It’s both sad and infuriating to say that even though dowry is illegal in India, it’s widely prevalent across the country. While some parents willingly give it as gifts, others are forced to pay hefty amount of cash and jewellery to secure their daughter’s marriage.
Torture of women for dowry is quite common in Indian households. Recently two cases of dowry related deaths surfaced from the state of Kerala.
One of them was Vismaya, a final year student of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, who was found dead at her in-law’s house on 22nd June. Her death caused widespread online protests after it was found that she had allegedly told a family member about the assault and torture she was facing at her in-laws house.
While the case is still under police investigation, the online edition of Manorama magazine, used the Vismaya’s wedding photo on its cover page.
A picture of the same is going viral on Twitter.
Have some shame you filthy animals at Manorama! Do not milk a tragedy in this despicable manner! How do you come up with such sadistic ideas just for the sake of business?!?! pic.twitter.com/KqhqT1zJZI
— Arya (@RantingDosa) June 29, 2021
The headline on the cover page apparently says: Let there be no more of these bewilderments.
It should be noted that the victim’s name was Vismaya, which also means bewilderment.
People are calling out the publication for crossing all limits for the sake of publicity.
That’s the reading on the Cringe-o-meter for @manoramaonline pic.twitter.com/OWiAMnV6Wa
— Red Indian (@roteIndischer) June 29, 2021
Woah, they went there. They used the wedding pictures! The incident and the life after that caused her death — on their cover!? How? Was no one thinking?
— Ramesh (@Suresh_543) June 29, 2021
Is this with her parents’ consent?
— Sekhar (@sekhars88) June 29, 2021
Ok. This would be sold out in record number 2mrw. V pple shld tke decision not to read such .. till thn they keep on publishing such ..
— fernandus_fernu (@fernandus_fernu) June 29, 2021
Obviously they wud have her parents consent, wouldn’t they?
— A-JAI (@Ajaijoy2) June 30, 2021
what the…. 😳 https://t.co/SyW7XIi5no
— kavya 🦋 (@kavyacj) June 30, 2021
Wtf! Disgusting @manoramaonline @manoramanews https://t.co/q7LirL2cmK
— Megs || #SaveLakshadweep (@megs__29) June 30, 2021
‘വിസ്മയങ്ങൾ’!! seriously Manorama Weekly. That journalistic ethics of yours 🙄 https://t.co/CGi7feyV6s
— Amala (@aam_thoughts) June 29, 2021
Trigger Warning: Murder.
— Kagami defender. She/her (@pillai_tanya) June 30, 2021
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This is so disgusting and sick. I cannot believe that the magazine is using a tradgedy for profits. It's really horrifying how they stooped so low. https://t.co/UVM3MEHYA3
@manoramaonline fuck you actually this is disgusting you are sick https://t.co/3g8LSMDRh4
— elle 🔪 (@YOON0IRE) June 30, 2021
While we do not know if the publication took permission from Vismaya’s parents or not, using her wedding picture like this is really insensitive.
According to data from NCRB, India recorded nearly 7000 dowry-related deaths in a year. It’s high time we talk about dowry deaths in India and bring the victims to justice.