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`NO' to dowry

A one-of-its-kind website comes as a boon for the anti-dowry brigade

CYBER SAY Opinions on the web

Tulasi was married into a well-to-do family six years ago. But now, she is being needled by her in-laws for not bringing dowry. Her mother-in-law says that she felt ashamed that Tulasi came into the family without even bringing a `double cot'. Irrespective of the financial status, it has become the groom's prerogative to demand and the bride's side to give in.

Satya of NKG online, which offers many web related services, has come up with the first-of-its-kind website in India — meant exclusively for people who don't demand or accept dowry. Log on to www.idontwantdowry.com and you will find an endless list of grooms and brides posting messages that they aren't for sale.

Satya has a hatred for the dowry system and wanted to do his bit to eradicate it. He believes that any business that is service oriented clicks immediately and started the "I want you... I don't want dowry" site, which was recently inaugurated by Nalini Chidambaram.

Satya says he wants to extend his services offline too and plans to start a matrimonial bureau for non-dowry seekers. He adds, "Dowry in one form or another continues to be given during pregnancy, childbirth, festivals, funerals, and other occasions. The registration fee to access my site is free but if you want to view details of the members, we charge Rs.500 for a six month period."

The response to the site has been tremendous. On the first day two profiles were posted but on the fourth day, there were more than 300 profiles. Satya sums up, "On all matrimonial websites, people first click on caste, religion, age and finally the dowry option. But on my website, the first option one has to choose is related to dowry. You have made yourself clear that you aren't talking discussing money matters while dealing with the prospective groom or bride."

So if you are looking for a likeminded partner, you might want to check this out.

Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY

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