
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
Anokhi Blogs, Anokhi Media, Anti-dowry Movement, Brides, Crime, Dowry, India, Law, Murder, New, Satya Rani Chadha, Women, Women's Rights
COMMENTS
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: I Can't Say No To People Without Feeling Guilty
-
Let’s Talk … About Your Relationship with You!
-
This Is Why Amsterdam In The Winter Is Simply Wonderful
-
Dear Dr. Monica Vermani Being Back In The Office Is Giving Me Anxiety
-
Indian Afternoon Tea At Bobby's In Leicester UK? Yes Please!
-
Dear Dr. Monica Vermani: Help! My Ex Tells His Friends His Cheating Is My Fault
-
Travel The World With Tamarind Modern Indian Bistro's Global Cuisine
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: Winter Depresses Me, What Do I Do?
-
Ask Dr. Monica Vermani: How Do I Tell My Parents I Don't Want To Go To Business School?
-
Fabulous Holiday Gifts For Kids
-
Why 'Heroin Chic' Is A Dangerous Trend For South Asians
-
Highlights From The South Asian Literature And Arts Festival (SALA)
-
Ask Dr Monica Vermani: Her 5 Break Up Rules You Should Know
-
Roti Chai Is The Perfect Eatery To Hit Up While Christmas Shopping
-
I Loved Visiting This Quaint Town Of Bath
-
Indian Alley Brings Delhi's Iconic Roadside Eats To Camden Market
-
This Is Why Mauritius Is A Traveller's Dream
-
"Making Happy" By Sheetal Seth Is The Book Kids Need When Their Parent Is Sick
-
International Day Of The Girl: How Women Of The Sundarbans Are Saving Their Girls
-
The Murder Of Mahsa Amini: Will The Global Outcry Make A Difference?
-
South Asian Literature And Art Festival Is Bringing Together The Biggest Names In SA Lit And Here's Why You Need To Go
-
Canada's Most Powerful Women Were Celebrated At The Women Empowerment Awards 2022
-
It's All About The Home Cooked Veg Goodness At London's Ananda Bhavan
-
What Exactly Is A NFT And Why We Need To Stop Ignoring It
-
TIFF 2022: Checking Out The Fabulous Bask-It-Style Gift Lounge
-
Gopal’s Corner Blend Malaysian And Tamil Cuisine Creating An Unforgettable Bite
-
We Celebrate National Wildlife Day With Our 5 Fave Sanctuaries In India
-
Canary Wharf Heats Up Your Palate With Chai Ki
-
Ready To Find Your Match? You'll Need These 4 Desi Dating Apps In Your Life
-
Where Does Hinduism, Islam & Sikhism Stand In The Abortion Issue?
-
Never Forget: 12 Movies & Books To Help You Continue The Partition Conversation
-
From North To South London's Award-Winning Bayleaf Restaurant Elevates Indian Cuisine At Whetstone
-
Here's Why I Fell In Love With The Sea Views Of Southampton and Portsmouth
-
Shree Krishna Vada Pav In London Celebrates India's Iconic Veggie Dishes
-
The Pope’s Apology: A Closer Look At His “Pilgrimage Of Penance"
-
Want To Go To Marrakech? This Is What I Did
-
Virtual Pageants Celebrate Inclusivity & That's Why I Love Them
-
Here's How I Spent 48 Fabulous Hours In Lille, France
-
The Dishes At Central London's Mumbai Square Will Make You Want Seconds
-
4 Hot July 2022 Tech Gadgets That You Need Now!
-
10 South Asian LGBTQIA+ Leaders Who Are Using Their Platform To Break Barriers
-
Ganapati Peckham Brings South Indian Flavours To South London
-
Sanaa: This African/Indian Restaurant Is Disney's Best Kept Secret In Orlando
-
Travel: How I Got The Most Of My Weekend In Marbella, Spain
-
Pride Month 2022: This Glossary Will Teach You All The LGBTQIA+ Terms You Need To Know In 2022
-
Platinum Jubilee: How Relevant Is The Queen To South Asians?
-
Pride Month 2022: A List Of 20 Global Resources To Help You Support Your Journey With Your LGBTQIA+ Loved Ones
-
How To Let Go Of The Past And Create The Life You Want
-
Dhamaka In New York City Lets You Explore Cuisine "From The Forgotten Side Of India"
-
Madras Chettinaad Brings The Flavours Of Tamil Nadu To Atlanta, Georgia
-
3 Must Know Signs That A Problem Exists & How To Conquer Them
-
The 4 Hottest May 2022 Tech Gadgets You Need Now
-
South Asian Heritage Month 2022: From LGBTQIA+ Rights To Senior Dating, How Our Culture Is Becoming More Inclusive
-
How To Avoid Turning Your Words Into Weapons When It Comes To Mental Health
-
Looking For A Mindful Coach? Here's How To Spot The Fakers
-
Travel: How To Get The Most From Your Weekend In Budapest