Anshika’s wedding was a lavish affair. Her relatives said: “We spent 5m rupees ($60,000). We gave her everything a household requires and a car that cost 1.6m rupees.” Yet, she committed suicide. That resulted in a clash between the two families that left three people dead and sent seven people to jail in India. Police receive thousands of complaints of harassment of wives every year and crime data show 35,493 brides were killed in India between 2017 and 2022 for bringing in insufficient dowry. (BBC.com 13 May 2024) Giving and receiving dowry is a criminal offense, nevertheless, it continues unabated.
Burning Widows and Burning Brides: It is painful, distressing, and disheartening to see young women being burnt or killed for bringing insufficient dowry. A similar social evil of burning widows as the Sati tradition was stopped by a stringent law (promulgated by the British on 4 December 1829) by efforts of missionaries like William Carey and social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy. Will the Indian Church take the lead to abolish the social evil of dowry?
Law and social reform: The law banning Sati was sufficient to stop the burning of widows, as it happened in public spaces like crematoriums. However, some so-called religious leaders interpreted the law against their religious traditions. But the dowry ban law is ineffective as this evil could happen behind curtains, in private homes. It is not enough for the law to treat dowry as a crime, society should treat such people as criminals.
Value Women: Like men, women are also human beings created in the image of God. Illtreating them or robbing them of their dignity is a sin against God. In Christ, there are neither men nor women, they are all sinners who need redemption. (Galatians 3:28)
Denounce Greed: Covetousness leads to greed, fights, and even murder. (Exodus 20:17) Abundance of possession does not guarantee a life of joy, meaning, purpose, and unity. (Luke 12:15)
Resist Evil: Greed that makes humans murderers should be resisted by the Church and create awareness in society.
Am I free from greed and covetousness?