An unexpected AI development stole the spotlight from Google I/O. Here’s whatAndrej Karpathy's announcement of joining Anthropic garnered 17 million views on X, surpassing Google I/O's livestream views of 8.5 million Published on: May 20, 2026 11:02 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link
‘Completely false, fabricated’: TMC responds to ‘leaked’ municipal notice to MP Abhishek BanerjeeThe TMC statement urged journalists to visit the addresses mentioned or call the numbers cited in the notice to verify the facts. Updated on: May 20
Cockroach Janata Party vs National Parasitic Front: The new political battle brewing in IndiaFounded by Abhijeet Dipke, the Cockroach Janata Party has rapidly exploded across X and Instagram.drawing followers by the thousands. Updated on: May 20
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.This mistake almost cost me my GST refund at Changi Airport; Buy these Charles & Keith handbags in India insteadA simple mistake at Changi Airport nearly cost us our GST refund after a
The United States and Cuba held talks this week on a U.S. offer of $100 million in assistance, which Washington has dangled as an incentive for reforms, a U.S. official said on Tuesday (May 19, 2026). Mike Hammer, the acting U.S. ambassador to Havana, met on Monday (May 18
The legendary GTI badge goes electric for the first time. The Volkswagen ID Polo GTI Electric was originally previewed as the ID. 2all concept in 2023. It has a 0 to 100km/h sprint time of 6.8 seconds. Volkswagen has unveiled an electric version of its famous ID. Polo hatchback. While the new
Mouni Roy brings India to Cannes with chic patola print gown, dazzles the night in midnight blue dressAt Cannes, Mouni Roy donned two striking looks, including a chic midnight-blue gown and a stunning patola-embroidered dress. Published on: May 20
Bengaluru techie explains why life in Germany felt calmer than India: ‘Never opened laptop after work’A Bengaluru techie said life in Germany felt quieter and more balanced than his daily routine in Bengaluru. Published on: May 20, 2026 10:05 AM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link
Dowry, domestic violence, and the unsafe reality for Indian women
Dowry, domestic violence, and the unsafe reality for Indian women
Dowry, domestic violence, and the unsafe reality for Indian women
This article is authored by Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre for Social Research and author of Brides are not for Burning.
Published on: May 20, 2026 11:03 AM IST By Ranjana Kumari Share via Copy link Dowry in India is no longer merely a social evil; it has evolved into a deeply embedded system of domestic violence, coercion, and psychological terror against women. Marriage, which society glorifies as sacred and as the ultimate destination for women, often becomes for many young girls a site of fear, humiliation, abuse, and sometimes death. The growing number of suspicious suicides and dowry-related deaths of newly married women raises an uncomfortable but urgent question: What kind of social institution have we normalised in the name of marriage? Dowry deaths are on the rise The latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data reveals the scale of this crisis. According to the NCRB’s latest Crime in India report, more than 1.2 lakh cases of “cruelty by husband and relatives” were registered in a single year, making it the largest category of crimes against women in India. Reports of dowry deaths continue to remain disturbingly high across the country. These are not just statistics; they represent the lived realities of women trapped inside abusive homes with little social or institutional protection. In Delhi alone, NCRB figures show thousands of cases of cruelty by husbands and relatives, along with over a hundred reported dowry deaths in the past year. These numbers expose a brutal truth: For countless women, the greatest threat is not outside the home but within it. The problem is not only dowry demands. The deeper issue lies in the structure of marriage itself, where control over a woman’s life is effectively transferred from her parents to her husband and in-laws. Particularly in middle-class and rural families, marriage is treated as a point of surrender rather than partnership. Once married, a woman is expected to adjust, endure, and preserve the marriage at all costs, regardless of the violence or humiliation she may face. This normalisation of suffering is one of the most dangerous aspects of Indian social conditioning. When women report abuse, emotional torture, or violence to their parents, they are often advised not to return home but to “adjust,” “be patient,” or “save the marriage.” Families frequently fear social stigma more than they fear for their daughters’ safety. In effect, society teaches women to tolerate abuse rather than escape it. Many recent cases involving young brides reveal this tragic pattern. Women had informed their parents, siblings, or close friends about unbearable cruelty, emotional breakdown, and abusive relationships. They had expressed fear, depression, and despair. Yet, instead of being encouraged to leave unsafe marriages, they were persuaded to continue enduring them in the hope that things would improve over time. But what exactly improves? Too often, nothing does. The violence escalates. Emotional abuse deepens. Isolation increases. Eventually, many women are pushed toward suicide—or die under suspicious circumstances later described as “family disputes” or “personal stress.” The most disturbing aspect is that education and economic independence alone do not necessarily protect women from abusive marriages. Many highly educated, professionally successful women remain trapped in violent relationships. This demonstrates that the issue is not merely economic dependency; it is deeply social and psychological. Girls in India are raised to believe that marriage is their ultimate achievement and responsibility. Leaving a marriage—even an abusive one—is often seen as failure. This conditioning destroys women’s ability to prioritise their own safety and dignity. It creates a culture where suffering becomes normalised and silence becomes survival. Homes that should provide security instead become spaces of fear and control—what can only be described as a form of domestic terrorism. Dowry operates as the economic engine behind this system. Marriage is increasingly treated as a transaction involving status, consumption, and financial expectations. The woman is not viewed as an equal individual but as someone expected to bring wealth, serve the household, and absorb humiliation without resistance. When expectations are not met, harassment, violence, and coercion follow. The NCRB data also challenges the assumption that modernisation or urbanisation has significantly reduced domestic violence. Dowry deaths and domestic abuse are not confined to rural or poor households. They occur among educated, affluent, urban families as well. This demonstrates that patriarchy adapts itself even within modern social settings. The crisis, therefore, cannot be solved through laws alone. India already has anti-dowry legislation and legal protections against domestic violence. The problem lies in weak enforcement, social stigma, institutional apathy, and the collective normalisation of women’s suffering. Women often hesitate to seek legal help because they fear social judgment, family pressure, financial insecurity, or emotional abandonment. In many cases, the woman becomes isolated between two hostile spaces: violence in the marital home and pressure for compromise from her parental home. Her pain is minimised, her fears are dismissed, and her life becomes secondary to preserving family reputation. Perhaps the most painful reality is that many women are never taught that leaving an abusive marriage is a legitimate and courageous choice. Society celebrates endurance in women far more than self-preservation. The burden of maintaining marriage is placed almost entirely on the woman, regardless of the cost to her physical or mental wellbeing. This must change. Families must stop treating marriage as irreversible destiny. Parents must stop sending daughters back into violent homes in the name of adjustment and social honour. Young women must be raised with the confidence that their dignity and safety matter more than social expectations. Marriage cannot become a life sentence. Every dowry death is not merely an individual tragedy; it is evidence of a collective social failure. Until Indian society values women as individuals rather than as bearers of family honour and marital obligation, domestic violence and dowry-related deaths will continue to claim lives behind closed doors. The home cannot remain the most dangerous place for Indian women. (The views expressed are personal) This article is authored by Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre for Social Research and author of Brides are not for Burning. Domestic Violence Home/Ht Insight/Gender Equality/Dowry, Domestic Violence, And The Unsafe Reality For Indian Women See Less Home/Ht Insight/Gender Equality/Dowry, Domestic Violence, And The Unsafe Reality For Indian WomenDowry in India is no longer merely a social evil; it has evolved into a deeply embedded system of domestic violence, coercion, and psychological terror against women. Marriage, which society glorifies as sacred and as the ultimate destination for women, often becomes for many young girls a site of fear, humiliation, abuse, and sometimes death. The growing number of suspicious suicides and dowry-related deaths of newly married women raises an uncomfortable but urgent question: What kind of social institution have we normalised in the name of marriage?
The latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data reveals the scale of this crisis. According to the NCRB’s latest Crime in India report, more than 1.2 lakh cases of “cruelty by husband and relatives” were registered in a single year, making it the largest category of crimes against women in India. Reports of dowry deaths continue to remain disturbingly high across the country. These are not just statistics; they represent the lived realities of women trapped inside abusive homes with little social or institutional protection.
In Delhi alone, NCRB figures show thousands of cases of cruelty by husbands and relatives, along with over a hundred reported dowry deaths in the past year. These numbers expose a brutal truth: For countless women, the greatest threat is not outside the home but within it.
The problem is not only dowry demands. The deeper issue lies in the structure of marriage itself, where control over a woman’s life is effectively transferred from her parents to her husband and in-laws. Particularly in middle-class and rural families, marriage is treated as a point of surrender rather than partnership. Once married, a woman is expected to adjust, endure, and preserve the marriage at all costs, regardless of the violence or humiliation she may face.
This normalisation of suffering is one of the most dangerous aspects of Indian social conditioning. When women report abuse, emotional torture, or violence to their parents, they are often advised not to return home but to “adjust,” “be patient,” or “save the marriage.” Families frequently fear social stigma more than they fear for their daughters’ safety. In effect, society teaches women to tolerate abuse rather than escape it.
Many recent cases involving young brides reveal this tragic pattern. Women had informed their parents, siblings, or close friends about unbearable cruelty, emotional breakdown, and abusive relationships. They had expressed fear, depression, and despair. Yet, instead of being encouraged to leave unsafe marriages, they were persuaded to continue enduring them in the hope that things would improve over time.
But what exactly improves?
Too often, nothing does. The violence escalates. Emotional abuse deepens. Isolation increases. Eventually, many women are pushed toward suicide—or die under suspicious circumstances later described as “family disputes” or “personal stress.”
The most disturbing aspect is that education and economic independence alone do not necessarily protect women from abusive marriages. Many highly educated, professionally successful women remain trapped in violent relationships. This demonstrates that the issue is not merely economic dependency; it is deeply social and psychological. Girls in India are raised to believe that marriage is their ultimate achievement and responsibility. Leaving a marriage—even an abusive one—is often seen as failure.
This conditioning destroys women’s ability to prioritise their own safety and dignity. It creates a culture where suffering becomes normalised and silence becomes survival. Homes that should provide security instead become spaces of fear and control—what can only be described as a form of domestic terrorism.
Dowry operates as the economic engine behind this system. Marriage is increasingly treated as a transaction involving status, consumption, and financial expectations. The woman is not viewed as an equal individual but as someone expected to bring wealth, serve the household, and absorb humiliation without resistance. When expectations are not met, harassment, violence, and coercion follow.
The NCRB data also challenges the assumption that modernisation or urbanisation has significantly reduced domestic violence. Dowry deaths and domestic abuse are not confined to rural or poor households. They occur among educated, affluent, urban families as well. This demonstrates that patriarchy adapts itself even within modern social settings.
The crisis, therefore, cannot be solved through laws alone. India already has anti-dowry legislation and legal protections against domestic violence. The problem lies in weak enforcement, social stigma, institutional apathy, and the collective normalisation of women’s suffering. Women often hesitate to seek legal help because they fear social judgment, family pressure, financial insecurity, or emotional abandonment.
In many cases, the woman becomes isolated between two hostile spaces: violence in the marital home and pressure for compromise from her parental home. Her pain is minimised, her fears are dismissed, and her life becomes secondary to preserving family reputation.
Perhaps the most painful reality is that many women are never taught that leaving an abusive marriage is a legitimate and courageous choice. Society celebrates endurance in women far more than self-preservation. The burden of maintaining marriage is placed almost entirely on the woman, regardless of the cost to her physical or mental wellbeing.
This must change.
Families must stop treating marriage as irreversible destiny. Parents must stop sending daughters back into violent homes in the name of adjustment and social honour. Young women must be raised with the confidence that their dignity and safety matter more than social expectations. Marriage cannot become a life sentence.
Every dowry death is not merely an individual tragedy; it is evidence of a collective social failure. Until Indian society values women as individuals rather than as bearers of family honour and marital obligation, domestic violence and dowry-related deaths will continue to claim lives behind closed doors.
The home cannot remain the most dangerous place for Indian women.
(The views expressed are personal)
This article is authored by Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre for Social Research and author of Brides are not for Burning.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: The SUV takeover has made roads more unsafe for everyone else Trump 'will move World Cup games from unsafe cities' Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium Declared ‘Unsafe’ For Large Gatherings Greater Noida man accused of killing wife over dowry shot in leg while trying to escape Heartbreaking video of Noida dowry victim Nikki driving Mercedes surfaces online Noida dowry case victim's kin let in-laws cremate her Greater Noida dowry murder accused Vipin shot in encounter Greater Noida dowry murder case Torture, Dowry Harassment, Psychiatric Treatment
The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which represents nearly 12.4 lakh chemists, pharmacists and drug distributors across India, has announced a nationwide strike on 20 May. The protest is expected to disrupt the supply of medicine in several parts of the country for the
4 minutes ago
One of the most expensive Korean films ever made, this epic sci-fi begins as a "breathless rollercoaster ride" and mashes up The Terminator, Predator, Aliens and Avatar. The films that compete for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival are known for their depth
3 minutes ago
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday chaired meeting to assess preparations for the forthcoming NEET (UG) Re-Examination and demanded a foolproof conduct under strict security protocols. During the high-level meeting, Pradhan stressed on the need for complete integrity and
7 minutes ago
Cornell professor talks AI chaos, and dismissing AI writersThe biggest AI developments, decoded. 20 May 2026. Published on: May 20, 2026 8:00 AM IST By Vishal Mathur Share via Copy link Cognitive warmup. Actor, comedian and filmmaker Seth Rogen has some choice words for creatives using AI to
3 minutes ago
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt could miss next month’s T20 World Cup after the all-rounder was ruled out of her side’s warm-up series against New Zealand and India. Sciver-Brunt tore her left calf while playing for the Blaze in domestic cricket earlier this month and was subsequently ruled
7 minutes ago
Congressman Thomas Massie, one of the most vocal Republican critics of Donald Trump, has lost his fight for re-election to a challenger endorsed by the president. Ed Gallrein, a former Navy Seal, will now compete in November's midterm election after his victory in the Kentucky primary on Tuesday
6 minutes ago
CHSE Odisha Class 12 Result 2026 LIVE: The Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha, will declare the Class 12 (+2) examination results for 2026 today, May 20, at 12:30 PM. Students who appeared in the 12th board examinations can check and download their results from the official
7 minutes ago
Qatar said on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) that U.S.-Iran negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, required more time to reach a deal, a day after President Donald Trump said he had postponed planned attacks to give the process a chance. "We are supportive of the diplomatic effort by Pakistan that has shown
2 minutes ago
Stars are often photographed everywhere they go, but Salman Khan seemed to completely lose his cool after paparazzi surrounded him outside Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital in Bandra on Tuesday night. The actor had reportedly visited the hospital to see a family member when photographers gathered outside
4 minutes ago
May 20, Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on May 20, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Updated on: May 20, 2026 11:02 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on May 20
3 minutes ago
Aaron Rodgers seen with wife Brittani ‘Starlight Leszczyński’? Viral post-marriage pic, Coyote Ugly claims fact-checkedA photo has gone viral allegedly showing Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers with wife Brittani, and the caption identified her as ‘Starlight’ Leszczyński
7 minutes ago
For over two decades, Chef Kunal Kapur has been one of the most recognisable faces of Indian cuisine from judging MasterChef India to championing regional flavours on global platforms. But today, the celebrity chef, restaurateur, author and television personality believes the future of dining is
3 minutes ago
The ongoing war in West Asia and the rising costs of fuel and fertilizers give India an opportunity to enhance fertilizer use efficiency and moderate demand. India produces 80% of its urea requirement domestically and imports the rest while also boosting domestic production capacities to become
7 minutes ago
For more than two decades, football fans of a certain vintage relied on a specific piece of cultural shorthand whenever the red-and-white half of North London let them down. In the classic The IT Crowd episode “Are We Not Men?", a pair of socially awkward computer nerds used an automated web
4 minutes ago
Saiju Kurup is ecstatic. With Bharathanatyam 2: Mohiniyattam, which he acted in and co-produced,trending on streaming after raking in crores at the box office, the actor says he is still not able to process it. “I ask myself if this is all for real
6 minutes ago
Bhopal dowry death victim's co-actor Swetaa Varma ‘in shock’, doubts suicide angleSwetaa Varma, who acted with the victim in a Telugu film, has reacted to her sudden death and said she is still in shock. May 20, 2026, 10:33:34 IST By Abhimanyu Mathur Share via Copy link A former co-star of the
5 minutes ago
The Indian rupee slumped to a record low of 96.9 against the United States dollar on Wednesday. The currency had opened at 96.8. The Indian currency had closed at an all-time low of 96.5 against the US dollar on Tuesday. The slump has come amid elevated global oil prices and economic headwinds
4 minutes ago
The Directorate of Government Examination, Tamil Nadu (TNDGE) has declared the SSLC Class 10th results 2026. Students who had appeared for the Tamil Nadu TNDGE SSLC 10th Result can go to the official website of tnresults.nic.in or dge.tn.gov.in and check their results
7 minutes ago
Sebastian Stan recalls when Donald Trump tried to stall The Apprentice's Cannes premiere, calls out censorshipSebastian Stan, who played Donald Trump in his biopic The Apprentice, has slammed the US President and his policies. May 20, 2026, 10:21:54 IST By Abhimanyu Mathur Share via Copy link
5 minutes ago
In recent days, Trump has repeatedly warned that if an agreement is not reached quickly, Iran will face difficult consequences. Iran, on the other hand, has said that it will respond strongly to any attack. New Delhi: In a significant development
5 minutes ago
US President Donald Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his bid to unseat incumbent Senator John Cornyn in next Tuesday's Republican primary run-off race. By siding with Paxton, Trump is supporting a Texas politician who has long been a close ally of the president – but also
6 minutes ago
BMW has revealed a manual-only M3 CS with rear-wheel drive and 543 bhp as a farewell model for the sixth-generation M3, targeting enthusiasts still wanting an old-school performance sedan experience. BMW making a manual-only BMW M3 CS in 2026 feels almost rebellious at this point
3 minutes ago
Referring to the notices issued by the civic body, Paul alleged that several properties linked to Banerjee, his family and Leaps and Bounds company had come under scrutiny. New Delhi: In a significant development, the TMC-run Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has issued notices to several
4 minutes ago
Rupee Weakens Further: The Indian rupee fell by 33 paise in early trade on Wednesday to touch a fresh record low of 96.89 against the US dollar, extending its losses for the past several sessions. It further weakened in the early trade session to drop to 96
7 minutes ago
DRDO successfully tests ULPGM-V3 missile | All about the indigenous weaponThe defence ministry informed in a statement that the trials were conducted at a DRDO test range near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh using an integrated GCS. Updated on: May 20
3 hours ago
The Trinamool Congress’ Falta candidate Jahangir Khan on Tuesday announced that he has withdrawn from the repolling in the Assembly constituency, two days ahead of voting. “This decision is for Falta’s development and the public good, following the chief minister’s special package
3 hours ago
Who is Andrej Karpathy? OpenAI cofounder and one of AI’s most influential figures joins AnthropicAndrej Karpathy, a founding member of OpenAI, has joined Anthropic. The 39-year-old announced his move to Anthropic on Tuesday. Updated on: May 20
3 hours ago
