Why do we burn our bahus? Deep down, do we think it is allowed? After all, we did practise Sati (with societal sanction) at one point of time and every now and then, still do they even glorified it at Mohaba in Uttar Pradesh last year ...

What is truly frightening is that industrialisation, modernisation and urbanisation progress, in other words have only been accompanied by an increase in numbers. In 1983 there were 427 cases of bride-burning that number went up to 6917 in 1998. The easy way out, saying the number of reported cases have gone up is just that the easy way out ... The widening economic gap, the increase in vonsumerism, rising levels of unemployment, alcoholism have all added to the numbers. Moreover, states like Assam and Kerala where the system of dowry was unheard of, have begun to be hit by the evil. The wheels of justice in India turn especially slowly and legislation by itself has proved to be ineffective but legislation coupled with a show of force are helping set things right. (Source: The Pioneer, 1 October, 2000)