The website DowryCalculator.com, which helps a groom to calculate the amount of dowry he can demand based on his skin colour has been drawing a lot of flak from politicians in our country. From Madhya Pradesh Member of the parliament Jyotiraditya Scindia to Maneka Gandhi, these leaders have asked the Prime Minister of India to take notice of the website and get it blocked immediately.
Relax guys, it is a satire and not a dowry promoting website! The intention of the website is not to promote the culture of dowry, but to mock at the institution that has been going on since ages.
Tanul Thakur, National Award-winning film critic has made the website and he replied to Jyotiraditya Scindia, asking him to calm down because it is only a Satire! He even thanked him for directing traffic to his website.
Calm down, it's a satire. (But thanks for directing traffic to the website.) pic.twitter.com/AfAAzl4je6
— Tanul Thakur (@Plebeian42) May 29, 2018
Thakur even replied to Maneka Gandhi's tweet, taking ownership of the site and asked her to get the site examined.
Best wishes for 'getting it examined'. In the meanwhile please let me know if you've any questions. I made the thing. https://t.co/C6noN7qtBf
— Tanul Thakur (@Plebeian42) May 29, 2018
On a careful examination of the website, you will come across several funny things mentioned. Like, the site is dedicated to 'all the matchmaking aunties of India'. In the drop-down where you have to fill your skin colour- there are options like-fairy white, pitch black (not visible on a moonless night), wheatish (almost white, would need some fair n lovely).
After you fill in all the details, then in the final step, calculate your worth. You will be greeted with a message like- 'Not horrible, but that is hardly a consolation. Your social standing leaves a lot to be desired for. Your dowry rate is currently 15 Lakh. As they say, better late than never. If you want your social standing to improve, you might want to delay your marriage a wee bit and work on those variables of life you have control over'.
The entire tonality is done in good humour, and there is no other intention behind it. Don't make an unnecessary issue out of anything. Try and understand the message, which is deep-seated. It is a satire and not a site that is promoting dowry.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 31, 2018 01:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).