Even though dowry has been illegal in India for decades, the practice remains prevalent, including among highly educated professionals. A recent incident involving a top-ranking urologist from AIIMS has sparked outrage after he allegedly demanded a dowry of Rs 50 crore to marry a liver transplant anaesthesia specialist in Hyderabad.
The woman, an accomplished doctor holding an MD in anaesthesia, has been deeply affected by this demand. According to reports, her family is under severe pressure to arrange the enormous sum, despite the financial burden it imposes. The practice of dowry is said to remain widespread in Telugu marriages, and her parents are reportedly considering depleting their retirement savings to meet the demand. In addition to securing the elder daughter’s future, the family is also concerned about the potential dowry expenses for her younger sister in the future.
The story came to light through a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a doctor using the handle Dr. Phoenix. The post described how the urologist, despite his academic excellence and professional achievements, allegedly insisted on the dowry payment, raising questions about the purpose of education if such harmful practices continue to be perpetuated.
“So AIIMS rank 1 uro MCh is asking 50 crores dowry from my friend who is doing MD Anaesthesia and Fellow in liver transplant anesthesia in Hyderabad. Have some shame, will you? What’s the purpose of your education, rank, and merits if you have no guts to stand on your own feet,” the post read. (Dr. Phoenix, @inbetweenOTs/Twitter X)
The tweet further revealed that the woman was devastated by the situation and had spent hours crying. The doctor’s family allegedly justified the dowry demand, insisting it is an unavoidable aspect of marriage traditions in their community.
“Been on call with the poor thing since morning, crying because her parents say it’s a given that marrying her off in the Telugu community requires dowry, and they are ready to use their retirement savings. She has a younger sister—this dowry will affect her too,” the post continued. (Dr. Phoenix, @inbetweenOTs/Twitter X)
The incident has generated widespread condemnation online. Many users expressed their disappointment, highlighting the persistence of the dowry system despite significant advancements in education and professional success. Social media users questioned how even those from prestigious institutions like AIIMS could still uphold such outdated customs.
(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)
