includes index.
ISBN 81-210-0047-5
1. Dowry--India--Delhi. 2. Women--India--Delhi--Social conditions. 3. Feminism--India--Delhi. 4. Women--Suffrage--India--Delhi.
$14.30 DK-50915
23. Rammohun Roy, Raja, 1772?-1833.
Sati : a writeup of Raja Ram Mohan Roy about burning of widows alive / [edited by] Mulk Raj Anand. -- 2nd ed. -- Delhi : B.R. Pub. Corp., 1996.
xii, 188 p. ; 22 cm.
Originally published: 1st ed. 1989.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 81-7018-898-9
1. Suttee. 2. Widow suicide--India. 3. Sacrifice, Human--India.
$15.00 DK-103983
24. Ross, Asirvatham V. (Asirvatham Van), 1927-
Dowry murder / by Asirvatham V. Ross. -- New Delhi : Asirvatham V. Ross, [1992?].
176 p. ; 22 cm.
A novel.
1. Indic fiction (English).
$3.30 (pbk.) DK-83099
25. Sati, the blessing and the curse : the burning of wives in India / edited by John Stratton Hawley. -- New York : Oxford University Press, 1994.
xii, 214 p. : ill., map ; 24 cm.
Contributed articles.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 195-202).
Includes index.
ISBN 0-19-507771-7
ISBN 0-19-507774-1 (pbk.)
$20.40 (pbk.) DKI-5679
26. Special problems relating to women : dowry / prepared by Centre for Research and Documentation in Human Rights and Citizens Entitlement ; [prepared and compiled by Mamta Sharma]. -- [Bhopal : National Centre for Human Settlements & Environment], 1990.
31 p. ; 22 cm. -- (Human rights monograph series ; v. 2, no. 3)
Cover title.
1. Dowry--India. 2. Social problems--India. 3. Women--India--Social conditions.
$1.00 (pbk.) DK-70390
27. Teja, Mohinderjit Kaur, 1950-
Dowry : a study in attitudes and practices / Mohinderjit Kaur Teja. -- New Delhi, India : Inter-India Publications, 1993.
112 p. ; 22 cm. -- (Women in South Asia series ; W 014).
Includes bibliographical references (p. [106]-110).
Includes index.
ISBN 81-210-0310-5
1. Dowry--India.
$8.30 DK-82936
28. Tyagi, Surendra Prakash.
Sessions trial : a classic encyclopedic commentary on various provisions of sessions trial with special reference to the dowry death trials / by Surendra Prakash Tyagi. -- 2nd ed. -- Delhi : Vinod Pub. House, 1994.
cxcv, 923 p. ; 25 cm.
Cover title: Sessions trial : practice and procedure.
Includes index.
1. Trials--India. 2. Session laws--India.
$30.00 DK-87600
29. Umar, Mohd.
Bride burning in India : a socio legal study / by Mohd. Umar. -- New Delhi : A.P.H. Pub. Corp., 1998.
xiv, 326 p. ; 23 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [295]-311)
Includes index.
ISBN 8170249228
1. Married women--Crimes against--India. 2. Married women--Suffrage--India. 3. Married women--Legal status, laws, etc.--India. 4. Dowry--India. 5. Marriage law--India.
$40.00 DK-108007
30. Upreti, H. C. (Harish Chandra), 1935-
The myth of sati : some dimensions of widow burning / H.C. Upreti, Nandini Upreti. -- 1st ed. -- Bombay : Himalaya Pub. House, 1991.
vii, 151 p. ; 23 cm.
Bibliography: p. [135]-151.
ISBN 81-7040-276-X
1. Suttee. 2. Widow suicide.
$10.00 DK-69859
31. Women & dowry. -- Pune : Streevani Documentation Centre, [1995?].
100 p. : ill., map ; 29 cm.
Cover title: Documentation on women and dowry.
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Dowry--India--Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.). 2. Dowry deaths--India--Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.). 3. Women--India--Social conditions--Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.). 4. Women--Suffrage--India--Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.).
$7.90 (pbk.) DK-99006
32. Xalxo, Juel.
Evils of dowry system / by Juel Xalxo. -- Delhi : Navdin Prakashan Kendra, 1991.
16 p. ; 19 cm. -- (Development education series ; 13).
ISBN 81-7214-014-2
1. Dowry--India.
$1.00 (pbk.) DK-86345
The RSS rat pack doesn't care about this serious moral malady in Hindu religion. A typical response from a stuck up asshole of a heinous Hindu, thanks to the Hindunet.org discussion.
My good buddy, Partha Banerjee, ex of heinous Hindu, Brahmin Mafia, currently at University of Albany, New York has a tough time in convincing the Satan worshipping deluded dunces that the problem is real and no amount of spin doctoring helps solve it.
BRIDE BURNING IN INDIA: A SHAME FOR HINDUISM: ACT NOW
From: pb019@csc.albany.edu (Partha Banerjee)
Date: 9 Oct 1995 18:32:19 GMT
Approved: srh
Article: 381 of soc.religion.hindu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
Organization: The University at Albany
Hinduism has now experienced a terrible brutality on its women: bride
burning and dowry deaths have now spread in Indian Hindu populations
like the plague. This is a disgrace to our country and religion and we
must act now to stop this tragedy.
In spite of the fact that wife battering is a worldwide phenomenon
(and the western world is no exception), in India and some adjoining
countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, brides are being killed
upon demands of dowry. The practice has rapidly increased over the
past ten years and although it has been concentrated in the Hindu
heartland of north India (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan), it is spreading at an alarming rate
throughout the subcontinent. Traditionally dowry-free Islamic
countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh have also witnessed quite a
few cases of this extreme form of violence against women.
The just-concluded first international conference on bride burning and
dowry deaths held at Harvard University from September 30 through October 2 has
observed the following facts:
1. The terrible nature of the problem is more prevalent in the
conservative and chauvinistic Hindu heartland of northern India
(where incidentally, the fundamentalist Hindu parties are the
strongest)
2. The problem is predominantly concentrated in the areas where the
caste system is most stringent
3. Most of the incidents are observed among the upper-caste (Brahman
and Kshatriya) affluent Hindu communities
4. In spite of some landmark rulings by the Indian Supreme Court and
some laws passed by the Indian Govt. in the recent years, there has
been extreme lack of sincerity on the part of the police and the
conservative ruling class to implement them
5. A severe form of corruption in the police and bureaucracy has made
it almost impossible to make a dent into the system
6. Women are being used as commodity to bring money to the groom's
family and there is very little sense of decency or conscience on the
part of the groom's family
7. In many cases, the "educated" groom is taking precautions and
playing tricks to bypass the law
8. The family of the abused (i.e., the parents of the bride, etc.) are
being threatened severely and kept from taking actions.
A very strong form of world-wide action is needed to stop this
practice of killing of innocent young women. I personally urge all
progressive Hindus of the world to come forward to denounce this
practice. Pressurize the conservative Indian political hierarchy to
stop this brutal practice.
DO IT NOW, PLEASE.
Moderator: Ajay Shah Submissions: srh@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
Administrivia: srh-request@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
Re: BRIDE BURNING IN INDIA: A SHAME FOR HINDUISM: ACT NOW
Subject: Re: BRIDE BURNING IN INDIA: A SHAME FOR HINDUISM: ACT NOW
From: Suyog.Mahadeo.Bhobe@att.com
Date: 12 Oct 1995 22:42:57 GMT
Approved: srh
Article: 390 of soc.religion.hindu
Followup-To: soc.culture.indian
Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
Organization: AT&T
References: 45bprj$5td@babbage.ece.uc.edu
Partha,
Overall, I agree with your article - however I feel that you
could have made your point without the anti-Hindu slant.
You could have talked about the dowry problem without
bringing in Hinduism, Brahmins, Hindu fundamentalist party etc.
Bride burning in the Indian subcontinent (i.e., India, Pakistan,
Bangla Desh, etc.) transcends religion, caste and language. It is prevalent
in Islamic Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is prevalent among all castes and
languages.
The phenomenon is in no way tied to Hinduism, Islam, or any other
religion, nor is it associated with a particular caste.
It is not accurate to say that Pakistan and Bangladesh were
"traditionally dowry free". Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are culturally
Indian and dowry has always been a part of "their" culture as much as
"ours".
Your references to "conservative and chauvinistic Hindu heartland",
"Hindu fundamentalist party", etc. are regrettable. Was your intention
to create (in the minds of the reader) a link between Hinduism, BJP,
Brahmins, and the dowry system? Bihar and UP are some of poorest states
in India with very low literacy rates. Hence it is not surprising
that dowry deaths are more prevalent in that part of the country.
Also, when the abuse accurs among the well-off it is more
likely to come to light. Hence it is not surprising if statistics
show that the problem is more prevalent in the upper caste
affluent community.
In Maharashtra and Gujarat, people have voted for BJP (which is
probably a fundamentalist Hindu party in your opinion). Yet the
dowry problem in these two states is not as severe as it is
in UP, where people have voted for a socialist party dominated by
lower caste people.
To summarize, dowry problem is a serious social problem in the Indian
sub-continent and it has nothing to do with anybody's caste
or religion or what party they vote for. Neither the Hindu
scriptures, nor the BJP charter support bride burning. The problem
is prevalent in the Hindu as well as Muslim communities in the
Indian subcontinent.
As a matter of fact your article was perfectly suitable for
soc.culture.indian but not for soc.religion.hindu. soc.religion.hindu
is meant for discussing the Sanatana Dharma. So unless you are
implying that bride burning is sanctioned by the Vedas, Upanishads,
and the Bhagawad Gita, please post followups to soc.culture.indian.
Suyog
Moderator: Ajay Shah Submissions: srh@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
Administrivia: srh-request@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
Re: BRIDE BURNING IN INDIA: A SHAME FOR HINDUISM: ACT NOW
From: pb019@csc.albany.edu (Partha Banerjee)
Date: 17 Oct 1995 01:15:33 GMT
Approved: srh
Article: 420 of soc.religion.hindu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
Organization: The University at Albany
References: 45bprj$5td@babbage.ece.uc.edu 45k5lh$j02@babbage.ece.uc.edu
In article 45k5lh$j02@babbage.ece.uc.edu
Suyog.Mahadeo.Bhobe@att.com wrote:
Partha,
Overall, I agree with your article - however I feel that you
could have made your point without the anti-Hindu slant.
You could have talked about the dowry problem without
bringing in Hinduism, Brahmins, Hindu fundamentalist party etc.
Partha:-You miss my point. The problem is intricately tied with Hinduism,
caste system in Hinduism, fundamentalism, conservatism, etc.
Therefore, talking about the problem without mentioning the roots is
meaningless.
Suyog:-Bride burning in the Indian subcontinent (i.e., India, Pakistan,
Bangla Desh, etc.) transcends religion, caste and language. It is prevalent
in Islamic Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is prevalent among all castes and
languages.
Partha:-No, you are wrong. The epicenter of the problem is the Hindu upper
caste in north India. Almost 70% of the incidents have occurred there
in the past 10 years when the situation has aggrevated so much. In
many other parts of India (e.g., Assam and the northeastern states,
southern states like Kerala, eastern states like West Bengal), the
problem is much less severe.
And if you know the marriage system among the muslims of Bangladesh
and Pakistan, you'd know that their oppression on women is for a
different reason and is not related to dowry (however deplorable that
situation is).
Suyog:-
The phenomenon is in no way tied to Hinduism, Islam, or any other
religion, nor is it associated with a particular caste.
It is not accurate to say that Pakistan and Bangladesh were
"traditionally dowry free". Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are culturally
Indian and dowry has always been a part of "their" culture as much as
"ours".
Partha:-
See above.
Suyog:-
Your references to "conservative and chauvinistic Hindu heartland",
"Hindu fundamentalist party", etc. are regretable. Was your intention
to create (in the minds of the reader) a link between Hinduism, BJP,
Brahmins, and the dowry system? Bihar and UP are some of poorest states
in India with very low literacy rates. Hence it is not surprizing
that dowry deaths are more prevalent in that part of the country.
Also, when the abuse accurs among the well-off it is more
likely to come to light. Hence it is not surprizing if statistics
show that the problem is more prevalent in the upper caste
affluent community.
Partha:-
Talking about a religion in a utopian way bypassing the social and
political issues is again meaningless. We have been doing that for
ages. It has not solved our problems. So, let's talk about the other
important issues pertaining to Hinduism. Let's be futuristic.
Assam, for example, is one of the poorest states in India with a very
low literacy rate. Why doesn't it happen there? Poverty and illiteracy
has nothing to do with this horrendous problem. Contrary to your
assertion, the problem is much more prevalent among the more affluent
and "educated" Hindus.
Suyog:-
In Maharashtra and Gujarat, people have voted for BJP (which is
probably a fundamentalist Hindu party in your opinion). Yet the
dowry problem in these two states is not as severe as it is
in UP, where people have voted for a socialist party dominated by
lower caste people.
Partha:-
Gujarat and Maharashtra have been witnessing a surge of the problem in
the recent years. Ask and find out. As far as UP, it is one of the
most conservative states in India and has been always ruled by the
conservative Congress party and recently by the BJP (which is again
ruling de facto with help from Mayawati's party). That's why we have
seen the Ayodhya issue to flare up in UP so much. We have many other
VERY HOLY HINDU places in India, e.g., Kamakshya in Assam or Meenakshi
Temple in Madurai. Why do think BJP selected Ayodhya to be their
platform? Because UP and the Hindu heartland in north India would
work! And it did work, didn't it?
That is also the same reason the Mandal issue created so much uproar
in these areas. Why? Because, the conservative upper-caste Hindus
would not part with their socio-political power.
Suyog:-
To summarize, dowry problem is a serious social problem in the Indian
sub-continent and it has nothing to do with anybody's caste
or religion or what party they vote for. Neither the Hindu
scriptures, nor the BJP charter support bride burning. The problem
is prevalent in the Hindu as well as Muslim communities in the
Indian subcontinent.
Partha:-
Again, you are wrong. Check the facts. As far as seeking support from
the Hindu scriptures, read some history. The whole problem of Sutee
during the eighteenth and nineteenth century was based on Brahmin's
seeking support of Sutee in Hindu scriptures. Ram Mohun Ray fought the
battle citing evidence from older Hindu scriptures.
We need to talk about these historical events, how the Brahmins and
upper-caste Hindus misused Hinduism to keep in social and political
power. That would be the best way to study Hinduism. And this is
definitely a good forum for that.
Suyog:-
As a matter of fact your article was perfectly suitable for
soc.culture.indian but not for soc.religion.hindu. soc.religion.hindu
is meant for discussing the Sanatana Dharma. So unless you are
implying that bride burning is sanctioned by the Vedas, Upanishads,
and the Bhagawad Gita, please post followups to soc.culture.indian.
Partha:-
See above. Any discussion of our religion is meaningless if we fail to
relate to our people and their situations. If you want to champion the
causes of Hinduism, then talk about its problems too. And don't hide
the facts. Face them.
Partha
Moderator: Ajay Shah Submissions: srh@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
Administrivia: srh-request@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
Re: BRIDE BURNING IN INDIA: A SHAME FOR HINDUISM: ACT NOW
From: ntiwari@rs1.esm.vt.edu (N. Tiwari)
Date: 20 Oct 1995 19:05:32 GMT
Approved: srh srh@rbhatnagar
Article: 435 of soc.religion.hindu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
References: 45bprj$5td@babbage.ece.uc.edu 45k5lh$j02@babbage.ece.uc.edu 45v03l$t55@babbage.ece.uc.edu
Most of the facts and the consequential analysis presented by Sri Partha
Banerjee are wrong. Mr. Banerjee will do well to check out the facts.
1. The Brahmins (though responsible) do not deserve the max. blame for
bride burning. There are other castes (e.g. vaishyas) where the amount
of dowry sought is quite high. Much much larger than those sought by
Brahmins. Then there are the Kammas and Reddys of AP. The figures reach
astronomical sums in these communities. Then there are the Jains. To
put the blame squarely (or almost squarely on Brahmins) is wrong. And
a wrong fact will naturally lead you to a wrong conclusion.
2. UP is the biggest culprit. It is not. It is true that UP (esp. the
eastern part) has been quite frequently labelled as the rock bed of
Hinduism by several historians. But the immensity of evils like bride
burning is NOT at its peak in E. UP. It progressively increasesa as
we move from E. UP to W. UP to Delhi to Harayan to Punjab. Once again
a case of wrong conclusions based on wrong facts. Similarly,
the amount of caste
opression is much much more on Bihar and some of our soutern states.
It for that reason we see the emergence of so many in Senas in Bihar
and the vehement anti-Brahminism in states like TN. But we do not
see bride burning here. The analysis of Sri Banerjee just does not
hold.
3. The issue of RJB in this context is tangential to the debate. However,
the temple of Kamaakhya Devi in Assaam (a very holy and ancient one
indeed) was not the focal point of Hindu agitation for the simple point
that it was not a disputed site.
Nachiketa Tiwari
750 Tall Oaks Drive 118 Patton Hall
Apt. # 3600 I Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24060. Blacksburg, VA 24061.
(540)-951-3979 (540)-231-4611
Moderator: Ajay Shah Submissions: srh@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
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Re: BRIDE BURNING IN INDIA: A SHAME FOR HINDUISM: ACT NOW
From: ntiwari@rs1.esm.vt.edu (N. Tiwari)
Date: 20 Oct 1995 19:05:31 GMT
Approved: srh srh@rbhatnagar
Article: 434 of soc.religion.hindu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
References: 45bprj$5td@babbage.ece.uc.edu 45k5lh$j02@babbage.ece.uc.edu 45v03l$t55@babbage.ece.uc.edu
As an addendum to my previous post, I will just re-iterate that evils
like bride burning would only increase with time, if our intelligensia
continues to ignore basic issues like greed and the lure of quick money.
It may be that strong legislation and implementation may curb this evil
to a large extent, but if we are not able to succumb pressures of greed,
we as a society will definitely find other ways to oppress others with an
aim to get rich quickly.
Nachiketa
Partha Banerjee has written a researched book on RSS and contributes to the newsgroup discussions under an assumed name.
Partha and I write on RSS but Partha and I do not get along as his style is lackadaisical and lackluster. I add terrible punch to my writing and he prefers academic sterile presentation of facts borrowed from various sources, with little or no personal commentary, barring a stiff headline of his own.
Since people object to my style and since our aims are the same, I ceded this territory to Partha. He is not faring well, I am sad to observe. One must confront the devil and punch his daylights out as devil knows no reason. Good writing is seldom an effective weapon.
Here is one of Partha's article on the subject of feces fascist shenanigans. Judge for yourself. Thanks to the Patriot News archives.
The Patriot News
GANDHI WOULD NOT HAVE SMILED
By Partha Banerjee
On May 11, 1998, the less-than-two-month old Indian government carried out three sophisticated underground nuclear tests in the desert of Rajasthan. A total of five tests were conducted in the same week, a fact that baffled the whole world and rocked the Indian subcontinent. U.S. senators, such as Richard Shelby (R-AL), have severely criticized the CIA for its failure to gather prior information on these tests. Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has since announced India to be a nuclear weapons state. In response, on May 28, the Nawaj Sharif government of Pakistan tested its five nuclear devices in Baluchistan to "settle scores" with India. The following day they exploded an additional device.
The nuclear tests done by the Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian Peoples' Party or BJP) government of India were, in fact, a desperate effort to divert common Indians' attention from the government's own political turmoil and coalition crises. During the past few weeks, the new government was shaken by corruption charges, dissensions, and intra-party feuds. A serious diversion was needed to sway peoples' opinion in its favor. The nuclear tests that were redied by the previous centrist governments came in handy for the present right-wing coalition.
India's nuclear program began soon after its independence under the first premier Jawaharlal Nehru, with the objective to gain nuclear power for peaceful purposes. Nehru's daughter, and one of the most famous prime ministers of India, Indira Gandhi, took a major step in acquiring nuclear weapons capability. India's first nuclear explosion was conducted in 1974, during her autocratic regime, and, critics say, it was also timed by her Congress party to quell its administrative and intra-party crises. Scientific investigations for more sophisticated devices continued, but their tests were put off by successive governments.
Since the blasts took place on May 11, a jingoist and ultrapatriotic atmosphere has prevailed in India, mostly created by the government-controlled mass media and mainstream press. The shaky coalition of right-wing parties and corrupt politicians is now given a new birth to possibly serve a full five year term. All the anti-nuke opposition launched by environmentalists, anti-war protesters, progressive social and political leaders, and a section of scientists have been termed by the ruling coalition and its supporters as anti-national agents, traitors, and communists. The same is happening now in Pakistan.
Contrary to the opinion put forward by some U.S. leaders and columnists, India's nuclear test is a true fascist-like action with no regard for the rest of the world. India and Pakistan, since their creation as two separate countries by the British in 1947, have fought three brutal wars and have remained hostile to each other. The jingoism exhibited by the present BJP government has severed the lines of communication that had only recently opened up between India and Pakistan, and severely damaged India's slowly-normalizing relationship with China. In the 50th anniversary year of his assassination, Indians have every reason to mourn the total destruction of the Gandhian tradition of non-violence through this nuclear gesture. Many Indians feel disgraced by the belligerent actions of their government. Now many Pakistanis feel the same way about their government.
It is now a likely scenario that the arms race will heat up severely in the subcontinent, putting millions of poor people in serious jeopardy. The U.S. government pressed Pakistan not to conduct its own tests and tried to lure it with economic and military incentive packages. It failed. The rulers of India and Pakistan have renewed their royal game in the name of patriotism and national security. The poor people of the subcontinent keep paying the dear price.
Pro-BJP politicians and analysts cite that India is not on the best of terms with its two big neighbors, China and Pakistan, hence, for security reasons, making nuclear bombs is justified. True, China is a nuclear power. However, in 1971, China and the USA were allies of Pakistan during the Indo-Pak war over Bangladesh, but none of them, despite their big arsenals of nuclear weapons, could prevent East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from surrendering to the Indian army. China has a longstanding border dispute with India, but the reality is, it has not been able to move an inch into Indian territory since becoming a nuclear weapons state. The Soviet Union, a past world superpower with highly sophisticated nuclear devices, lost a war in Afghanistan and later disintegrated into numerous states. The USA lost the war in Vietnam but could not use its nuclear weapons. It is very likely that no country acquiring new nuclear weapons would ever be able to use them in a war, and Hiroshima is not a possibility any more. Therefore, the right-wing Indian government's so-called patriotic justification of nuclear weapons is practically meaningless. The tests will only help them boost their sagging image within the country. We can say the same about the right-wing Pakistani government.
The BJP and its parent organization RSS' (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or the National Volunteer Corps) isolationist foreign policy that dwells on hatred for Pakistan, China, and other Islamic, capitalist, and socialist countries, always called for nuclear build-up. The secretive organization RSS, with its many political, religious, and social fronts, has been implicated in numerous communal riots since its inception in 1925. Only recently, in December of 1992, its Hindu militant workers have demolished an ancient mosque in Northern India, causing massive bloodshed throughout the country. The RSS' theories and practices, and its success in sending its political front BJP to national power through democratic and pluralist electioneering, find strong similarities with the situations in Hitler's Germany in the early thirties. The RSS has been banned twice by the past Indian governments, the first ban being in 1948, when one of its members was convicted of assassinating Mahatma Gandhi, often called the Father of the Indian Nation. The present Indian prime minister and powerful home minister both have been lifelong members of the RSS.
The implications of the BJP government's radical departure from India's traditional foreign policy for peace in South Asia and the consequent potential of a nuclear arms race in the region, however brainless that might be, is something that should concern all peace-loving people of the world. Other than the massive expenses to build nuclear weapons, expenses economically lagging India and Pakistan can hardly afford, environmentalists are extremely worried about possible radioactive fallout from such tests, conducted either in India, Pakistan, or China. People in the Pokhran region, where the first nuclear explosion was also tested in 1974, have been reported to fall victims of cancer and other radiation-related illnesses. No investigations have ever been undertaken to assess their health problems.
The USA and other western nations that possess nuclear weapons and those who have upheld the unequal nuclear order have questionable rights to impose sanctions on India and Pakistan. Many of my Indian and American friends tell me that they are having a hard time convincing people to sign their anti-nuke petitions, not because these people support the tests, but rather they do not support the sanctions by the U.S. government, an act they find biased and based on double standards. Fact is, the Republican congress is yet to ratify the Clinton government's signing the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a treaty the U.S. government wants other countries to sign.
However, regardless of the above, we should have nothing but strong condemnation for the jingoist gesture of the Hindu supremacist Indian government and the Islamic Pakistani government. The common peace-loving people of the Indian subcontinent must not be provoked by the irresponsible actions of their rulers.
After all, Mahatma Gandhi, who fought throughout his life for secularism, tolerance, and peace, would not have smiled at such stupid war-mongering.
Ed. Note: The author was a longtime member of the Hindu supremacist RSS and its offshoot organizations. His book on the RSS and BJP is forthcoming from the U.K. and India. We'll hear more from Mr. Banerjee in the future.
Another forum, Indolink, muddles thru the issue. Watch how heinous Hindus blame everyone except their own cowardly and greedy acts.
Sid Harth...RSS rascals, rogues and ruffians are here in the United States of America, does anyone care?"
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