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US Divorce Court Discriminates Hindu Woman on basis of her faith
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To: hsc@UMDNJ.EDU
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Subject: US Divorce Court Discriminates Hindu Woman on basis of her faith
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From: Phoenix <phoenix@stallion.jsums.edu>
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Date: Mon, 27 Nov 1995 19:09:44 -0600 (CST)
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Resent-Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 10:50:48 -0500 (EST)
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Resent-From: Hindu Students Council <hsc@UMDNJ.EDU>
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Resent-Message-Id: <Pine.HPP.3.91.951128105048.11609A@rwja.UMDNJ.EDU>
Namaaste.
Following is a case of blatant discrimination against a Hindu
woman on account of her being a minority in this country. Please respond
with a strong voice.
Sincerely,
Shakuntala Palit
**********************************************
US Justice System Discriminates Against Hindu
Divorcee on basis of her being a Hindu
**********************************************
Mrs. Sumita Sengupta Dosamantes is a young woman who has been
treated unfairly in the justice system. She is a Hindu-American
woman who has been married for about 11 and a half years to David
Dosamantes, a white American Jew. They have two children, a son
aged 7 and a half and a daughter aged 4 and a half. After a stormy
marriage of emotional abuse and infidelity on the part of the
husband, he served Sumita with divorce papers in the Spring of this
year. Sumita and David are now legally separated. A legal battle
has ensued, over the division of marital assets and the custody of
the children. David has taken all of the marital assets (which were
given to the couple by Sumita's parents) and has been granted
complete temporary custody of the children, with Sumita paying $600
per month in child support. The judgement against Sumita was
based, officially, on "unavailability" of the mother, as she was
working full-time as a teacher and studying in the evenings for two
Master's degrees. She has since received these degrees, and
continues to teach young children.
************* (Case of Religious Discrimination)
However, her husband cites a
number of derogatory references to her faith as a Hindu in the
legal documentation. These include the fact that she has "sixteen
idols around the apartment that she 'forces' the children to
worship," that she "smears turmeric on their foreheads," and that
on one occasion she took her son to the temple late in the evening,
causing him to miss a full night's sleep. Imagine the distortions
of truth that could be said in return about the Jewish faith, or
any other religion, for that matter!
*************
Sumita is fighting very hard to have her children returned to
her care. At a community meeting on this issue held in Long Island
on October 29, 1995, there was not a dry eye in the place as she
told of how she has been separated from them, how when she gets
them on a Friday, they are unkempt and dressed, in her words, as
"street children," how her son has said that he does not want to
live this way, and so on. Sumita is an exemplary member of
American society who votes and pays taxes and has worked hard to
improve the status of her family. There is no reason for her
having lost custody of her children, except for her naive belief
in the justice of the legal system. The repeated derogatory
references to Hindu religious practices are not to be taken
lightly, and should be criticized vocally. I think that our
community must show strong support for her cause.
There are many ways to demonstrate our support for Sumita
Dosamantes' plight. At a recent community meeting, many students came
up with ideas for legal representation through activist
organizations, which have been passed on to her and her family. The
community agreed to circulate a petition of support and send it.
Please sign the petition, if you believe in this cause. Those who
wish to contribute monetarily towards the legal costs may send a
check made out to Sumita Sengupta Dosamantes, to:(Sumita Fund)
Sumita Dosamantes
80-11 164th Street
Suite 148
Hillcrest, NY 11432
Perhaps the most important thing that we can do is to make others in the
Hindu-American community professionals,students, women,aware of what has
gone on and encourage them to sign the petition or send letters of
support or monetary support to the above address. Thank you for
your help with this important community issue.
Attached is a copy of the petition:
To whom it may concern:
We the undersigned, who are active participants, students,
professionals, community members, residents, in the United States
in which Mrs. Sumita Dosamantes resides or works, are of the firm
conviction that Mrs. Dosamantes(aka Mimi) should not be denied
temporary and permanent custody of her two young children. It is
too traumatic for young children to be separated from their mother
and is equally more of a torture for a loving mother to be
separated from her children. A mother should not be denied
temporary and permanent custody of her children, when she is a fit
parent who has no prior criminal record and is an outstanding
member of society.
Mrs. Dosamantes is a fit parent and a primary caretaker of her
children. Hence, we are making an earnest appeal that Mrs.
Dosamantes be granted temporary and permanent custody of her two
young children. We support Mrs. Dosamantes wholeheartedly.
IF YOU WISH TO ELECTRONICALLY SIGN THIS PETITION, PLEASE FILL OUT
THE INFO BELOW AND EMAIL to:
Shakuntala Palit
phoenix@stallion.jsums.edu
Please feel free to distribute this letter as necessary
Name: Date:
Address:
Profession:
Signature:(email address)
