This store on MG Road (according to the copies of
newspaper articles we were given) was originally
called simply "Himalayan Dowry" after the 17th century
Kashmiri ritual in which a boy who wished to marry a girl
would present her with a stone (cave-onyx or soligram)
from the Himalayan mountains. She could refuse it if
she didn’t like the boy. But women in Bangalore
took exception to the obvious interpretation of the
name and demonstrated against the store.
The owner inserted "anti" into the name, and was then
frequently approached for help by women who were
harassed for dowry. The owner has since helped out
in 45 dowry-related cases from all over India.

Back to the current Installment