In the 21st century—an era defined by artificial intelligence, space exploration, and technological advancement—a heartbreaking case from Tamil Nadu has shaken the conscience of an entire nation. It is both shocking and deeply tragic that we lost a 27-year-old woman, Rithanya, to dowry-related harassment. In a time when women are soaring to new heights, Rithanya endured relentless physical, emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse, ultimately costing her life.

Rithanya, the beloved daughter of Annadurai, a successful businessman from Tiruppur, was married to Kavin Kumar, the heir of a flourishing textile business. The union between these two prominent families in the district was celebrated lavishly on April 11, 2025, with a lavish wedding ceremony. According to reports, Rithanya's family gave a dowry of 100 sovereigns of gold and a luxury Volvo car worth ?70 lakhs.

Despite this extravagant dowry, Rithanya was subjected to abuse from the very beginning of her marriage. Her in-laws reportedly taunted her, claiming that other brides brought large sums of money to help their husbands establish businesses, while she brought "too little." This cruel comparison led to continuous harassment and unbearable pressure. I condemn and say that it is heartbreaking to know, and it is a disgrace to demand money in the name of marriage. Living off someone else's hard-earned wealth under the pretence of tradition is not only immoral—it is inhuman.

In an age of unprecedented technological and social progress, how can such regressive and cruel practices still persist in our society? Kavin's family, originally based in Coimbatore where he was studying, moved to Avinashi before the marriage and built a new house. The wedding took place with all the usual celebrations, and 27-year-old Rithanya entered her husband's home full of dreams and hope. But those dreams were quickly shattered. Rithanya endured physical torture and marital rape at the hands of her husband.

Her in-laws subjected her to relentless emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse. Unable to bear the trauma, she returned to her parents' home in tears. Yet, instead of receiving the support she desperately needed, she was told to "adjust" and sent back. Why? Because, for her parents, it was a matter of social status. "What will people say?" they thought. But this isn't just about Rithanya's parents. In far too many households across India, daughters are still asked to "adjust," no matter the pain they suffer.

We often take pride in calling ourselves modern, progressive, and educated. But if this is the reality our daughters face, then truly, shame on us. Sexual intimacy within marriage is supposed to be sacred, a bond built on trust, love, and mutual respect. But in Rithanya's case, it was the opposite—it was marital rape. When a man has sex with a woman without her consent—even if she is his wife—it is rape. How many parents, how many daughters, how many wives, how many members of our society truly recognise this as a crime?

Rithanya was brutally raped by her husband, repeatedly. She reported her pain, her suffering, and her physical wounds to her parents and in-laws, tears streaming from her eyes and her heart shattered. Her parents, instead of protecting her, told her to "adjust." Her in-laws, shockingly, dismissed her cries, saying, "That's how our son is."

It is said that Rithanya even showed her wounds—marks of physical and sexual abuse—to her mother-in-law. But this woman, a mother herself, showed no mercy. And that raises a painful, deeply disturbing question: How could you, as a woman, not understand the agony of another woman? How could you, who were once a daughter-in-law yourself, forget what it means to enter a new home with dreams and vulnerability? You are alive today, living your life, but your daughter-in-law is gone, destroyed by the very abuse you condoned. What an unimaginable injustice!

After her father asked her to "adjust," Rithanya returned to her in-laws' house with tears in her eyes. Why? Because in India, it is still taboo for a woman to speak out about marital rape. In a society where culture and tradition are worshipped more than the dignity and emotions of our daughters, when will we learn to truly listen? When will we stop expecting silence from women enduring abuse within their marriages? Must we always wait until our daughters take their own lives before we finally acknowledge their pain?

Rithanya was alive until June 27, 2025, crying out for justice—but no one listened. Her voice was ignored. Now, after her death, we are fighting for justice using the very voice messages she sent to her father before ending her life.

And to all parents, when it comes to dowry, what exactly is this system about? Isn't it nothing more than buying and selling in the name of marriage? We give our daughters away along with huge sums of money, gold, land, cars, motorbikes, and household items. But think about it—are we marrying off our daughters, or are we buying sons-in-law? If a man is being "purchased" through dowry, shouldn't he be the one to move into the girl's home? After all, he's the one being financially secured. Why, then, do we send our daughters into the very homes of those we have paid? This isn't marriage; it's an auction. Kavin, an MBA graduate, was packaged and sold to Rithanya's family, and in return, Rithanya was tortured.

This is not just a crime—it is the biggest crime that our society continues to commit, generation after generation. Raise your sons to earn a living with dignity. Teach them to respect the woman who enters their life as a partner and not treat her as a transaction. And if your son's future is built on the money given by his wife's family, then who really owes whom? Isn't the daughter-in-law the one who deserves ownership, not servitude? Dowry is illegal. But the shame is not just in breaking the law—it's in breaking the spirit of our daughters.

The Dowry Prohibition Act was passed in India on May 20, 1961, and came into force on July 1, 1961. This law clearly prohibits the giving, taking, or demanding of dowry, either directly or indirectly, and carries legal penalties for violations. And yet, 64 years later, we have lost Rithanya—a young woman from Tiruppur—who ended her life after just 78 days of marriage, unable to bear the abuse, torment, and dowry-related torture from her in-laws.

Why is this law not implemented? Does the Dowry Act exist only on paper? Where are the authorities who are legally and morally bound to act when the law is violated? On June 28, 2025, Rithanya parked her car near Chettipudur, close to Sevur, about 12 kilometres from Avinashi in Tiruppur, and consumed pesticides. She died by suicide, leaving behind an audio message for her parents—her final cry for help, detailing the horrors she endured.

This was not just a personal tragedy—it was a national failure. Rithanya was only 27 years old. Each time she returned to her parents seeking relief, she was told to "adjust" and sent back. Each time she went back, the abuse grew worse. No one stood up for her. No one fought beside her. And so, she was silenced—in the most devastating way. When will our homes become safe places for our daughters? When will the justice system truly work for women like Rithanya, not after death, but while they are still alive? Rithanya didn't have a place to go. She didn't have a system in place to protect her. We failed her. And we will continue to fail others—unless we act.

On the day of her death, Rithanya sent seven WhatsApp voice messages to her father—messages that have now gone viral, stirring the hearts of thousands and sparking a collective outcry for justice. In those final messages, Rithanya apologised. She said she had no more strength left to endure the abuse, torment, and sexual violence inflicted upon her by her husband and in-laws. She pleaded with her father to show these recordings to the police. While she struggled in silence during her life, she left behind undeniable proof of her suffering in death.

"This decision of mine... my married life is the only cause. That's enough. My marriage has become horrific. I am physically, mentally, and sexually abused. My dreams—and yours—are shattered. I kept hoping things would change, but now I realise they won't. Please forgive me, Dad and Mom. I can no longer bear their mental torture." — Rithanya's voice message. She tried to be heard in her small circle when she was alive. But now, through seven voice notes, Rithanya has spoken to the entire world. Her pain, her truth, and her broken dreams have shaken the conscience of a nation.

To every girl, every woman reading this: Do not accept abuse. Do not normalise torture. Do not suffer in silence. Speak up. Reach out. Build strong friendships. Build communities of support around you. To schools and colleges—start conversations. Make space to talk about gender-based abuse, consent, marital rights and marital rape. Educate. Empower. Stand together.

Dear girls, remember this: You are not alone. You were not born to suffer. You were born with dreams, with power, with purpose. The world is bigger than one house, one man, or one marriage. There are opportunities out there. There is a life waiting to be lived, built on your own dreams. Never give up. Chase your dreams!!!