Sena MP berates textbook elaborating merits of dowry

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has urged Union education and skill development minister Dharmendra Pradhan to immediately stop the circulation of ‘Textbook of Sociology of Nurses'’ elaborating the merits of dowry and also take it off the curriculum.

She said, “It is appalling how such a derogatory and problematic text remains in

circulation. A textbook elaborating the merits of dowry, it actually exists in our curriculum and is a shame for the nation and the Indian Constitution.” She said she has appealed to the minister to take the textbook off the curriculum as well as circulation and review all existing textbooks by a panel of experts.

In a letter, Chaturvedi said the book by T K Indrani lays down “merits and advantages” of the dowry system and is part of the curriculum for the second year

BSc students.

Chaturvedi said, “One of the so-called advantages, as stated in the book, is that many people have started educating their girls because of the burden of dowry. When the girls are educated or even employed, the demand for dowry will be less, it states, calling it an indirect advantage.”

“Another point is that ‘uglylooking girls’ can be married off with attractive dowry with ‘good or ugly-looking boys’,” stated the Shiv Sena MP quoting the author.

Chaturvedi said, “It is extremely unfortunate that we have such outdated ideas prevailing despite dowry being a criminal act. It is even more concerning that students are being exposed to such regressive content and no action has been taken so far.”

The MP has appealed to the minister to ensure that in future such anti-women content is neither taught nor promoted, and that textbooks are reviewed and approved by a panel.