This Day, That Year: What Happened on October 2

Gandhi Jayanthi

On October 2, 1869, in the coastal town of Porbandar, Gujarat, India, Mahatma Gandhi was born. Gandhi's life and legacy are inextricably linked to the principles of non-violence and peace. He used these principles to lead India to independence from British rule and to inspire people around the world to fight for social justice and equality.

Gandhi's journey to becoming a champion of non-violence began early in his life. As a young boy, he was deeply influenced by his Jain upbringing, which emphasizes the importance of non-violence and compassion for all living beings. Gandhi also learned about the teachings of Henry David Thoreau and Leo Tolstoy, who both advocated for non-violent resistance to oppression.

In 1893, Gandhi traveled to South Africa to practice law. There, he experienced firsthand the racism and discrimination that Indians faced under British rule. Gandhi was determined to fight for the rights of Indians in South Africa, and he began using non-violent methods of resistance, such as boycotts and protests.

Gandhi's campaigns in South Africa were successful in achieving some reforms, but he realized that non-violence could also be used to achieve independence for India. Gandhi's campaigns were based on the principle of Satyagraha, which means "truth force." Satyagraha is a nonviolent way of protesting against injustice and oppression. Gandhi believed that Satyagraha could be used to overcome any obstacle, and he demonstrated this time and again through his own actions.

Gandhi's nonviolent methods were ultimately successful in winning India's independence from British rule in 1947.

The Dowry Prohibition Amendment Act, 1985

On October 2, 1985, the Dowry Prohibition Amendment Act was implemented in India. This amendment made a number of important changes to the original Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, which had been largely ineffective in curbing the practice of dowry.

One of the most significant changes made by the amendment was to broaden the definition of dowry. Previously, dowry was defined as any property or valuables given or agreed to be given by the bride's family to the groom's family at the time of marriage. However, the amendment expanded this definition to include any property or valuables given or agreed to be given before, during, or after marriage.

Another important change made by the amendment was to increase the penalties for demanding or giving dowry. Previously, the maximum penalty for demanding or giving dowry was two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 10,000. However, the amendment increased the maximum penalty to five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 50,000.

The amendment also made it mandatory for all marriages to be registered with the government. This was done in order to make it easier to track down and prosecute cases of dowry-related violence and harassment.

While the Dowry Prohibition Amendment Act has been successful in reducing the incidence of dowry-related violence, it is still a serious problem in India. According to a 2022 report by the National Crime Records Bureau, there were over 7,000 cases of dowry-related deaths reported in India in 2021.