Women and Dowry

Posted on March 31, 2009 in Latest News

Dowry is a practice in which the family of the bride has to give a certain sum of money in the hands of the groom’s family. For what? This will be a question from many who are from an outside culture. Well the patriarchs have the answer ready. It is taken because the groom is going to take the responsibity of the girl and look after her for the rest of her life. Otherwise where would the helpless creature go?

Dowry In India

Dowry is practised in India openly. Females who fail to give up the demanded cash are often murdered. The number of dowry deaths are between six to seven thousand each year. Yes, women are killed if her father cannot cough up the sum.

The Beginning Of The System

Even in ancient times in Greek societies, women had to give a certain sum otherwise the marriage would not be legitimate. However, India has not been able to stop this practice. Rather dowry system is on the rise. It has now become a status symbol for the girl’s family. What is needed is a change in perception so that one gets a real picture which is ugly and repulsive.

What Can Be Done?

God helps those who help themselves. The women have to fight for their own rights. If a girl is educated and has a job, how can she not have the courage to stop this from happening.

The Dowry Prohibition Law (which was passed in the year 1961) can help women. But it depends on them whether they want to stand up against it.

India has always been associated with horrid practices like female foeticide, child marriage and sati. The responsibility lies on the shoulders of today’s enlightened women. It is they alone who can bring about a revolution in the existing narrow mindset of Indians.

Comments

One Response to “Women and Dowry”

  1. Rahul Verma Says:
    April 11th, 2009 at 1:59 pm

    Dowry and dowry torture are entirely 2 different issues. Anyone who mizes the two does so purely because he/ she is trying to gain sympathy.

    Dowry torture is bad while dowry is not.

    Let me tell you why I would take dowry when I get married (and why would I give dowry when my sister gets married):

    1. I earn 15 lacs per annum. Most Indian girls do not work, and hence in all likelihood my wife would not be working. But automatically after marriage, she gets entitlted to all my income and assets. Hence, it is just fair that she also gets something economical into the marriage. Hence, I expect dowry when I get married.

    (I will not get married into any poor family that can not match our status. Hence the question of dowry torture does not arise. According to me dowry is a one time thing and it should be very clear at the time of marriage what all will the girl get along with her).

    2. Why will I give dowry to my sister – because I am not a bad guy. My father’s property is to be equally divided between me and my sister. Once the sister is married, she would rarely come back at my father’s demise to ask for her share in the property. Hence, I would rather give her a fair share at the time she is getting married.

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