Dowry System । Essay on Dowry System in India

Dowry System- Essay on Dowry System in India

The Dowry System in India. Dowry is basically in the nature of a payment process. The giving of gifts or money in cash or some kind of gifts given to the bridegroom's family along with the bride. Alternatively, it is known as the Dowry System. The Dowry System in India includes jewelry, cash, electrical appliances, bedding furniture, utensils, crockery, and other household items. Now the government stepping in to regulate its practice.

Civilization and the Dowry

Long, long ago, men became civilized. With the advancement of knowledge and civilization, he discovered new things to make his life comfortable, sweet and happy. Hence he formed a family and began to live a systemic and controlled life. The purpose of family life is to erase out the animal instinct from man and make him co-operative and conscious of others good and bads. As the years rolled on he became more and more civilized and modern.

The advancement of scientific knowledge has helped him to conquer the world. But yet he failed to conquer the animal instinct in him. He is still rude and heartless of others—he is still concerned with his own interest and pleasure. He is still devoid of humanitarian qualities. This becomes evident when we see the cases of wife-killings for the demand of dowry and other manifold demands, which is happening frequently in modern societies— especially in India. With a pain-stricken heart, we are also to admit that possibly nowhere else in the world this in human nature of man, this women-burning or killing incidents have taken place and shown its ugly teeth as in our India. What a shameful social vice it has become.

History of Dowry System

Nothing can be said for certain exactly from when the system of dowry came into vogue. But history tells us that as early as in the 10th century AD the dowry system became very much common in India. The Muslim invasions and subsequent conquest of India had robbed the women of all her rights and status as a human being. She was now confined within the four walls of the house-partly for her own safety, partly for the interests of the males of the society who wanted to keep 'the chastity of their womenfolk. Slowly the women became the victim of illiteracy and superstition. From history, we also came to know that during the reign of king Ballal Sen of Bengal the Brahmanical dominance and polygamy system came into vogue in the land and the women were subjected to inhuman cruelty and humiliation. Gradually emerged the system of child marriage and widow burning, (known as Sati) in the society.

Thus from the 10th century AD, the system of dowry became a common affair in almost every societies of India, excepting some of the backward tribes. Possibly before the 10th century A.D., the system was there but that was confined within the affluent section of the community. In their marriage, the parents of the bride had to pay dowry. But in the lower community, the bridegroom had to pay money to the bride's father. This system is still in vogue among the Kols, Bhils the Santhals and other backward classes. However, the existence of this dowry system cannot be accepted among the educated section of the community. The system is not only cruel it is offensive as well It has become a social disease. The great social reformers like Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and others tried their best to stop this social vice. It was for them only the child marriage, Sati and like vices were stopped altogether, but the system of dowry prevailed as it was.

 

The Tradition of the Dowry System

But our ancient history tells us something else. In ancient days, women were highly honored in society. They had a respectable place in social life and had equal rights with their male counterparts. Later on, they began to be neglected and suppressed by their male counterparts. They turned out to be an object of mere pleasure and sexual enjoyment. They were entrusted with the task of their production of children and looking after domestic affairs. They now became the property of males—a part of his other. Properties like a house, furniture, cattle etc.

Reasons behind the Dowry System

There are various reasons for this dowry system.

• Illiteracy among the women,
• Economic backwardness and
• Hardship among the middle-class people,
• Heavy unemployment pressure etc.

All played a significant role in this heinous system. In normal family life, the dowry system has created many difficulties. For their daughters, the parents always feel helpless. Every parent wants the happiness of their daughter. So they spent their last farthings even to give dowry at their marriage. But even in most cases, the expectations remain far from satisfaction. In most cases, the husband and the in-laws of the girl press her to bring more and more money from her father's house and when that is not fulfilled she is burnt to death or even forced to commit suicide. There are lots of cases that every day we come across in the newspapers. The more tragic is this if the girl declines to marry or cannot get married for various reasons, she is considered as a burden in her paternal house. The families eventually become permanent sources and centers of troubles and placeless one.

Sometimes it so happens that the married girl asks her parents not to pay any more money or things as demanded from her in-law's house. This again causes disturbances at her husband's house and ultimately the girl either has to live with much trouble and humiliation or has to die an unnatural death. It’s often found that women are the main enemy of the women and thus most of the tortures and pressures on the newly wedded bride some from her sisters-in-law and mother-in-law. The result becomes eventually very critical and pathetic for the girl who has come in her new home with high hopes and dreams. The question of dowry, of money, things, and ornaments shatter her everything and rob her of her sweet and even of her life.

Dowry System- has become a Social Disease

Thus dowry has become a social disease—not only a disease but a chronic one. It needs to be eradicated now or it will cripple the social values in the days to come. For this stunt, measures must have to be taken. A bold public opinion is to be organized against this type of bad practice. The women must have to be educated so that they themselves stand against this bad practice as they themselves are the victims of this disease. Equally, the conscious role will also have to be played by the educated and uneducated young men of the present generation who are husbands and the prospective husbands of tomorrow. "Dowry system must be abolished" this should be the general cry. The government of India has taken some measures in this regard, to stop the evil practice of dowry. But mere government action will do no good if the system is not condemned in the societies at large. Unfortunately, we are yet far from it. 

Important steps to demolish Dowry

• Punishable law By Government
• Education and self-dependence of Girl
• Spreading awareness to students
• Employment opportunity
• Social Awareness through all types of media
• Teach girls to be independent and responsible
• Reduction of poverty through proper education
• Motivating people the practice of giving or taking dowry

Also read- Drug addiction-the curse in our community, Ragging