As with Bhanwari Devi, gross injustice was committed in the Roop Kanwar sati case, when yet another session court in Rajasthan, acquitted all 32 of the accused in October last year.

Indian society consists of immensely varied political, social, ethnic, linguistic, religious and community groups, which, by and large, reside in villages, where poverty, misconceived religious notions, social customs, illiteracy, ignorance and superstitions prevail.

The title of my lectures is 'Some Reflections on Dowry', and it would be insulting the sophistication of this audience to elaborate on its importance or topicality. Dowry has become literally a burning problem, and the