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On October 7, 2010, Indian President Pratibha Patil called “...dowry a curse; that's why girls are killed.” President Patil continued, noting “...it was sad to see parents killing their daughters. Dowry is considered a curse in India because of which parents do not want daughters. We have to change this and curb dowry like evils. If there are no girls, there will not be any mothers, sisters, wives and daughters to take humanity forward.” Now you decide: is this behavior consistent with ahimsa?
THE TREATMENT OF DAUGHTERS – IN-LAW & YOUNG BRIDES Time was when daughters-in-law were treated with more consideration than one's own daughters. This scene has been changing very rapidly. In several Jain communities, not only are the daughters-in laws treated worse than servants but also are tortured and abused for lack of insufficient dowry and for many other so-called reasons and pretexts. I personally have seen this. The serious himsa that this entails has already been discussed earlier. I have seen for myself, and been told by others, that in some houses and communities, a mother-in-law is like a cruel dictator. This is true even in Jain communities —they are not free from this menace and custom. I ask: is this not himsa? Generally, there is not even any discussion about it. I have not seen any except mention of this in a few television serials or soap operas, which are watched more for entertainment rather than for introspection. Now you decide: is this behavior consistent with ahimsa?
MIXED MARRIAGES: OUTSIDE THE TRADITION, INTER-SECT, INTERCASTE, AND INTER-RELIGIOUS Not long ago, Jains used to live in close proximity to one another within small geographical areas. Being small in number, Jains normally married with Jains and to a great extent within
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An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
