I am writing this piece to skeptically analyse the fact why and how the dowry system has completely given a tumultuous traditional effects in our society. Actually, if someone really studies sociology and the historical culture the logic behind giving dowry seemed to be meaningful. The bride family was not secured about the future of their daughter because at that time there was no social benefits for them and other kinds of things, cases in point are pension, and superannuation. The only one thing to protect the bride just in case groom dies was her dowry. This was the traditional back up culture but later people misused the generosity of the bride’s family. But the age old culture and traditions cannot be allowed to remain unchanged because much has changed due to people’s access to education, health and job opportunities within their localities. Still, some communities, particularly in the Tarai region, have given continuity to the dowry system that has now become a social evil. It is now the responsibility of the elected representatives from local to higher level to educate and discourage people from receiving dowry which ruins the family of the bride and herself. The elected representatives can play a vital role to eradicate this long-held tradition by educating and discouraging the groom and his family from taking dowry.

Shiva Neupane, Melbourne

Justice denied 

Recently it has been come to notice that the National Human Rights Commission has expressed serious concern about the government’s inaction on guaranteeing Nanda Prasad Adhikari’s family the right to perform his final rites as per their religion.

Adhikari, a permanent resident of Fujel, Gorkha, had lost his life in Bir Hospital on September 22, 2014 after staging the fast-unto-death for 333 days. He demanded legal action against the killers of his son Krishna Prasad during the Maoist insurgency.

Senior Adhikari’s corpse is still lying in a fridge of the forensic department at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj. Time has come for the government to make arrangements for his body to be cremated in a dignified manner providing justice to the bereaved family members. Krishna Prasad Adhikari was allegedly killed by Maoist rebels in Chitwan in June 2004. The government must use its machinery to arrest the person who is believed to be hiding abroad.

It is quite frustrating to see the government doing nothing to impart justice to the victims who have been stating hunger strikes for many years. The so-called human rights organizations and even the international community are also to blame for doing little in this regard.

This case must be taken up by both the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons, the commissions formed by the government to find out truth of the people killed or forcibly disappeared by both the state and the rebel Maoists during the insurgency.

Pratik Shrestha, Buddhanagar