PESHAWAR: Two newly-married poets in Mardan have set a unique example by converting their bedroom into a family library as the bride demanded books worth Rs100,000 in nuptial document to root out the ritual of large dowry prevailing in the society.

Sajjad Jwandoon and Naila Shamal Safi have recently solemnised marriage in Bhaikhan village of Mardan.

Both being poets and research scholars of Pashto department, University of Peshawar, set a rare example to promote book reading and discourage the custom of dowry.

Literary couple turns their bedroom into family library

“When my in-laws put before me the Nikahnama to fill up the demand of Haq-i-Mehr, I readily wrote down ‘books worth one lac’. I was given 15 minutes to rethink my decision but I remained determined and returned the document unchanged,” said Ms Safi.

She said that most people demanded Rs100,000 to Rs200,000, plot and many other things as Haq-i-Mehr and it had become a social evil that caused great unrest in the society. She said that she being poet and scholar wanted to give out a positive message to people to demand books or at least items that could be afforded by both bride and groom families.

Ms Safi said that she believed in the strength of poetry and would always use her inborn talent for educating people on adopting positive social values and to do away with negative practices.

“My parents, teachers, relatives and friends congratulated me on my positive step. I have already turned my bedroom into a family library as books on variety of topics are stacked on the floor soon to be kept in shelves.

My husband belongs to a humble family while my family background is no different either,” she said.

Sajjad Jwandoon, author of several books in Pashto, told this scribe that poets and writers should serve as role model for the society. He said that literati should do what they preached in their writings.

“The Haq-i-Mehr is no doubt right of the marrying woman but our people have turned it into a social evil. Poets and writers should raise voice against it. ‘Ours is a marriage of true minds’ as Shakespeare would put it,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2021