Higher Dowry Asked For 'Ugly' Brides: Maharashtra Textbook Shocker

"Ugliness" and disability are listed among the reasons for dowry demands made to the parents of a bride, in a Class 12 schoolbook in Maharashtra. The outrageous statement is part of a chapter in the sociology textbook titled "Major Social Problems in India".

The book is approved by the state Secondary and Higher Secondary education Board.

"If a girl is ugly and handicapped, then it becomes very difficult for her to get married," says a section on dowry in chapter 3.

"To marry such girls, the bridegroom and his family demand more dowry. Parents of such girls become helpless and pay dowry as per the demands of the bridegroom's family," it says.

According to the book, the other factors that spur families to raise their dowry demands are religion, caste and "social prestige".

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"Expectation of a suitable bridegroom" is also listed as a reason, and the explanation is equally offensive - that parents looking for good candidates for their daughters are "prepared to spend more", so bridegrooms demand "maximum dowry".

Asked about the offensive passages, an official of the state board today said "the matter will be looked into."

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Board chairman Gangadhar Mamane told the Press Trust of India, "I will discuss the issue with the board of studies and will then comment on it."

The book has been read by thousands of students since it was published in 2013.Many professors, expressing shock at the chapter on dowry, say they prefer to skip the controversial parts while teaching students.

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With inputs from PTI