Did you know that in India, there is no record as to who are the married NRIs? Till date, India does not have a record of married NRIs living abroad. Much more, if the foreign court grants the NRI couple a divorce, the Indian system does not recognise it. They are still married in India. NRI grooms continue to be well sought after by Indian parents, believing they’d give their daughters a comfortable life. Do remember, we still live in an age where even men marry for the dowry, status, for the sake of marrying an Indian bride. Many a times, the women are mistreated, harassed, abused, alienated by the groom and/or his family.  When they do so, they often do not let the women have the “advantage” of seeking a divorce. What would a woman do then? That’s what we try to understand in this episode of The Suno India Show’s Every Indian Checklist. 

Zakia Afrin is an advocate for immigrant women of colour who suffer abuse. She manages Assistance and Legal Advocacy at Maitri. Maitri, based in California, helps people from South Asiafacing domestic violence, emotional abuse, cultural alienation, or family conflict. 

Protima Pandey is the Director for Office of Women’s Policy, Division of Equity and Social Justice in Santa Clara County, California. She was the Managing Attorney for Immigration at Bay Area Legal Aid for survivors of domestic violence and allied legal relief. 

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