Hyderabad men shun dowry Reporter : Tejeswi Pratima
Wednesday, April 19, 2006 (Hyderabad):
In a sign that shows times are changing for the better, young men in Hyderabad are shunning dowry.
Gautam Ramadugu is a technology engineer with a well-known software firm in Hyderabad.
Two weeks ago, the 25-year-old chanced upon a website www.idon'twantdowry.com and the next thing he knew he had registered.
Gautam says as far as he knows no one in his family has taken or given dowry. He claims he was only reaffirming a family tradition."I am earning enough. If she is well educated, if there is any problem, she can also earn but there is no reason to give and take dowry at the time of marriage,'' said Gautam.
Unique websiteThe unique website has been launched by NKG online, a Hyderabad based web service provider. Already more than 900 eligible singles have registered on the site. What's heartening is that men outnumber women with more than 500 eligible youth waiting to be grooms who don't want dowry."Initially we assumed that more number of brides would be listed. There would be more people who cannot pay dowry but it is the other way round.
We are seeing more number of grooms who are saying we don't want dowry,'' said Sarasri, Managing Director, NKG Online.The tremendous response the website has generated would tempt one to conclude that at least some things are changing for the better.
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The above article was appeared in the NDTV 24X7 news on April, 19th at 7 24 pm. The video clip is present on the web site said above in the media section. In addition to this MAA TV also covered us and presented regarding the website on April 19th 2006 in their 2 pm and 5 pm news bulletins. The article in the bulletin lasted for about 1 minute to 2 minutes in MAA TV.
Both the TV's covered me because I am against the dowry system and as I was the one who registered in that website in the early days. This TV coverage happened in a very surprising manner. I will explain it all below.
Actually I wanted to take leave on April 18th , 2006 as there was an operation for my uncle and I need to be there for the help. I applied for the same when I came to the office on April 17th, 2006. Suddenly I got a call from the website authorities asking my permission for giving the details about me and the phone number, so that the channel people would contact me for shooting. I was shocked for a moment and was in a dilemma whether to agree or not. But finally I agreed though I am not going to marry soon, because I dont want to miss the oppurtunity to appear on the small screen and that too in the news channel which is very popular in India. I was then waiting for the call from the channel people. But I did not receive the call till 7 pm ( It is the time I reached home on that day). I thought I will not get the call and all that was a like a fake.
But suddenly in the night I got a call from the channel reporter in Hyderabad, Tejeswi Pratima. She asked me when I will be free tomorrow morning ( i.e., on April 18th, 2006 ) for the shooting and that too before 10 30 am as they need to go to other places for covering other news. I told her first to come in the afternoon. But she did not accept. Then I asked her whether it would be convenient for her to visit my place in the morning at 6 30 am and complete the shoot before 7 30 am as we need to go to the hospital for the operation. Then she agreed for that. I got up early in the morning and got ready. I started waiting for the group. Finally they came near my place at 6 45 am and I went out to take them to my home. Then they shoot for about 40 min in my home with my aunt and uncle. I exchanged all my feelings with them. I also exchanged words of appreciation for them. Then they dropped all of us at the hospital in their vehicle as it awas getting late for us.
When the operation started we( I and my cousin) came back to the home to watch a film as it would take long time to finish. Then I got a call again from the website people to come down to their office near Medinova, Erramanzil colony as MAA TV people are visiting their office for the coverage and they want the youth who registered in the web site to speak with them in their office only. I accepted the request and also went to their office. I had a talk with the web site people and I felt that they are really doing a good job. They also appeciated me in this aspect. We had to wait for a long time for the MAA TV fellows to come to their office and after they came they shot for about 30 min and said the probable time of telecast and then left the place. I also left to home happily and got my uncle home from the hospital and explained what all had happened that day. He also felt happy. I told my parents regarding this, they also saw me in the TV on April 19th, 2006.
Those 2 news clips are on the website. Any one interested can download and see.
I am really surprised with all this because I never expected that I would appear in the TV . But I appeared in the TV and that too for a very noble cause and I am very happy for that. I am also happy for all the appreciations received on that day of telecast. A moment of elation.
In my next blog I will narrate all my experience when I along with the team members appeared in a small scene in the recent telugu release "Godavari".
- Gowtham Ramadugu
