Culture & Lifestyle /
Remembering Satya Rani Chadha: The Face Of India’s Anti-Dowry Movement
Remembering Satya Rani Chadha: The Face Of India’s Anti-Dowry Movement
Culture & Lifestyle Jul 14, 2014
Satya Rani Chadha, the woman who sparked a movement to stop dowry-related deaths.
On July 1, Chadha passed away at the age of 85, never having reached her final goal of justice for her daughter, but having paved the path for change, and increased rights for generations of other mothers and daughters.
Chadha was the name that launched the anti-dowry movement in Delhi and across India. She was compelled by her own daughter’s death by burns and spoke to parents across India who had lost their daughters in dowry-related deaths, and together with another mother whose daughter also suffered a dowry-related death, turned her tragedy into a movement that sparked change for women's rights in India.
That fire did not die till Chadha’s own death at the age of 85 this month in New Delhi. She was ailing.
Chadha's daughter, Shashi Bala, was a graduate of Delhi's Lakshmibai College, and in her early 20s when she married Subhash Chandra. Ten months into their marriage and six months pregnant in 1979, she died. According to reports, the kerosene stove where she was cooking burst into flames.
Under the provisions of the law, dowry was defined as consideration of marriage. Just two days prior to his wife’s death, Chandra had demanded a scooter from his in-laws, making veiled threats about what would happen to his wife if he didn’t get what he claimed he was owed. Because of his demand for a scooter, Subhash could not be charged or arrested. Chadha approached the Supreme Court, but the law was upheld.
Women Working Together
Chadha united with another grief-stricken mother, Shahajehan "Apa" whose daughter had also been allegedly murdered for dowry. Together, the two came together to establish a Delhi-based gender-rights advocacy group and became the anti-dowry movement's most well-known faces. These two mothers, united by a common tragedy, toiled to ensure that fewer women would suffer similar fates.
Throughout the 1980s, dowry-related deaths were commonly passed off as kitchen accidents and described as acts of bride burning. Chadha and Shahajehan "Apa" attended rallies, seminars and protest marches – campaigns that led to stricter laws and special cells in police stations to monitor crimes against women.
Their work paid off, as the movement grew and the government created stricter laws against dowry-related deaths by shifting the burden of proof and making not only the husband – but also his close relatives – culpable.
The Final Verdict
In 1980, Chadha filed charges of murder and abetment to suicide in a lower court against Chandra and his family. After being found guilty, Chandra was released on bail in just two months. By the time the case was upheld and brought to the Delhi High Court in March of 2013, Chandra had disappeared, whereabouts unknown.
After more than three decades of fighting the case in court, Chadha had won, but with no comfort. "She was full of fire and epitomized the cause. You could feel her passion," said lawyer Sanjoy Ghose. "She turned up once at a seminar for lawyers and judges with actual dowry victims. She turned the focus on those victims."
Featured Image: globeandmail
COMMENTS
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
The Desi Rappers Who Are Fighting To Make Bernie Sanders President
-
Looking For Love? These Desi Dating Apps May Just Be For You!
-
Recipes For Romance: 3 Ways To Give Your Valentine's Day Dinner A Delicious Desi Twist
-
It's Okay To Be Alone: Why Solitude Is Good For The Soul
-
My Soul-Enriching Experience At The Sivananda Yoga Ashram In The Bahamas
-
Hot February 2020 Tech Gadgets That You Need Now
-
Tips On How To Embrace The New Decade With Positive Energy
-
It's Time To Recognize That Depression Is a Serious Problem For Us
-
Game On! Feed Your Super Bowl Fans These Delish Desi-Inspired Bites
-
Kutir Celebrates India's Wildlife Culinary Heritage In The Heart Of Chelsea UK
-
Pantone Colour Of The Year 2020: Brighten Up Your Haveli With These Classic Blue Touches
-
January 2020 Hot Tech Gadgets That You Need Now!
-
2. Why The Priyanka 'Hypocrite' Story Just Won't Go Away
-
7. Trudeau In Brownface Scandal: Should We Forgive Him?
-
10. Actioning Abundance: Mindful Ways To Bring Mental, Emotional & Spiritual Abundance Into Your Life
-
ANOKHI Life Holiday Gift Guide 2019: The Coolest Ethnic Decor Ideas For Gifting
-
ANOKHI Life Holiday Gift Guide 2019: Be "Present" With These Mindful South Asian-Inspired Gifts
-
Hot December Tech Gadgets That You Need Now!
-
Gifts For Your Family & Friends Abroad That Won't Break The Bank!
-
Holiday Hot Spots: Rediscover These South Asian Cities This Winter
-
Getting Inspired: Our 5 Fave Speakers From Elevate Tech Fest 2019
-
Our Exclusive Look: Porsche Ignites The Auto World With Their Fully Electric Taycan
-
Apsara Reddy, India Congress' First Transgender National General Secretary & Her Dreams For LGBTQI Rights In India
-
Make Your Place Smarter With These Cool AI Accessories For The Home
-
Why We Should Never Forget India’s SuperMom & Political Powerhouse Sushma Swaraj
-
Hot November Tech Gadgets That You Need Now!
-
Mississauga's Square One Glittered With The Premiere Of Their Own Diwali Market
-
A Chat With Human Rights Activist & Bangladeshi Journalist Shahidul Alam On His Battle For Freedom To Dissent
-
A Novel Idea: The Jaipur Literature Festival Comes To Toronto With A Glam 3 Day Event
-
Save Your Money & The Environment With These Cool Eco-Friendly Home Accessories
-
A Healing Tool Or A Marketing Myth: Is Reiki For Real?
-
India Is Studying Happiness And Here's Why We Should Too!
-
Priya's Shakti: The Comic Book Series That Battles Rape, Acid Attack and Human Trafficking
-
Fashion Heals For SickKids Showcased Support For The Wonderful Work At The Hospital For SickKids
-
House of Nonie, Rupi Kaur & Telus Join Forces To Battle Cyberbullying At Panel Discussion During NYFW
-
Hot October Tech Gadgets That You Need Now
-
ROOH Chicago Delights The Palate With Their New-Age Indian Cuisine
-
Howdy Modi: Our 5 Takeaways From The Modi-Trump Bromance In Texas
-
Why Ditching Plastic Straws Saves The Environment: Some Mindful Steps To Save The Climate
-
Our Desi Deep Dive: ANOKHI LIFE Launches ANOKHI UNCENSORED Radio Podcast Where Two Generations Tackle Important Issues That Concerns The Global South Asian Community!
-
The Hottest September Tech Gadgets You Can't Live Without
-
Collision 2019: 5 Things We've Learned From Attending The Impressive Gathering Of Tech Titans
-
ANOKHI MEDIA Is Now ANOKHI LIFE & Launches ANOKHI UNCENSORED Radio Podcast
-
It's Not Too Late: 5 Ways You Can Save Your Marriage
-
Keep Calm: You Need This Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Program
-
Back To School Style: Give Your Dorm Some Drip With These Space Saving Gadgets
-
Be Kind: Yes, You Can Train Your Brain To Be More Compassionate!
-
Hot Ticket! The 6th Annual Oakville Diwali Gala Is Set To Raise Funds For Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital
-
You Can't Miss These Amazing Global TEDx Talks On The Powers Of Yoga
-
Thousands Vibed Pure Bollywood at Canada's Largest South Asian Festival--#BollywoodMonster Mashup 2019
-
August 2019 Tech Gadgets That You Need Now!
-
Speak Up! Why Are We So Afraid Of Talking To Therapists?
-
Surprising Results! The South Asians Who Made The List Of World's Most Admired 2019
-
I Need A Spiritual Maintenance Plan And Other Lessons Oprah Taught Me From Her "Your Path Made Clear" Tour
-
Don't Lose Your Noodle: How To Make Sweet And Savoury Noodles With A Desi Twist
-
Mindful Inspiration: 5 Superb South Asian TED Talks You Can't Afford To Miss!
-
July 2019 Tech Gadgets That You Need To Sizzle Your Summer
-
Actioning Abundance: Mindful Ways To Bring Mental, Emotional And Spiritual Abundance Into Your Life
-
Watch It Now Before It's Too Late: Lessons On Mindful Medicine From The Documentary "Heal"
-
ANOKHI MEDIA's CEO Raj Girn Expands Her Authentic Vision With The Launch Of Her Coaching And Consulting Company
Newsletter Sign Up
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter for all of the latest news, buzz, blogs and radio shows, delivered directly to your inbox!
MONTHLY 'REAL TALK' SHOW
AIRING
Recent Shows
Monthly Celebrity Talk Show
Airing
Recent Shows
