Kottayam: Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi of the Travancore royal family has urged the Nair Service Society (NSS) to strive to end the dowry system prevailing in the community.
"The karayogams should oppose the dowry menace. If anything should be given to the children, it could be done after the marriage," she said inaugurating the 141st Mannam Jayanthi celebrations at the NSS headquarters at Perunna on Tuesday.
"If the dowry system is done away with, it will make the 'soul' of Mannathu Padmanabhan happy," she said. The dowry system had converted woman into a product for sale. Mannam had campaigned against the lavishness that prevailed in the community, she said and recalled that he had close ties with the Travancore royal family.
"The NSS is an organisation doing service without any ulterior motives. Those who blame the forward communities should see the good deeds done by them. Many of the progressive decisions that carried the state forward were taken by them," she said.
Archbishop of Changanassery Mar Joseph Perunthottam also spoke.
Prof V.P. Haridas presided over the meeting. Earlier, general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair welcomed the gathering and treasurer Dr G. Sasikumar proposed a vote of thanks.
