Sunday, June 15, 2003		Feedback

Uncommon deed

APROPOS of "Common girl with uncommon grit" (May 25) by Smriti Kak, the incident has been given unprecedented publicity., On many an occasion, incidents of the marriage party being sent back escape the media gaze. However, Nisha Sharma deserves accolade for bring greedy dowry-seekers to their senses. She exhibited a rare courage, and has shown the way to other girls. It is better to remain unmarried than to be devoured by wolves of dowry. Girls of marriageable age should take a leaf from Nisha’s book and outright reject those grooms and their kin who demand dowry unabashedly.

In the higher echelons of society, flaunting of wealth is a status symbol. Dowry can’t be eradicated because the elite, rather than curbing it, boosts it. It is the middle and lower rungs of of society that can effectively rein in dowry, if they support their daughters who don’t want to become victims of capricious dowry seekers. They should not bother about the often-asked rhetorical question: "What will the people say?"

Tarsem Bumrah, Batala

Parent with resources display their riches to impress the groom’s family. In the process, the parents of middle class girls emulate the example set by the elite.

The boy’s parents unashamedly demand dowry and the girls parents meekly bow to them in the fond hope of purchasing happiness for their daughters in the new homes. No amount of dowry can ever satiate the lust of the greedy dowry seekers.

We should educate girls and make them independent. In our society, the dowry system is here to stay. Marriage expenses have to be drastically curtailed if we want to remove the notion that a girl is a big burden’,

Karnail Singh, Ranjit Sagar Dam

In R.C. Sharma’s article "It is attitude that counts, faith that prevails" (May 24), it is rightly pointed out all great battles are won or lost not on the battlefields but in the minds of the people fighting them. It is man’s approach to an issue that decides it’s final outcome. One needs to inculcate a healthy and positive attitude towards life. Of course, one should have talent and knowledge to rise in life but the path of success becomes smooth with one’s humane approach to men and matters around. A positive attitude decidedly makes the journey through the darkest regions of life rewarding.

In the race for material gains, man is either growing arrogant or recedes into the background as a non-entity. Our education has failed to provide a healthy approach to life and faith in one’s capacity to rise above its tides.

Ved Guliani, Hisar