Trying To Bring Revolution, These Mewat Sisters Have Launched Door-To-Door Anti-Dowry Drive, Asks Qazis For Support

This is what a silent revolution looks like. Six sisters, who live with their parents in Delhi's Malaviya Nagar, have launched a campaign against dowry in their native village, Pingwa in Mewat. Since Friday last, they have been busy in a door-to-door campaign against the social evil in Mewat.

They have declared they will also urge qazis, or Sharia magistrate, to not allow such weddings in the district.

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Shabana Khan, 29, the eldest of six sister, was married to a Sikandrabad, UP, resident 10 years ago. Tormented by her in-laws for dowry, she returned home to her parents after suffering for two years. Since then, she realised most women around her suffered after marriage for "not bringing enough dowry".

Noticing the plight of their sister, Shabana's five younger sisters ¡ª Nishi (26), Neelu (24), Shahin (23), Abida (21) and Nafisa (15) ¡ª have declared they would rather remain unmarried if there is dowry involved in a potential alliance. It also inspired them to launch their campaign against dowry. They founded an organisation in 2014 ¡ª Saheli, for victims of dowry, and now have decided to return to their roots to empower girls in Mewat.

"As dowry, my father gifted all kinds of household articles, but he didn't have enough money for a car and the lakhs of rupees in cash sought. For this, I was harassed by my in-laws and eventually my marriage broke. Dowry is an epidemic. Girls are mentally and physically tortured for it. It has to stop, and it's time somebody did something about it," said Shabana.

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The sisters will organise public meetings in the villages to raise awareness. They chose Mewat not only because it is their ancestral home, but also because of its high illiteracy.

"Both Islam and country's laws prohibit dowry, yet it's given and taken openly. We'll approach all qazis and tell them not to consecrate any wedding where dowry is exchanged. In fact, dowry seekers should be boycotted. It's against Islam, and is cancer that is eating away at the foundations of the institution of marriage," said Shahin, another sister.

The sisters will target both youths and elders for their campaign. "We as a society spend more on girl's dowry than her education. We should provide all resources to a girl for education, and not give any dowry at all. Even if in one generation, a family of the bride/groom refuse to give/accept dowry, our job is done. That will transform society and will be the way to save the girl child," added Neelu.