Sociology Textbook Listing "Merits Of Dowry" To Be Withdrawn After Outrage

A textbook of Sociology for nurses had gone viral on social media recently for a section called, "Merits of Dowry." It mentioned that dowry helps with the wedding of "ugly girls" and stated that girls' education is an advantageous product of the dowry system. After widespread criticism of the content in the book, authored by RK Indrani, its publisher has decided to withdraw it.

On March 5, the publisher Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Private Limited came out with a statement over the content of the book called Text-Book of Sociology for Nurses. The pointers on the merits of a regressive practice like dowry which claimes thousands of lives in India even today were mentioned on Page 122 of the book.

In a public statement, the publishers said that they have decided to take immediate steps and withdraw the given book from shelves. "We assure you that Jaypee is a responsible publisher and has been serving the medical community for more than five decades now. We take such matter with utmost seriousness and shall continue to strengthen internal processes to avoid such incidences in future," they stated.

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Sociology Textbook Withdrawn

Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi had also condemned the book on social media for its disturbing messaging. On Twitter, she wrote, "Textbook Says Dowry Helps 'Ugly Girls'. This kind of regressive mindset is there despite antidowry laws being there in the country."

Later she also tweeted, "Grateful to Education Minister @dpradhanbjp ji for taking--on priority--the issue of the Sociology textbook talking of merits of dowry- he has promised that he will not just ensure that the text is removed but also seek action against the publishers."

This book is for BSc second-year students. The merits and disadvantages of dowry written by the author in the book had even been condemned by Indian Nursing Council, which had distanced itself away from the book and called its content "derogatory".

The statement from the nursing body further added, "The Indian Nursing Council as a policy does not endorse any author or publication nor has allowed the author to use the name of Indian Nursing Council for their publications." Read more about the controversy here.