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BANGALORE, INDIA, November 28, 2003: Thousands of people in the southern Indian city of Bangalore have staged a march and rally against the system of dowry. The women protesters were joined by many men. Female and male students from across the city marched through the streets, yelling “Down, Down, Dowry,” and holding starkly worded banners — “Brides are not for Burning,” “Real Men Don’t Demand Dowry,” and “Dowry Causes Women’s Deaths.” On a truck, a mock-up of a bride being beaten was staged. Dowry – the giving of money and goods by a bride’s family to that of the groom – has been illegal in India for more than 40 years, but on the ground it continues. The organizers of the rally – the Karnataka State Women’s Commission (KSWC) – say that dowry-related murders and violence are continuing to be perpetrated against women unabated. The chairperson of KSWC, Philomena Peres, said that despite Bangalore’s reputation as India’s information technology capital, many women were still badly treated. According to her, there are still six to eight dowry-related deaths in the city every day. She said brides’ families were afraid to speak out because both giving and taking dowry is punishable; the law should be adjusted, she added. But Ms Peres feels young people’s attitudes are bringing change. The students present at the rally will tomorrow face the world and get married, she said. “They are the ones who should say ‘No, no and no – this is enough.’ ” One of the large numbers of male students present, Anand Sankar, said he felt taking dowry was wrong and he would not do it.

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