Into the blind alley of marriage
The Hindu Dated Nov 04 2000.

Original Link of this Article: http://www.indiaserver.com/thehindu/2000/11/04/stories/01040007.htm

By Ravi Reddy

NIZAMABAD, NOV. 3. A 27-year-old woman turned blind after her in-laws allegedly applied `kajal' (a black cosmetic powder used to darken eyelids) dipped in acid as she refused to bring more dowry.

The incident occurred in Nizamabad town in June but came to light only two days ago after the victim's family lodged a police complaint stating they feared a threat to their life from the woman's husband. The police finally picked him up for interrogation.

For Najma Begum, mother of four children, including two small girls, marriage in 1995 was not a smooth affair. The birth of her first girl child, appeared to have become the focal issue of
harassment by her husband, Mr. Md. Yusuf, who runs a small hotel in the town.

Immediately, after the marriage, Najma underwent a harrowing experience at the hands of her in-laws, who allegedly pestered her for more dowry. Savage beatings became part of her daily
routine, as the hapless woman, narrated her woes to The Hindu on Friday.

``Not a day passed when I was not ill-treated by my in-laws and husband. On some occasions, they would even taunt me saying that they had brought her as daughter-in-law because her father was rich''(he owns a hotel). Helped by her brother, Taufeeq, Najma was holding her five-month-old child, Muskaan, when she recalled the terror-stricken days.

The woman kept silent for several months bearing with the sufferings and not mustering courage to inform her parents. It was her brother, who used to help her financially whenever she came home to take money as demanded by her in-laws. The birth of two more children and a lastly a girl in June this year was the last straw, as she put it.

After Muskaan, was born, a small function was organised on the fifth day, during which the womenfolk in the family held a ritual to apply `kajal' to the mother. Najma's mother-in-law, Mrs.
Mehrunissa, allegedly entered the room and forcibly applied `kajal' dipped in acid. The pain was unbearable, Najma recounted the harrowing experience, stating she was dragged and locked in a
room even as she was crying in pain. For the next 24 hours, she was lying in the room in pitched darkness, sobbing uncontrollably.

She said: ``My husband and in-laws then took me to a small dispensary, where the doctor was told that I was suffering from an eye ailment. The doctor gave some medicines, and I was brought
back.'' She pointed out: `` I was warned not to disclose anything to my parents and even advised that if I said anything about the incident, my mother, who is a heart patient would die of shock''.
Somehow, she gathered courage and called up her brothers.

The shell-shocked brothers immediately rushed her to a private doctor. He declared that she had lost sight in both the eyes. The devastated family took her to a corporate hospital in Hyderabad,
where also the doctors expressed helplessness. The parents brought her to Nizamabad and eversince, Najma, has been staying with them.

Her stay at the parents' house is also painful, as she put it. ``My husband and his family members continued to harass my family, if we took some step to approach the police. They even
warned me that her husband would go for the second marriage and within days, they sent a legal notice.''

Still shocked, innocent-looking Najma, said: ``Meri ankhen bahoot sunder thee, allah ne mujhe poora andhera de diya'' (My eyes were beautiful but Almighty has given me complete darkness). She said: `` How long could she depend on her parents and brothers. ``Kya mujhe sarkar kuch paise dilayinge, jisse ki mey bacchon ko paloon.'' (Will the Government give me some money so that I can take care of my children).

The woman expressed fears that her husband would divorce and marry someone else making her life even more miserable.

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