Dowry lesson: An ecological knot

Dowry taken in a marriage, but that doesnt break the law! Possible? Certainly, if the dowry is a tree. Espousing environmental concerns and social causes through tradition, Bundelkhand recently witnessed a marriage held during the day time to conserve resources and with only saplings as the brides dowry. `Milan ki bela' saw the entire marriage party take an oath to conserve water and save environment, after which trees were planted!
The ceremony had women singing songs on water and environment conservation even as tulsi, banana and jaamun saplings, given by the bride's parents as dowry, were planted in the groom's courtyard.Holding a tulsi plant amidst the chanting of mantras, the bride and the groom took a solemn oath to preserve the environment. The entire gathering too presented plants to each other after taking the pledge.
This one-of-its-kind marriage took place in Chitrakoot district of Bundelkhand. Groom Sanjeev Kumar, a computer operator, has been motivated by his father Vijay Kishore Vishwakarma, at present posted as a lekhpal in Atarra tehsil of district Banda. Sanjeev says, "I feel it is our moral duty to take steps to save environment. In this marriage, we have tried to link the environment with our rituals, even as social evils are decried."
The marriage was solemnised in a simple ceremony conducted during the day time between 1 pm and 3 pm to save on unnecessary expenditure and resources like electricity, diesel as also reduce pollution. It was decided before hand that the groom and his family would not take any dowry. "I am not highly educated but I have been inspired. As a Government functionary, we are instructed to create awareness on social evils such as dowry and also arrange plantation drives and conservation of water," says a highly committed Vishwakarma.
A deeply spiritual and religious person, he thanks the God Almighty for the motivation to preserve nature and negate the evils in our society. He has promised himself to plant as many trees as possible, both in his personal as also official capacity. The bride, Sanjana, took her first auspicious step into her sasural's `aangan' by planting trees in the courtyard.
The Bundelkhand region has been reeling under a dry spell for the past four years, necessitating water conservation measures in the semi-arid wastelands. Afforestation is vital to survival in the politically sensitive region and the state government has undertaken to plant 2.75 crore trees in Bundelkhand this year. Sanjeev and Sanjana have set an example for others to emulate. Will the Central and state governments quit quibbling over the Bundelkhand package and follow suit?