In this episode of News Brake, we shed light on the heartbreaking story of Sruthi BS, a young woman whose tragic death has sparked renewed conversations on dowry harassment.
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[00:00:00] Welcome to another episode of News Brake. This is Vaishnavi Amnaya. Today, we explore the heartbreaking story of Shruti BS, a young woman whose life was cut short, raising painful questions about the impact of dowry harassment.
[00:00:21] Shruti's tragic story mirrors the experiences of many women across Kerala. Forced into desperate circumstances by relentless dowry demands, her ordeal brings to mind
[00:00:34] the tragic deaths of women like Vismaya and Shyamalk Saviour, who also endured unbearable harassment from their in-laws.
[00:00:44] Shruti's story takes us to Nagarkoil, where her life came to a tragic end, allegedly by suicide. Her death has left lingering pain and unanswered questions for her family.
[00:00:58] Her father, Babu Parameshwira Nayar, continues to replay her final voice message, filled with sorrow as he seeks to understand the events leading to her untimely passing. In the message sent to her mother,
[00:01:12] Sadidevi, Shruti repeatedly apologizes, expressing her unbearable pain. The message was sent at 7.25am on a Monday, October 21, 2024. But it wasn't until 8am that her mother received it. By then, it was too late. Shruti's family, upon hearing the distressing message, tried desperately to contact her, her husband and her mother-in-law, but received no response.
[00:01:39] In a frantic effort, they dropped Nagarkoil. An hour into their journey, they received devastating news. Shruti was gone.
[00:01:50] Dowried-related deaths in Kerala are not isolated incidents, but form part of a larger troubling pattern.
[00:01:58] Cases like those of Sabina and Shahana Shahjai reflect this, where Sabina even sent a haunting selfie with the news to her mother.
[00:02:07] Similarly, Shruti's last message was a desperate cry for help.
[00:02:13] Shruti was married to Kartik, an employee of the Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board. Her father recalls the hopeful promises made at the wedding, a promise of continued education that was never fulfilled.
[00:02:26] Despite providing a substantial dowry in the form of gold, cash and valuable gifts, her father claims the demands never stopped, dashing Shruti's dreams of pursuing a PhD.
[00:02:39] This vicious cycle was also seen in the case of Adulia, who was thrown out of her husband's house along with her young son due to relentless dowry demands.
[00:02:50] The brutality of the situation is further exemplified by the case of Shyamal, whose autopsy revealed horrific physical abuse.
[00:02:59] When Shruti's family arrived in Nagar Kowal, they found her body in the mortuary. Her father described her appearance as peaceful, as if she were merely asleep.
[00:03:10] They filed a complaint determined to uncover the truth behind what had happened.
[00:03:15] Adding to the tragedy, Shruti's mother-in-law is currently in critical condition after allegedly consuming poison following Shruti's death, casting further shadows on the case.
[00:03:25] An arduous inquiry is underway, seeking to piece together the facts of this tragic event.
[00:03:31] In her final sorrowful message, Shruti made a request about her funeral, insisting on separation from her in-laws, even in death.
[00:03:40] Her family respected her wishes and held the funeral in Coimbatore, a poignant tribute to her final words.
[00:03:47] Shruti was a vibrant young woman, holding a postgraduate degree in literature and working as an assistant professor.
[00:03:57] Her ambitions and love for knowledge stood in stark contrast to the tragedy that befell her.
[00:04:02] Her story has reignited conversations around the deeply ingrained issue of dowry harassment,
[00:04:08] a subject highlighted by other such cases, like those of Sangeeta and Mofya Parveen,
[00:04:15] where the weight of societal pressures pushed women to their breaking point.
[00:04:20] The Kerala government launched the Pink Protection Project in 2021,
[00:04:25] to dowry-related atrocities, cyberbullying and harassment of women in public places.
[00:04:30] But the ongoing cases indicate that more robust measures are needed to safeguard women from these harrowing situations.
[00:04:38] As we reflect on Shruti's story, it becomes clear that there is an urgent need for societal change and justice.
[00:04:46] That brings us to the end of today's episode.
[00:04:48] This is On Manorama's News Break, an explainer podcast produced by Harida Benjamin.
[00:04:53] It airs every week and is available on all podcast platforms.
[00:04:57] For more news, views and updates, follow www.onmanorama.com.