16-10-2021, 10:37 AM
Mahima Jain in Bengaluru
Fri 15 Oct 2021 08.00 BST
Kamala Reddy*, 33, a software engineer from Andhra Pradesh, married Vijay Kumar* in a traditional Hindu wedding in 2012. Kumar, who was working in the UK, was chosen by Reddy’s family. “But he didn’t take me to the UK after our marriage. He made excuses such as problems with the visa and so on,” says Reddy.
In 2016, Reddy became pregnant. Under pressure from the family, Kumar brought her to England. On arrival, she was shocked to discover Kumar’s secret. He had a British partner, two children and a stepchild. Neither Kumar’s nor Reddy’s families knew about the other family. Kumar threatened to leave Reddy if she told anyone.
Reddy is one of thousands of women who have faced abandonment by their husbands overseas.
......
“Without a proper divorce, women can’t remarry and live with stigma. But the man continues to live without any repercussions even though he has a criminal case against him in India,” says Geetha Morla, founder of UK Women Empowerment Network (UKWen), a charity helping abandoned wives.
“These men have no humanity. In many cases, they have left their wife and child without any alimony or maintenance. But no one can force them to go back. I don’t know how this will be solved, we have really struggled to address this.”
......
When Reddy discovered Kumar’s secret family, he imprisoned her in the house and cut off access to finances. Unaware of her rights in the UK, she was scared of being deported without her child. She had no social network to turn to. Eventually, she was able to contact her family, who helped her leave the country with her child.
Reddy was forced to get a restraining order against Kumar, who made death threats. She is now back in the UK seeking a divorce and child contact arrangements, which are proceeding well. She is also suing Kumar in India for demanding money from her for her dowry. This case is stuck in judicial and bureaucratic limbo. Kumar has not appeared at court hearings in India.
“He lives freely and I live in fear. Will he ever be punished for what he did to me?”
https://www.theguardian.com/global-devel...oned-wives
Fri 15 Oct 2021 08.00 BST
Kamala Reddy*, 33, a software engineer from Andhra Pradesh, married Vijay Kumar* in a traditional Hindu wedding in 2012. Kumar, who was working in the UK, was chosen by Reddy’s family. “But he didn’t take me to the UK after our marriage. He made excuses such as problems with the visa and so on,” says Reddy.
In 2016, Reddy became pregnant. Under pressure from the family, Kumar brought her to England. On arrival, she was shocked to discover Kumar’s secret. He had a British partner, two children and a stepchild. Neither Kumar’s nor Reddy’s families knew about the other family. Kumar threatened to leave Reddy if she told anyone.
Reddy is one of thousands of women who have faced abandonment by their husbands overseas.
......
“Without a proper divorce, women can’t remarry and live with stigma. But the man continues to live without any repercussions even though he has a criminal case against him in India,” says Geetha Morla, founder of UK Women Empowerment Network (UKWen), a charity helping abandoned wives.
“These men have no humanity. In many cases, they have left their wife and child without any alimony or maintenance. But no one can force them to go back. I don’t know how this will be solved, we have really struggled to address this.”
......
When Reddy discovered Kumar’s secret family, he imprisoned her in the house and cut off access to finances. Unaware of her rights in the UK, she was scared of being deported without her child. She had no social network to turn to. Eventually, she was able to contact her family, who helped her leave the country with her child.
Reddy was forced to get a restraining order against Kumar, who made death threats. She is now back in the UK seeking a divorce and child contact arrangements, which are proceeding well. She is also suing Kumar in India for demanding money from her for her dowry. This case is stuck in judicial and bureaucratic limbo. Kumar has not appeared at court hearings in India.
“He lives freely and I live in fear. Will he ever be punished for what he did to me?”
https://www.theguardian.com/global-devel...oned-wives
