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Sarojamma, Karnataka, mother of Dhanalaxmi - From retribution to healing/restoration


My name is Sarojamma, and for the past ten years I have been working with Vimochana in the Victoria Hospital Burns Ward. But today I would like to tell you the story of my daughter Dhanalaxmi who was killed by her husband Laxman because of dowry. Dhanalaxmi studied up to the seventh standard and was good at extracurricular activities and was very bold. When she came to be nineteen years old, a proposal came from Esanahalli, Nelmangala.

During the marriage negotiation, Laxman demanded that we give ornaments and Rs.20,000/- cash. During the marriage ritual, Laxman refused to tie thali, because a neckchain had not been given to him. It was then my son gave his neckchain and they got married.

After marriage Laxmi was staying in a joint family. Though she was happy for five months, she then began to face problems in her house. Her sister-in-law was ruling the house, and her husband had an affair with another woman, but my daughter never said anything nor showed any feeling.

When Laxmi was pregnant, she came to my house and she looked very sad. When I began to inquire, Laxmi began to narrate the story. Laxmi then delivered a male child but my son-in-law did not come to see my daughter nor my grandson. After five months the child naming ceremony was to be performed. Laxmi’s in-laws attended it and took my daughter back to her house in Nelamangala. After my daughter left to her in-law’s house, I began to visit her occasionally and gave all the house hold items required by her and even gave the needs required for my grandchild.

When my grandson was one year and eight months, I received the news through my neighbour that my daughter was no more. Since the message received was at night, I decided and left at early hours next morning then I saw my daughter being laid down and few people surrounding her. I came to know the reason for her death was snake bite. I had doubts but the people who had come with me made not to give any complaint. It was after six months of my daughter’s death people from Nelamangala began to narrate that my daughter’s death was of no snakebite.

From the time I had lost my daughter, neither my son nor my husband nor anybody else was there to guide me nor support me. It was almost a year later when I found Vimochana and narrated my daughter’s death. I used to frequently attend Viomchana’s meetings and programmes, which later inspired me to join Vimochana.

As a result of seeking their help, the Tashildhar did the re-exhuming of the body. The case was registered, my daughter’s bones were sent to Hyderabad and the investigation was referred to COD. However as there was no witness for my daughter’s death case a “B” report was filed and my son-in-law was acquitted.

Bringing my seven year old grandchild, my son-in-law later came to Victoria Hospital to meet me along with Nelamangala police asking for money to build a house. Later after shouting and sending him out, he demanded money through my neighbours. After a gap of ten years now my grandson came to my house to stay with me. He now reminds of my daughter. I think his father who has not sent my grandson until now has sent him to me because I have decided to sell my property.

I thank Vimochana for what I am today and the moral support given at the time of my crises. In the year 1997 when unnatural death of married women campaign was started, I myself was a testifier for one of the neighbourhood community programmes. In the year 1999 when Donna and Gowry asked me to work in Victoria Burns Ward I readily agreed. Earlier I had worked as a health worker in my village, so I knew about taking care of the burn patient. Though I did not get justice in my daughter’s dowry death I find an alternative way to reach out to many women who are in crisis. I give a lot of moral support to the women who are burnt due to various reasons. I even see that proper treatments are given to this women, maintain the ward clean and neat, and see that proper diet is being maintained. Justice had to be found, though in my own daughter’s death I could find none.