Jaisalmer/Rajasthan. "On February 14, 2025, in Karaliya village, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, 30-year-old civil services aspirant Paramveer Rathore married Nikita Bhati. During the ‘tilak’ ceremony, the bride’s family offered him Rs. 5,51,000 as dowry. However, Paramveer refused, expressing his disappointment that such practices still persist. He stressed the need for educated individuals to take a stand, stating, “Change won’t happen overnight, but we must start somewhere.”
His father, Ishwar Singh, supported the decision, acknowledging women’s growing role in society. Accepting only a coconut and a one-rupee coin as per tradition, he returned the cash, reinforcing their stance against dowry."