A 21-year-old Indian woman who packed her husband-to-be off to jail minutes before their wedding because he asked for a larger dowry has been invited to appear on Oprah, the US television show hosted by Oprah Winfrey, it was reported Friday.
Software engineer Nisha Sharma became an overnight celebrity last May after refusing to marry Munish Dalal. Over 2,500 guests had arrived for the wedding when Sharma heard her father had been abused and beaten, allegedly by the groom's family, who demanded an additional 1.2 million rupees (US$27,000) as dowry.
Sharma took out her cell phone, dialed the police emergency number and told them there was a fight over dowry at the wedding venue.
Her family had already spent Rs1.8 million on the wedding. They had also bought two sets of electronic goods, like washing machines, refrigerators, music systems, air conditioners and even a car, as demanded by the groom and his family.
Sharma did get married late last year to Ashwini Sharma, also a software engineer.
Now she, her husband and brother will fly to Chicago on an all-expenses-paid trip next week to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show, The Times of India newspaper reported.
Sharma said, "I am happy I have a chance to be heard internationally. No one should submit to social blackmail, anywhere in the world."
Most Hindu weddings are paid for by the girl's family -- usually lavish affairs, with functions spread over several days. Apart from these costs, the girl's parents often have to bear the additional burden of a dowry.
The giving or accepting of a dowry is illegal in India, but the practice still thrives. Dowry, which ranges from cash and cars to furniture and appliances, is what the girl's family pays the groom's family at the time of the wedding.
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