Dowry system
Dowry system advert to sturdy goods ,and chattels that grooms, and his relatives demand from bride’s family. It is tradition provided by ancestors to us and we have to follow it though it is our choice we are ought to follow. Growing up in the society where tradition expect woman to reside with husband’s family, how would woman stand against dowry?
origin of Dowry system
During Chivalric and Renaissance Europe the dowry often assist not only to raise the acceptance of a woman for wedlock, but to fortify the authority to specify frontiers and prudence of nations. Later on in 19th and 20th century this practice went vanish.
In context of South Asia, it turned further approved at the end of 20th century. The practice of kanyadaan next varadakshina leads to the growth to dowry. History says that Rishi karav grant a number of presents to his daughter Shakuntala.
It can be inferred that since early marriage were norm in bygone society. As a daughter have to leave her maternal home, number of gifts are provided.
Current situation
Marriages have become a business deal. As dowry is exceedingly controlling the system of marriage in our society, now marriages are made by money. The more groom earns and is educated, more he and family demand as dowry. What’s the use of education if social evils are connived by those so called educated people?
In marriage market, boys are viciously sold. The appraisal of demand depends on boy’s education. Today, glutinous boy marry the car, chattels and household appliances. Every piece of household furniture, Tv sets and goods have become dowry.
Even girls nowadays are interested about what they are getting. Even when a girl is against this practice fingers are pointed upon girl’s family for not fulfilling their demand. Any which way this social evil is still prevailing in our society.
Despair of dowry
There is nothing bad about parents giving gifts for new journey. What if parents can’t afford it? Is it okay to demand? Not at all. The problem lies in the word “willingness”. It is illegal to demand other’s property. Every marriage of girls child drains out a huge amount of money from bride’s family to groom’s family. Even after fulfilling all the demand, sometimes groom’s family are not satisfied. This practice threatens the level of women and leads to the despair.
This is the main reason for female infanticide and female foeticide. Yearly there is recorded case of 12 million female infanticide. That means 12 million girl infants are died in a year of birth. Not only this, small girl who should focus on their career have to start working to get a dowry expenses. Innocent girls are even sexually harassed. This results in suicide and homicide. In a day approximately 20 women dies.
It is not only illegal but horrible as per women’s life. Due to this poor people get trapped in debt. Moreover, dowry keeps women from economic independence.
Government Act
Dowry system had been outlawed since 1961. In 1986, law against abuse and domestic violence in first 7 years of marriage in terms of dowry was amended. The worst thing even after legislation and government is that people are scared to report.
we’re living in a modern era of 21st century characterized by liberalization, privatization and globalization. But mentally we are not. It’s high time revolution should be taken. Government alone can’t bring change. Change starts from us and our society.
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