Unlimited Girls - Interview with Satyarani Chadha
Director: Paromita Vohra
Duration: 00:54:29; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 22.543; Saturation: 0.079; Lightness: 0.352; Volume: 0.116; Cuts per Minute: 2.349; Words per Minute: 118.337
Summary: In 1979, Kanchanbala, twenty years old and six months pregnant, was burnt to death following harassment for more dowry in her marital home. After her death, Satya Rani Chadha began a long battle for justice.
With the support of the parents of more than 25 other dowry death victims, Chadha embarked on 21 years of sustained legal activism and court cases, which led to many landmark judgments and fundamental amendments in the criminal law. In 1987, Shakti Shalini, a Delhi-based organisation that helps and motivates other parents of dowry victims to fight this social menace, was formed jointly by Satyarani Chadna and Shahjehan Aapa. (
http://infochangeindia.org/20030205533/Women/Stories-of-change/Justice-for-our-daughters.html)
Paromita Vohra interviewed Chadha for her film
Unlimited Girls (2002), an exploration of engagements with feminism in contemporary urban India. For more, see
http://www.parodevi.com/unlimitedgirls/unlimitedgirls.html
SQ:I did not even go to see it. So he started saying that it is our house and old house. So my children said, 'he is staying out only. What will you go there and do?' He said, we have bought land shadre mein. We will see about it when a house is made. Now, nobody is going to ask for a receipt, that I would ask for a receipt. That means that he actually lied that he had bought 200sq.ft land. He said that in a 200sq.ft. it would make an excellent house. What's there in it? What's there to see in it? Nobody went to see it. After giving the dowry, my daughter was killed. So I am going to get that dowry back! It doesn't matter whether I get less or more, for form sake I will get that dowry back. That morning, ok he says this is not legal. Let him teach me the law which says that the girl goes with band-baaja and give her ashes back. Move away, greed was also there, twenty years ago.
SQ:He called the ACP. ACP came and said why you're not allowing them to lift the dead body. I said, first dowry will come out, then the body. He said, no this is Kanyadaan. I said, the kanya is no longer there, why are you showing off the daan? There was a lot of commotion, a scuffle and a physical fight. Then my sons asked, 'ma what will you do with the dowry?' I said, ' let us go just now with the police. I'll give it to Jamuna, give it in the gurudwara, give it away in some temple. So Jamuna will take the tv, fridge and cupboard, bigger things I'll give in the gurudwara or temples. Or at somebody's daughter's wedding. Don't give me small things like vessels and all. And the jewellery, I will make something out of it in her name.
SQ: So, my brother-in-law came. He asked me why I was spoiling my reputation. I replied saying
that there is no reputation remaining anyway. He went out quietly.
Q: Nobody felt bad, the way you're saying. Your daughter was burnt.
SQ:My daughter got burnt. It's bad to ask to ask for dowry back. Everybody felt sad, everyone cried, they were hitting their heads against the wall. But you are asking back for the dowry and so your reputation is getting spoilt. Nobody takes kanyadaan back.
Q:Why?
SQ:See, what is given as daan (charity), see, I am quite senior, what has been gifted too the daughter, today I am a social worker, but I don't drink even water in my daughter's house, let me tell you that.
Q:Why?
SQ:You shouldn't even drink water from your daughter's house, its written in our holy texts. I remember very well when my grandfather used to go his daughter's house, he won't even drink water from the same village. You want to eat, you eat. So I asked why and he said, no beta, I told you na I don't want to have. Why are you asking me every time?' I remember this very well, our zillanagar, near Gurdaspur, our daniyaal is there. So when my grandfather used to go to Vattala, it comes on the way, I would ask to let me visit my aunt. She will give me one rupee, she used to give me one rupee. So he said, if you want, you take two rupees from me. When I go there I have to give five rupees to her and the children. No but I will go to my aunt's house. I was the grand-daughter of the family. From three sons, I was the only one. My grandfather had 3 sons. He knew that I wouldn't agree. So, he never had, my mother never ate in my house, so that's what meaning, its purely tradition. She never used to go there because her son-in-law would get angry that– he is very nice. Otherwise, I don't drink water from my daughter's house.
Q:When the dowry subject was taken up as an andolan (movement), so over there there must have been a lot of girls and families
SQ:8 sets of parents – when we made the dowry parents act, so ____nikli huyi. So one Cathy Sridhar lived in Holland. She saw Chithra and my, she must have seen some movie, made by somebody. So there is one Vidhi Srinivasan and she wanted to interview him so she came here today. But she is in Safdar Jung, she is ill. So I fought against the people in my house and I went to Vidhi's house. Because the dowry had gone, and I told Vir singh, 'if you moved the dead body, I will die under the tyre of the truck, as long as the dowry doesn't come.' ' see this dowry is not going to come.' So they had to take the dead body for post-mortem in the truck na, so then he said that this woman is not going to agree, so give back her dowry.
SQ:It came. Whatever was there at that time. But this thing is there, it came in the newspapers the next morning that one mother took away the dowry she had given. Public started coming to my house since I had taken the dowry back. He said, Now get the dowry, I'll go to court. Over there, I can't tell you how it was raining stones, people were throwing stones from above. But I never got hurt, some bruises here and there only.
Q:Who threw?
SQ:They only, the boy's side. Someone else, I am not talking about my daughter. AT that time, Gauri Choudhry, Suman Kishankant who is now Vice-president's wife, Pramila Dandavate…I never knew anybody. I was only a housewife who made rotis, brought up children, made one of them complete graduation, one did a Business management course, another did hotel management, that was my only work. I have to feed them, bring fresh vegetables, fruits…that is all my work.
SQ:But I did all that. But when this happened, there was nothing to protect, no guard, no car. As I, Aapa met me there na, one Khyaput caste girl had been killed. She said that a dharna was being organized for this girl who was my same caste at ITU, near the Police Commissioner's house, we have to go. I wore my slippers, not bothering whether anyone had eaten or not, didn't even change my clothes. I went there like a mad woman to ITU. We were going to meet the Police commissioner there. So aapaa caught me like that and I was scared also. Who are you? Aapa said that her daughter was killed. So I said, 'oh so today, you're daughter has been killed?. So she said no that her daughter...I don't know how many months had passed. Your Satyarani no, I have heard your name quite often.
SQ:So then these people came to my house. So I got to meet and know them. I never knew any minister before that. Then Pramila Dandavate used to call me, Suman kishankant asked me to come to her house. Then they called me to the Parliament. Her daughter is dying, try doing something for her. At that time, Gani Zail Singh was the Home Minister. I went and I am from Lahore. So, the ritual of Punjab, my father was a judge at High Court. I was two and a half years old when my father died. So, our mother never allowed us to stand on the road and buy flowers or eat golgappa. Nothing. We had to go to school and come back straight. So, some of my mother's friends used to come home.. it used to be four annas to go to Amritsar and back – two to go and two to return.
SQ:So in Amritsar, after going to the Gurudwara, my mother used to allow us to eat whatever you wanted, all mothers used to allow. And a lot of people used to say, 'oh god, she is moving around without covering her head'. It was banned actually. So, I was sixteen when I got married. She's matured, how can she run around without covering her head? So as soon as I went to Amritsar, Gani Zail singh was giving a lecture. I don't know at that time what rank he was in. So he was saying that in our Punjab, there are very tall houses but anyways, not as tall as in Delhi, but around 4 floors was considered very tall there. Our houses in Punjab are very clever. If the mother comes, then the wall will not fall, and the girl will not come, the son won't, no family member will. As soon as the daughter-in-law comes, to urinate, then the wall will go to the other side and she will go that side. Meaning that they would push it no? They are understanding now.
SQ: In our wells, there is something called a Bhauni. So the Bhauni's of our wells are very good. When the daughter-in-law came to use the well, the stick would also break and the nail also would give way. But then she would fall into the well. These two or three things, I heard him say. As soon as my daughter died, I asked what he meant by it. At that time, I was only 12-13 years old. When Gani Zail Singh came as the Home Minister of Kapurthala – Punjab. So I went up and him, he was available in the morning in his office. so when I went there, I told him I am Punjabi and that I had heard him say those things in Amritsar. So he told someone, take her to my room. So I got a little scared also but I thought what is there, what do I care? I went to the room, he came and sat next to me and he asked me where I had heard this. So I said that I am from Lahore and I had heard this in Amritsar near Dwara. Yes madam, we will definitely make laws, and we will hang him to death. I was very happy to hear that, he had promised to make those laws.
SQ:Then he also gave me an award, Gyaniji. What is there in award, you tell me.
Q:When you wanted to have a movement, why is it that only you were there and no one else?
SQ:This depends on everyone's courage. No one has time. 2 shops are there in Defence Colony's ___market – 98,98 you can even ask there today. Today those shops are of 75 lakhs value. My son Sandolan singh sold it for three lakhs each. Daily they ran a business, who leaves such a thing, woman. Every night they used to go with money hidden inside two boxes/ durabbon mein. That much money they used to earn.
Q:Why did they do that?
SQ:Why? Even today, in any village, if any girl dies, I still feel she is my child. If I stayed back at home, I would have probably died. This is also there. Even today, I am serving, I am helping by sharing the sorrow of some sister. Whoever comes to me, if not our daughter, at least get our things back to us and I get it back for them. That's it. For some, they get a lot. Now there is even a law that the family will all the woman's wealth back Those whose daughters are killed, even they get the dowry back which is demanded by the boys side, meaning that this become law. It's alright, there is something good, something bad. Today Shakti Shalini is there, people can at least share their sorrows. Those girls who get away, they are given free __, there is a law for that also. Indira Jaisingh is one such lawyer who is ours. She is in the panel, she works very well. She has given some girls their expenses, she helped them settled. We are ale to send them but one never knows we are always scared as we don't know when they will be killed. And they get killed also, after having left. I won't even tell you that it doesn't happen.
Q:Do they still get killed?
SQ:Of course they get killed. Don't you read the newspapers? One girl had come to us, first she came with one kid. Then we sent her away, and she came back with another kid. I said, Kanta was her name. I said, see Kanta, you already have two diplomas, it's good. One in the First Year of B.A. and in the second year, higher secondary. She began to laugh. She said, aunty, I can't even write my name. The third time she went, she got burnt so badly that I can't tell you. Her parents came to me, I scolded them severely I will not help you. Why did you send her back? When she comes back, your reputation went down. So it's ok, she got burnt, she died, you are also free and I am feeling very sad about this. But the parents insisted. So I went. I went to Safdar Jung hospital. 85 % burns were there, legs, face and chest also. I said ' kanta, I told you not go. She said no aunty I will never go back again. So I replied that if you are saved, then I know you won't go there, but if you are not saved, then________.
Anyway, she said, aunty, take care of my children. I agreed. We went to Faridabad. This Usha from here, I went. He said that he will close the case. This SP said to me that could close the case. But if we close the case,. Where will the children go? Where are the children now? He said, right now they are with their nani(maternal grandmother). But how long will she keep them. She is a government servant. And the boy was in jail for 24 hours and he will get dismissed. So then? I felt who is he to teach me. Whatever the judge thinks, he will do. So he called the judge. And he said, now that you have come to ask, I'll do it. They must have had some settlement that in the evening at 5pm bring some whiskey. When we reached there, everyone from the village was there. So I said, this is the boy. He asked me whether I recognize him. I said yes, I have met him twice when his wife came, how will I not recognize?
What they did, they began to say, 'now we will have to get this closed.' Twice they had sent her, the third time, if I was able to take from the parents na, this thing about closing it! I said, where is the handcuff, remove it. Anyway when we went there from 5pm to 9 pm, he said this is closed and that is closed. Anyway, we went to see the girl, now we don't want to go. We gave her some money for whatever expenses for that hospital, for the bandages. We said don't go, stay I our home. so, we used to the court,, he took her/it. Now it's/she's in the house. That thing is there. How long can you keep a girl? And poor things, where to eat from? That's the big thing.
Q:When our law is so (inaudible), and when you know that there is so much cheating, then why did you fight your case?
SQ:Why did I fight? She was already fighting, that's why I was fighting. It had all already begun. And I should withdraw at that time? That case? Now I am sitting with that thought that even after fighting for 21 years, what did you get…even Sudha who is sitting here tells me, aunty, put up the case at least once, we will go. So high Court, at least 2-3…why isn't the High Court bringing it to the board for almost two years? For almost two years, why haven't they brought it to the Board, the High Court knows how old I am – I am 80 years old. So why isn't the case coming to the board? So the lawyers are trying their best. If they take one month or two, months, but I think it will come through. I have told them ways to do it.
Q:You have put the case, you're feeling sad also, you're not getting anything, what's the use?
SQ:What's the use? You mean to say that if someone's girl dies, let them die? This is what you mean na?
Q:What's the use of putting a case on them?
SQ:What's the use? At least, they will be some expenditure for the case na? First time, someone is asking me this question, otherwise I have given so many interviews and I have come in this also. Now aapaa did not fight. Not at all…were her kids so small and all I don't know. This means that there will be cases in the court. Some people will get punished, some people will not. So, you should take an interview to make this case strong, and not saying to just leave this case. It is wrong.
Q:I am not saying to leave it.
SQ:You are saying that why did you fight when there's no use of it. So do you think there is any use in this case of mine?
Q:You tell me?
SQ:You tell me, I am asking you.
Q:What if he doesn't get the punishment?
SQ:Seven years punishment is there na!
Q:But he will come out with a bail
SQ:Yes, then he'll come out na. Why did you give bail? Why hasn't the government made this strong – 21 the requests which have been there? So, why are you letting him go? This is the government's fault, not mine. So anyway, now she is saying we will fight. 'Aunty, we will go will sign?' I said, you go, I will sign. If necessary I'll even go.
Q:This incident about your daughter that has happened you, have you changed after that?
SQ:Completely changed. Today, I mean, (inaudible)is there na, earlier I used to live there. I put a hand-pump outside, so people could drink water, was their hands, face. At that time there was no taps of the corporation. So, all the police used to have a bath with jungle water in them morning. So my children used to sit out. They used to bring 'ber' in that particular season, it was dense forest till Model/Modern colony. Someone used get something for those chidren, and they would be sitting there, one is five, the other is six one eight. So one day, I told my elder son, he was eight at that time. I said, ' Beta, it is wrong to be either a friend or an enemy of the police. Why do you sit out?' so he said, ' you have told us so many stories about enmity being wrong, why is friendship wrong?' 'na betaa, they are sweet and take things from you, they do this. So he said, ' no but what things?' ' Who si the thief, how do we know who is the thief?' What else would today's child ask me? I told my husband that these police come in the ___season, break something and take away, and these children sit like beggars there as though who will give us something. The house is open and things are scattered and in those days, there were no fridges also.
So my husband said why are you so worried? I will call them right away, make them break the hand pump and take it inside. So he removed the hand pump put it inside and whoever would come to wash their hands and legs, fill up water. And I used to feel that o lord, what a sin I am committing. Some thirsty person would drink water, someone else something else. One day, one police came home and said, ' sister, can I ask you something? I said, 'tell me'. 'this handpump?' ' so I said, it used to become wet and mushy and if someone in the night came to use it. Some people come at midnight to use the pump and then we can't sleep. So, that's thing.' So he said, ' it was a big comfort to us'. So I couldn't tell him the actual thing. I mean, I used to get very scared of the police. When my daughter died, I went there, there was one Sardar. So he told me, ' walking bare feet. I was wearing a good saree. As soon as I went there, he saw me and said , 'What is it that ____, mai? The fire happened automatically? I said, ' oye sardar, when did I come to wash vessels in your house? How dare you call me mai? What means mai? Whom do you call mai?
My husband did not come. FIR, what is that? Whatever you say, I will write it. I told him I don't even know what it is, which animal is called FIR. Hey, move back. And very casually, he asked me, who has come with you. I said,about 250 people to have come? I said I don't know ho is going to come and who is not. I am here. Then he asked who is your neighbour, I said Pyarelal Jain. So he went to him and asked him to file an FIR. So he said, she was a straightforward woman. She doesn't know what is a first information report. I've called her husband, he will come now. My husband was in Raidoot hotel. He came home from there and then he came to know about the fact that his daughter had got burnt, not been burnt but got burnt. So, he told the driver, why did you bring me home? You should have taken to the hospital in which she is. That driver didn't know where my daughter's house was. So they came searching. So they were told that an FIR had to be lodged. So let me at least speak to my wife. 'why are so inquisitive?, he thundered. Then my brother came and said, 'Fir, we will have to file, it is necessary. ' I said, what should I write. Day before, she fought and came away, na. Just write about that incident. So I wrote that. I didn't even know what an FIR is. A lot of people don't know even today.
Q:How have you changed?
SQ:What change?
Q:How has this incident changed you?
SQ:The fact that my daughter got burnt, that change is there. No else's should die. But they are dying. They are dying.
Q:How have you changed?
SQ:This is how I have changed
Q:But what are the changes it has brought in you? Firstly, you used to get scared.
SC:Yes, I wasn't made scared. At that time, my daughter was lying in front of me. Such a beautiful girl, I educated her, she learnt to read and write, stitch, knit, vessels. She didn't know how to use the sweater-knitting machine. The other girl next door, she takes twenty rupees a month. So my daughter said, ' ma, let's go to Inderlok.' I said, what is there in Inderlok? It sound like it is very far away, sounds like some pilgrimage place.' She said, 'o it is here near shastri nagar. No, I want to buy wool.' I said, 'what are you going to do with wool?' Shawls are there, sweater is there, now what do you want? She said, 'no ma I want to learn.'
I said ok, those days were cheap – 15-20 rupees – Cleo's. I took two to two hundred and fifty rupees and went with her. My sweater, my kids sweaters, my father's sweater, our sweaters,. I said, for how many are you saying? She said, give something for Diwali, some for Karva Chauth. Her mother-in-law's, her sisters-in-laws, she made sweaters for all of them. That means, such an able child who got killed, and who said she wanted to do law. So I said, after doing law…
long pause (mic to be arranged properly- cameraman)
She said she wanted to do law. I said we have found a very nice boy. So she said, law I will not be able to do. And boys will come if I am destined to. I said no. she had to get killed, she got killed. I know it, I only got her killed. Whatever whoever says. I saw the boy, she never saw him. She never knew anything.
Q:But even you didn't know. It was according to tradition.
SQ:Tradition yes, but I didn't even (inaudible). After she died, everyone came and said that I should have asked them about the family, where I got the wedding done.
Q:When people fix up marriages, today, what advice do you give them?
SQ:I would say only this, that they should make proper enquiries. My own grand-daughter had done _____. How can I advice others? She's done her M.A., sowing, computer what ever is there, she has done everything, kitchen course everything, she's done everything. We are now searching for a bridegroom for her, whom we like, their family like us. My son makes buildings and sells.
So we have seen someone. So when we were talking to them, whoever was the liaison between us, so they were saying that a car is a normal thing to give. And what Maruti, now Santro has come. I said, listen my sister, I will not give anything by demand. The baraat will come, it will, earlier they used to 50, then 100. Nowadays there are not less than 500 baaraatis. There will be no Maruti, or anything like that, not even a scooter. You know my daughter got killed because of the scooter. So, now, some don't like us and some people we don't like. That night, my son had come home, he said, ' I am very upset/ troubled. So I asked him what the matter was. Munna has 22 years old. So what if she is twenty two. She is doing service, she's not a burden on you, she's earning. If she's a burden on you, send her to me. So he said,'ma its useless talking to you. You are not even advising me' 'areee son, what advice do you want me to give? Whichever boy we like, - now there was one boy who said, I will come home to see your girl. so I said ok come to my house. So he said, ' where the stays, I want to go there.
SQ:When there was a fight in our house na, - I had told you about the Gupta colony case na, my sons sold their shops. In anger I sold my house which was in my name. I sold the house, and when I sold it, and when the kids came onto the roads, they happily started eating into the three three lakhs. They used to leave the grandsons with me. He used to say, ' dadiamma dadiamma maan jaao'. Forget the anger and take us back into the house. So that was it, they used to leave on saturday evening on Sunday morning and pick him up on that evening. When people started saying that they had begun to stay in rented houses, the kids were getting bad habits, hey re falling sick. Then I sold my house. I helped my sons open up a business, gave them MIG flats, I got the two of them shops, one of them set up a telephone. Meaning that the entire house was set for them. Now I don't live in an MIG flat, at that time I got one and given it to them. I am with the smaller son. Now the bigger son, his wife is doing service in the ministry, it is a very big office, whatever is there she can take, there's no problem. But she says that here thee is a lot of safety. That is why.
SQ:So everything else. So I said try coming here for sometime. What's the difference between grandmother's house and father's house? She said no, wherever she is, she is happy. So when they said that, I said son even I don't want to stay here any longer. Those who have to see a house, she is living in the house, she's educated and all, she has everything.
Q: What is the meaning of nari vad (feminism)?
SQ: what is the meaning of nari vad? It means that you should fight very hard for your rights, become strong and make women stronger, make children, don't differentiate between son and daughter, this is what nari vad (feminism) is called, according to me. It maybe something else for you.
Q:Are you a feminist?
SC:No doubt, surely a feminist. Even for my granddaughter's wedding, I won't give anything in dowry. I will make a fixed deposit in her name. Why, because who knows, tomorrow after the wedding, the boy will take care of everything, and the fixed deposit will become five years old, the money would have doubled. When the girl will be happy and content, if I see that no one troubles her in the house, I will ask her what she wants to do with the fixed deposit – to use t or continue it. and a few things like clothes to wear, if any necessity of expenses, I will give out of my will.
Q:Should every woman need to be a feminist?
SQ:Of course
Q:Do you think men can be feminist?
SQ:Ya, there are some people. Some, not all. Even today, yesterday my daughter-in-law said that she would definitely like to go to her mother's house, because the son was in his 12th standard. She always asks me and so when she asked me, I said, 'Yes, of course, you can go. Come on Monday morning or Sunday night, whatever.' She said ok, she asked the kids also, they said yes. tell my son- but tomorrow I have to, so i said, ' listen to me, last week also, you had work, this week also, you have work. Does this work ever ___her? How will I know? I leave in the morning.' So he said, she will not go today?
So I said, she will definitely go today. So he asked me, why ma, do you have some shopping to do in Karol Bagh? I said there is no shopping, I don't want to do any shopping neither does she want to do any shopping. But she will definitely go today. So he looked at my face. I said, now you must understand. She is the mother of your kids. 20-22 years she has been married to you, can't she even go to her mother's house? She should stick here? I would say she is a very good girl that she is asking if she can go. Ok let her go and wear her slippers and take the children also. They can do one day's studies there. So she said, (laughingly) they have tuition, I cannot take them. So I told her, ' so what I will make rotis and whatever for them, I am there na. There should be they are not completely feminist.
Women can very easily become feminist and its very good but forget about men.
Q:If we forget about men, then how will the world change?
SQ:Women can change the world! This kamala bhasin's song is there na, ' if men can celebrate karva chauth then what fun!' that song is ther na, but even if they celebrate karva chauth, so it's okay, I won't say they are my daughters. So, if men celebrate karva chauth and also polish shoes and say, 'you kept me hungry you kept me hungry na? This is women's age old tradition for karva chauth. Now when they went to the moon, they used to say, we have already reached the moon and women are still praying to the moon!' I am not saying that (pause) men should change their attitude and that of my sons have changed considerably. My son-in-law's has changed. When my daughter died, both my sons were single and everyone used to say, 'who will marry your daughter? Who will marry your sons?' so ii used to say, its okay and so they used to say, ' that we don't want to marry!.'
And they laughed and went away. One day, something happened, someone said, ' don't tell your mother, I am very scared of your mother. My daughter said, ' mummy, mummy, they said they are' I said, ' why, do I have horns, or do I have fangs, why is my face so frightening? ' so I said, give me the phone, let me speak. So that person said, ' I was only saying that jokingly but she told you.'I said ' shut up you silly.' You don't tell her that, I said. Oh so now you're trying to make us fight is it?' he thinks before he talks, very nice kid. Even if I call him in the middle of the night and I need him, he will come. His sons are also studying and I am not mad to call him at that hour. If I say I want to go to Haridwar and I want to take my daughter, he will say, he will also come and drive us there and we will all go. If I say I want to go alone on the pilgrimage, I'll take my daughter along. He jokes with me and he says, ' why don't you take you r daughter-in-laws? Then who will take care of the kids? Why should i…you take care of her, you take care of the kids. I like to go with my daughter, I can take care of myself. There is nothing that he would object to.
You are saying, that men should change their attitude? We are trying to change their attitude first. The pain that the mother goes through at child-birth, that pain is not there for the man. Even if he says, my children. The kids have the father's/man's name in the school. Now rules have changed, now even the mother's name is there. But anyway first it is the man's name. ' what does your father do? Nobody asks about your mother, even if the father washes dirty vessels in the house, nobody will ask about the mother.
Q:Are they changing or haven't they changed?
SQ:Now see, it has been 23 years since I have been fighting. Till now, I haven't seen hope. I have no hopes.
Q: Earlier everyone used to fight about this, do they still?
SQ:They fight. Now, because there is something called NGO, even the police tremble. Earlier, the police would not even lodge an FIR, now they are doing on the phone itself. Even Shahajahan knows that over here nearby of DCW, just see the state of the Muslim women there. The rest who come to a Home, over here there are both Hindus and Muslim, over there are more Muslims because Muslims eat everything na, the Hindu girl is not like that/ she hates it. anyway, over here everyone Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, they are all here and this place is big for 40 people, that one is small. Here, there is an order of 6 at the most 8 people, not more than that. There is no place over there. Enough, have you finished. Ok then.
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SQ: So still he is threatening that at the gate, nobody's going to behave properly. Shakti Shalini, their work is to get back the girl's dowry, to get them their divorce, if they are going through a lot of trouble to give them space in the **woman and child department Home, and if there is case to be fought in the court, FIR lodging, or if he is giving threats, so then to tell the police that he is threatening, and to make the sure the police take action on him. Yes yes,. This is from 11am to 2pm for cases – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, three days. Veermaar, that is another branch from DCW. (Pause) see you have to give us a letter and then we will give them a letter that we have got a letter from you r wife. we have heard one side of the story, we want to hear the other side from you also. Ok, whether he will come or not come, even we don't know. Then we send a stronger letter second time saying that you haven't come, so we are going ahead with our procedures. Our lawyer is Indira Jaisingh for free, no charges. So then we give them a notice of Indira Jaisingh. If he still doesn't come, then we go to his house to sort the matter. It is not a dharna where that 100 women or 10 women will go. You have? Which hospital? Ok, in Rohini? Ok, hmmn, __________(Punjabi?) In America? In Mulika? Husband used to stay in DDF flat._________________________ husband. So see, you should be able to find that out from the hospital. There's nothing like that. You go there…what? Over there, it was also on rent? So at least you will come to know from Mitkar hospital, how many…oh so they have dropped her in some other hospital…so from the hospital desk how may days will he not come on the job, that you tell me. If they don't remove________salary___you'll have to find that address and give me. I can't find the address for you. Address you can get from some relative or through anyone else…yes, yes,
MLS of Satyarani talking on phone, more light
So you tape it on the phone, only then it will be some ___. Yes alright correct ok! (puts the phone down, picks up a file and h\shouts out). The girl is also a doctor, the husband is also a doctor. Where did she go? ( she walks out in to the terrace)
SQ:But you don't even have a room number? Which room were you going to?
SQ:So they are asking for the kid
Woman 1:No they are saying that they only want help, help to fight.
SQ:What did the girl say that ignore the mother-in-law?
Woman1: the girl never said anything.
SQ:So that day you were saying, she was creating such a fuss. Now you tell me what was the judge saying? Later on anyway, what the judge says, will be believed.
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