Vayalar
Ravi, NRI Minister launched Anu Peshawaria's book, ‘Immigrant’s
Dream’
A book on ‘horror stories’ ill-treatment and cruelty
by the NRI men
New Delhi. January 14, 2007
Surinder Singh/Gary Singh, Los Angeles
California-based, an eminent lawyer, dedicated social worker,
successful sportsperson and human right activist Anu Peshawaria
came to Delhi to promote her book "The Immigrant’s
Dream." She is a sister of top cop Kiran
Bedi
She said, "I felt the need for such a book so that women
are cautioned and well educated about the horror stories, ill-treatment
and cruelty by the NRI men who make tall promises before getting
married. Anu’s aim is to provide legal assistance to those
NRI wives who are being deserted and left penniless in a foreign
country. About 92 per cent women in the US suffer from domestic
violence and 70 per cent NRI marriages result in divorce.
On the occasion of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2008, Mr. Vayalar Ravi,
Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs launched her book, ‘Immigrant’s
Dream’, which addresses the problem of brides from India
married to NRI husbands. The real life horror stories of these
tortured women in the book can serve as warnings. Through real
stories, this book takes a step forward in creating awareness
about the dos and don’ts of NRI marriages. ‘Immigrant’s
Dream’ educates on every mistake parents, who fall for the
dollar bait, should avoid before getting their daughters married
to NRI’s. This book is an extended help to many battered
women to regain their legal rights and status.
The book was also released in the Chandigarh city on Saturday
by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The book is divided into three parts.
- Part 1: It tells the story of a few unfortunate women like
Manju Sachdeva, Ashima Lal, Kamna Chawla and Kathie.
- Part 2: It is mainly the profile of the author herself and
this is where we come to know that Anu is the younger sister
of Kiran Bedi. It also sketches the struggle and success of
her journey from a lawn tennis player to a lawyer.
- In Part 3: The author delves into the problems of domestic
violence and the legal rights available for the victims there
— all in a layman’s language along with the numbers
of Seva helpline.
She said, "There’s no point in talking about problems
and not look for the solutions. I would rather like to point out
the serious lacunae in the law. Suppose a man gets married in
India and seeks divorce in the US, within six months he will be
able to get it, while the girl is trapped in a bad marriage. In
India, it is not easy to get a divorce. Therefore, when it comes
to inter-state marriages, there should be an international law
which all the countries must adhere to."
There is more than two million NRI population in the US and surprisingly,
90 percent of the women cheated refuse to come back from the US.
Anu gives two reasons for it. One is fearing the social stigma
back home and the second is feeling more empowered in the US.
A woman is entitled to 50 percent of her husband’s property.
according to the Community Property Law. So the woman in not penniless
there, whereas in India she has to fight for maintenance.
Anu Peshawaria, a young dynamic lawyer, started her career by
addressing the cause of human rights in 1983.
Anu Peshawaria is an Immigration specialist in the US and the
President and Founder, Immigration and Business Services Inc.
and Founder, India Vision Foundation, USA-SevA Legal Aid Foundation.
Anu has represented hundreds of legal cases related to female
empowerment, child and domestic abuse, matrimonial claims including
dowry death, adultery and divorce from both in the USA and India.
Anu dedicates an enormous amount of time and energy to successfully
defend the familial, legal, and human rights of the women and
children involved, often without pay. She excels in this legal
context, since she is personally devoted to helping women and
children to enjoy their right to freedom, independent decision-making,
and protection from abuse and oppression. She also serves as a
fine role model for other professionals. Her example calls for
affirmative action, social justice, compassion, and a deep respect
for the culture, life experience, and personal goals of each person,
no matter how destitute or needy they might be. She is a shining
example of the potential for a philanthropic spirit in legal counsel,
which serves both the general public and to boost society's view
of the profession itself. Each day, Anu lives and actively exhibits
the idealistic foundational tenets of the law profession, and
helps to dissuade the popular social stigma often targeted at
and endured by lawyers around the world.
