Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!brl-tgr!jcp From: jcp@brl-tgr.ARPA (Joe Pistritto) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: Burning Indian brides--one who won't Message-ID: <7516@brl-tgr.ARPA> Date: Fri, 18-Jan-85 15:22:47 EST Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.7516 Posted: Fri Jan 18 15:22:47 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 21-Jan-85 02:22:54 EST References: <2283@mit-hermes.ARPA> Reply-To: jcp@brl-tgr.ARPA (Joe Pistritto ) Distribution: net Organization: Ballistic Research Lab Lines: 20 In article <2283@mit-hermes.ARPA> jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA (John Purbrick) writes: >I had an Indian friend when I was a student, who has since returned to India >and married. His wife is also American-educated, so they understand each >other's bi-cultural outlook. My friend was in town last week and we went out >for drinks one evening. Getting in a dig at him (not expecting that a forward- >looking Indian would ask for a dowry, of course) I said, > "So, how much dowry did you get with your wife? Did they pay plenty >to get rid of her?" > And he said "No, nothing; _she's_ the dowry!" > >Now that's the right way to think about it. A more common attitude in India today than you might think. I am currently negotiating with an Indian family to marry their daughter, they asked if I wanted a dowry, to which I replied no (although it was an interesting idea). Incidentally I'm not Indian. Actually, the family was pleasantly surprised, (since they knew that I knew I could ask for one, and apparently expected me to.) -JCP=