Dowry System in India
In our Indian society there are
numerous problems like superstitions, illiteracy, cast system and dowry system,
etc.It is surprising that in these days of the 20th century
even, we are still drowned in the dark depth of these evils.
One of the worst evils of Indian
Society is the dowry system. The word ‘dowry’ means the property and money that
a bride brings to her husband’s house at the time of her marriage. It is a
custom that is prevalent in all the sections of our society in one form or
the other. At the beginning it was voluntary, but later on the social pressure
was such that very few could escape from it.
The dowry at present is a source
of both joy and curse in the society. It is also a joy to the husband and his
relatives who get cash, costly dress and utensils, furniture, bedding
materials, etc. But, it is a curse to the bride’s parents who have to bear
enormous cost to satisfy the unreasonable demands of the bridegroom’s party. A
demand of dowry does not diminish even after marriage. The in-laws of the bride
are very much ready in Indian homes to inflict harassment, insults and
tortures-both mental and physical. When more pressure is put on the bride’s
parents, their dear daughter has no other option but to commit suicide to avoid
more insult and torture at the hands of the members of her husband’s family.
This
curse of Dowry System must be eradicated forth with at any cost. Women from
every walk of life, literate or illiterate, poor or rich, young or old must
unite together and come forward to protect their own honor and interest.
At public pressure the Government has thought promulgated certain anti-dowry
laws, but these have not produced the desired results. People’s efforts are
also necessary if this evil is to be removed once for all. The high expenditure
of the marriage ceremony must be cut down.
Women
must be empowered. Gender-based inequality should be
completely abolished and the position of women in the society should be raised.
Women must be taught since girlhood that their life is not useless without
marriage. Girls should get the opportunity to get education at schools. After
completion of school education, they should be encouraged to have higher
education. Their age of marriage should be raised. They should be encouraged to
enter into various fields of paid jobs, as their higher economic status also discourages
demands for dowry. The practice of mass marriage should be encouraged for the
sake of economy.
