How a young bride's death mobilised Maratha groups against dowry, lavish weddings
The death by suicide of a 23-year-old woman in Pune due to alleged harassment for dowry by her in-laws and husband has spurred members of the Maratha community to launch a social campaign against dowry harassment.In May, Vaishnavi Hagawane died by suicide at Bavdhan in Pune due to alleged harassment and torture for dowry. Members of the family, including her father-in-law Rajendra Hagawane, mother-in-law Lata, husband Shashank, brother-in-law Sushil and sister-in-law Karishma, have been arrested.advertisementRajendra was a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. He has since been expelled from the party. Vaishnavi's parents have charged that their daughter was tortured and beaten up for money by the Hagawanes. They claimed Vaishnavi's in-laws had been given a Toyota Fortuner SUV, cash and gold at the time of the marriage.A series of meetings across Maharashtra, led by members of the Maratha community, have called for an end to ostentatious expenditure during weddings as well as dowry harassment. Senior leaders of the community said the trend of spending lavishly on weddings and gifts had begun a few years ago from rapidly urbanising Pimpri-Chinchwad adjoining Pune, where farmers made crores of rupees by selling their lands to builders and developers. Some of these weddings have a guest-list running into thousands, with a lavish menu, expensive decorations and gifts.advertisement
Rajendra Kondhare of the Akhil Bharatiya Maratha Mahasangh, who is involved in the effort, said the guidelines include not giving expensive gifts at the wedding, saving on expenses, ensuring that the marriage rites take place on time, and not giving speeches at the wedding. Families have also been asked to ensure that the number of guests is 500 or less. 'In case of dowry harassment or dowry-related deaths in a family, members of the community will stop 'roti-beti vyawhar' with them (take to social boycott),' explained Kondhare.'It is those from the middle-class and the neo-rich category who are into this. They try to compete with those above them in the social and economic order and splurge money on weddings. They are also cagey about what society will say about them in case they conduct these ceremonies in a frugal manner,' he added.Meetings in this regard have been held in areas like Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik and Parbhani. Kondhare said that members of other communities, such as Gujaratis, Marwaris, and Kumbhars, had also attended these meetings, which have seen presence of politicians and leaders from across party lines and from social organisations like the Maratha Mahasangh and Sambhaji Brigade. Decisions have also been taking on the families of the bride and the bridegroom sharing the expenses between them.advertisementPrashant Shitole, former NCP corporator from Pimpri-Chinchwad, said they wanted to promote less expensive marriages. 'The financial capacity of families differs and so, some are compelled to draw loans for marriages. They feel if they do not conduct their marriage in a lavish manner, they will be criticised by society,' he explained. 'The families can keep a fixed deposit in the name of the daughter, or donate to institutions or the deserving,' added Shitole.Subscribe to India Today Magazine
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Supriya demands white paper on ten years of civil aviation ministry functioning
Pune: Raising the safety concerns of passengers following the plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday, NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Friday demanded that the civil aviation ministry release a white paper on its functioning over the last 10 years. "There is no doubt that there has been improvement in infrastructure, but at the same time, we cannot ignore the fact that the number of accidents has increased. The safety of passengers in road, railway, and air transport remains a concern, and the central govt needs to take up the moral responsibility for the mishaps in all the public transport systems," Supriya said while interacting with newspersons in Pune. The Baramati Lok Sabha MP said that she would demand a detailed discussion on the plane crash in the upcoming session of Parliament. "Everyone is waiting for the reports to know the reason for the crash. However, a detailed discussion in the upcoming Parliament session is required on not just the Ahmedabad plane crash incident but also earlier mishaps. We demand that the civil aviation ministry should come out with a white paper on its functioning over the last 10 years. In the next Parliament session, along with demanding discussion on Pahalgam terror attack, we would also demand a discussion on mishaps in the public transport sector," Supriya said. Criticising the central govt, Supriya said, "The govt is advertising that they have made air travel affordable so that even a common man can travel by flight. However, if there is no assurance of safety, what will any individual do with the discount they would be getting? While improving infrastructure, the Centre should not lose focus on the safety of people." Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill to curb ‘urban naxalism' diluted, will be tabled in monsoon session of state legislature in July
Mumbai: A revised diluted draft of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill 2024, which seeks to curb the rising influence of naxalism in urban areas, is set to be tabled during the monsoon session of the state legislature in July. The bill, which was initially tabled in July 2024, was termed "repressive" and "anti-people" as it gave state govt sweeping powers to crack down on Naxal or leftist activities. In Dec 2024, a 26-member joint select committee, headed by BJP minister Chandrashekar Bawankule and comprising legislators from all political parties, was set up to review and scrutinise the bill. This panel has diluted the objectives and some of the provisions of the bill based on the 1,200-plus suggestions and objections received from citizens and social organisations. "There were some misunderstandings about the provisions of the bill, which we have cleared. The revised bill is now based on the consensus of all members of the joint select committee," said Bawankule. "Some changes have been made, like political parties or individuals will now not be booked under the proposed Act, but only those organisations linked to left-wing extremism or naxalism will be probed. The revised bill will be tabled in the monsoon session of the state legislature. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Andover: People Born 1945-1975 Could Be Eligible For This British Seniors Read More Undo " The committee will meet again on June 25 to finalise the revisions, said officials. NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad, a member of the joint select committee, said the dilution of the bill was a victory for the opposition and the people of the state who objected to this draconian proposed law. "Now the bill is only related to unlawful activities by organisations involved in Naxalism, and not individuals. We had objected to the bill using the term 'urban naxalism'. We also demanded that instead of 'left-wing extremism', only 'extremist or hardline activities' must be used," he said, claiming that the word 'urban Naxal' has been removed from the tweaked bill. Bawankule said changes were also made with regards to investigations. "Investigation will be done by an assistant commissioner of police in urban areas and a deputy superintendent of police in rural areas, instead of a police sub-inspector as mentioned in the initial draft," he said. "Also, the advisory board, which will give a go-ahead for the probe, will be headed by a retired high court judge and include a district judge and a govt pleader. " The original bill had provided for a senior law officer to head the board. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Sena will contest civic poll in Nashik with Mahayuti: Samant
Nashik: State minister for industry and Marathi language Uday Samant of Shiv Sena on Friday said his party would contest the upcoming election to Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) in alliance with BJP in Mahayuti. Samant, who was in Nashik city, expressed confidence that they would emerge victorious in NMC election. When asked about BJP's claim that they would contest 100 seats in the upcoming election to NMC, Samant said his party would contest the civic poll in Nashik in alliance with BJP as a Mahayuti partner. "Party chief Eknath Shinde has clearly stated his intention to contest the civic poll in Nashik with Mahayuti," he said. Regarding deputy CM Ajit Pawar-led NCP, Samant said Sena's alliance with BJP was a natural one. "Even CM Devendra Fadnavis has described the alliance with NCP, which was formed later, as a political adjustment," he said. When asked if MNS would join Mahayuti during the civic polls in Maharashtra, Samant said they would welcome MNS chief Raj Thackeray if he decided to join Mahayuti. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
