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Dowry System
Dowry came from the ancient Hindu 'Kanya dan', and 'stridhan' practices. In 'Kanya dan,' the bride's father presents the groom's father with money, property, or other items, whereas in ‘stridhan,' the bride receives jewels and clothing from her relatives or friends at the time of her marriage. The groom is given cash or in-kind by the groom's father in Varadakshina'. All of these things could be done purposefully and with compassion.
The idea for this was to assure that the girl would be comfortable financially after her wedding. The bride's parents used to give the bride assets, land, or money as a "Gift" to assure that their daughter would indeed be prosperous and comfortable after marriage. A future version of this system created an opportunity for the existing dowry system, which is commonly used throughout the community.
Our society is still ruled by dowry norms. The male has inheritance rights in the majority of Indian households, whereas the girl is given a considerable amount at the time of her marriage in place of government-regulated equal rights for girls in parental property. As a result, the dowry system has reached almost every part of the country and every socioeconomic stratum. The dowry system exists for a variety of reasons, the most important of which is that it is an essential precondition for marriage. The worry is that there will be no marriage if there is no dowry. In the current world, a medieval attitude with a greedy mindset has emerged.
Reason for Dowry System
The reasons are many:
- The impression has been that a girl is viewed as a financial burden, already by her father, therefore by her spouse. This emotion, fueled by the dowry system, encourages the perception that having a girl child will drain the family's finances.
- People want a variety of items in their households that they can't afford, so they utilize the chance of a son's marriage to acquire them. The parents of the girl do not object to diversity since they see the union as a necessary step to a greater status in society and better matches for the existing children.
- Now, the trend has shifted, to a higher class and there is a desire for wedding receptions. For the bride and groom's family, the bridal gown comprises designer apparel. For multi-cuisine wedding banquets, chefs are flown in from around the world. This is normally covered by the bride's family.
- The unequal social status of women in Indian society is so thoroughly entrenched in the country's consciousness that this treatment as commodities is accepted without question, not only by the family but also by the girls themselves.
Possessions Of Dowry System
- In areas of education, where boys are given preference, girls are generally sidelined.
- In India, domestic violence is common, including in-laws burning brides. Women who are subjected to constant mental and physical torment are more likely to commit suicide or become depressed.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there were 8,391 dowry-related fatalities in 2010, rising 0.1 percent from 2009 and nearly quadrupling the amount recorded two decades before. Only about a third of all recorded incidents conclude with the perpetrators being found guilty.
What has been done to stop the dowry system
Various laws have been created to prevent dowry and the resulting injustice against girls. The Dowry Prohibition Act was passed on May 20, 1961, to eliminate this heinous practice from society. Not only does this act to make it illegal to accept dowry, but it also makes it illegal to provide it. It entails the exchange of property, expensive security such as jewels, and cash during the marriage.
Conclusion
The first step toward eradicating dowry is to raise public knowledge about the practice. Campaigns must reach the most remote corners of society to disseminate information about the legal restrictions prohibiting the practice of dowry. To combat dowry, introducing legislation and amending parts is never enough. Instead, relentless and uncompromising execution of such rules is required.
References
Claire, et al. "The Dowry System: Chances.†RESET.to,
