DOWRY A DISGRACE TO THE INDIAN SOCIETY
Dowry is derived from the ancient Hindi customs of "Kanyadaan" and "Stridhan". In "Kanyadaan", the father of the bride provides money or property, etc to the father of the groom whiles for "Sridhan", the bride herself gets jewelery and clothes at the time of her marriage, usually from her relatives or friends. More than 9,5000 women are killed each year in India over Dowry. The custom of dowry has become widespread. Even before the marriage, the amount to be given as dowry is discussed and settled with the change of time. The contents of dowry have undergone a great change. The boy's parent openly demand money and other items which include car, scooter, fridge, color T.V. Etc.
Even in the old age the dowry system was in vogue and dowry were used as means for striking a good match. In due course, dowry became an integral part of the marriage institution in all parts of world and is generally accepted by the society as necessarily evil. We Indian think that, this evil cursed only Indian but this evil has become a curse whole humanity in all over world.
Hardly is there a day when one does not read of dowry deaths in the national daily newspapers. Brides bringing less than expected dowry are ill-treated by their in-laws and other relatives. Many of them cannot bare it anymore and commit suicide. Those who do not have enough courage to do so are burnt alive by their husbands and the in-laws.
In Bihar, 918 dowry deaths were reported last year, as compared to 1,210 in 2008.Second highest in India.
While it is illegal for a dowry to be offered or accepted, it exists. A girl's family has to pay for the boy's family to take the girl as their son's bride. The richer the girl's family is, the higher the asking price. Some girls have been punished by the groom's family if her dowry is not large enough, or slow in coming. Women aren't second class citizens in some areas of India, they are considered less than live stock.
The ugly face of dowry related crimes within the high walls domesticity, where brides are burnt for dowry, and female children squashed in the wombs of the mothers – gave birth strict anti-dowry laws listed in Article 498 A of the Indian Penal Code. Effective police action and increased social awareness of the evil effects of the practice of dowry, has done much to diminish its popularity. But dowry still persists in many parts of the country and is one main reason of domestic abuse.
Dowry started as custom in the upper classes of Indian society, but became the bane of all classes and communities with time. Allowed dowry stimulates the emotion of greed, in man and undermines the true purpose of matrimony. Joint families are still a part of Indian society. A Indian girl marries to become a part of the boy's extended family, unlike western countries where the man and woman marry to live alone and create their own financial independence. The social definition of family in India places an added burden on the girl's family to pay a dowry. All dowry demands are made orally as customs and rituals, and these demands continue indefinitely beyond the extent of the wedding date. An inability to cater to these demands, then leads to domestic violence and abuse.
Now and then voices have been raised against this evil custom. Even the social reformers like Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Dayanand tried their best to create a social consciousness against this practice. Also, the Dowry Prohibition Act was passed in 1961, but it has not made any difference.
Though it is strongly imbibed in Indian culture, few have stopped following it. But it still haunts many of the poor families who cannot meet the demands of the dowry from the grooms family. It is only the youth of India to bring the right changes in our culture. Do you agree?
http://www.eslarrenterprise.co.in/blog
Dowry is derived from the ancient Hindi customs of "Kanyadaan" and "Stridhan". In "Kanyadaan", the father of the bride provides money or property, etc to the father of the groom whiles for "Sridhan", the bride herself gets jewelery and clothes at the time of her marriage, usually from her relatives or friends. More than 9,5000 women are killed each year in India over Dowry. The custom of dowry has become widespread. Even before the marriage, the amount to be given as dowry is discussed and settled with the change of time. The contents of dowry have undergone a great change. The boy's parent openly demand money and other items which include car, scooter, fridge, color T.V. Etc.
Even in the old age the dowry system was in vogue and dowry were used as means for striking a good match. In due course, dowry became an integral part of the marriage institution in all parts of world and is generally accepted by the society as necessarily evil. We Indian think that, this evil cursed only Indian but this evil has become a curse whole humanity in all over world.
Hardly is there a day when one does not read of dowry deaths in the national daily newspapers. Brides bringing less than expected dowry are ill-treated by their in-laws and other relatives. Many of them cannot bare it anymore and commit suicide. Those who do not have enough courage to do so are burnt alive by their husbands and the in-laws.
In Bihar, 918 dowry deaths were reported last year, as compared to 1,210 in 2008.Second highest in India.
While it is illegal for a dowry to be offered or accepted, it exists. A girl's family has to pay for the boy's family to take the girl as their son's bride. The richer the girl's family is, the higher the asking price. Some girls have been punished by the groom's family if her dowry is not large enough, or slow in coming. Women aren't second class citizens in some areas of India, they are considered less than live stock.
The ugly face of dowry related crimes within the high walls domesticity, where brides are burnt for dowry, and female children squashed in the wombs of the mothers – gave birth strict anti-dowry laws listed in Article 498 A of the Indian Penal Code. Effective police action and increased social awareness of the evil effects of the practice of dowry, has done much to diminish its popularity. But dowry still persists in many parts of the country and is one main reason of domestic abuse.
Dowry started as custom in the upper classes of Indian society, but became the bane of all classes and communities with time. Allowed dowry stimulates the emotion of greed, in man and undermines the true purpose of matrimony. Joint families are still a part of Indian society. A Indian girl marries to become a part of the boy's extended family, unlike western countries where the man and woman marry to live alone and create their own financial independence. The social definition of family in India places an added burden on the girl's family to pay a dowry. All dowry demands are made orally as customs and rituals, and these demands continue indefinitely beyond the extent of the wedding date. An inability to cater to these demands, then leads to domestic violence and abuse.
Now and then voices have been raised against this evil custom. Even the social reformers like Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Dayanand tried their best to create a social consciousness against this practice. Also, the Dowry Prohibition Act was passed in 1961, but it has not made any difference.
Though it is strongly imbibed in Indian culture, few have stopped following it. But it still haunts many of the poor families who cannot meet the demands of the dowry from the grooms family. It is only the youth of India to bring the right changes in our culture. Do you agree?
http://www.eslarrenterprise.co.in/blog