Embarrassed by My Fellow Countrymen - Today India

I am Indo-Brazilian and I consider India and Brazil the same in my heart, I love both countries for distinct reasons, but also dislike both for very similar ones.

I don't want to go on ranting about any of them because after 20 years of living in Brasil and 4 of India, I learnt how to manage my anger towards certain issues and keep my head high and my temper down in spite of the circumstances.

This week, two disturbing things were presented to me by my dear friend Flovi, also a Indo-Brazilian. Please check her blog here.

First one is the Dowry Calculator, amusing for some, and source of curiosity from my part.  Let us be clear that I am not bringing India per se, into consideration as the issue is subjective and is practiced by many cultures, however the website is written in a mostly Indian context.


The website is kind of boring, you can go check for yourself, as it says  *Dedicated to all the match making aunties of India.

The calculator is a joke for MEN and for their benefit only, as history has it,a woman's worth is measured by the amount of dowry she can pay. What else would you expect?


Below are some of the 'results' I got...

By the way this changes only according to your salary rate and how many divorces you had (both highly regarded). Doesn't matter from where you graduated, or your skin color, be it as the website states:
Wheatish (would need some Fair n Lovely) or Pitch Black(Wouldn't be seen in a moonless night) as long as you make more than 1.0 Lakh monthly.

Your current dowry rate is  35 Lakh. It is a decent amount, but who wants to settle for decent when there is an entire range of awesomeness available? You could achieve an awesome dowry amount too. Remember the guy who right now deserves the highest dowry, even he at once upon a time started with a market price of zero. Your dream dowry amount awaits you. Be a man, and slog hard for it.


Congratulations! Your current dowry rate is  65 Lakh. Although it is a very competitive amount, self improvement never did anyone any harm. Always remember that "It is an extra that separates ordinary from extraordinary". You have done most of the things in your life right, you just need to give that extra in order to achieve your dream dowry!


Congratulations! Your current dowry rate is  1 Crore. Besides the cash amount, you are assured a lavish wedding, a land property (given you negotiate your price well), hefty and expensive jewelry, and even a foreign tour with your wife -- all with your in-laws' hard earned money. Hasn't someone correctly said, "The best things in life are free"? Now, you can bask in the glory of your achievements. The day has arrived. All these years of hard work, and investment in education has finally paid off. You have made your parents proud. Bravo!


If you are brilliant and thought its a neat idea, just check these websites below:


Dowry Law in India


Anti Dowry - Dahej



But this is all just for fun!!!!! some might say... as if would cancel a rightful disgust.

Just for fun? I don't agree...the content on the internet, be it satirical or not, is out there forming opinion and I believe the Indian youth by treating this subject with such disregard and mockery, banalizes the suffering that some people do face in real life. Moreover if you read the comments on that webpage you see that many do take it seriously, and that is what makes me ashamed here...How gullible can we be?

...
Tomorrow Brazil