DOWRY - THE SHAME LIVES ON

“Any young man, who makes dowry a condition to marriage, discredits his education and his country and dishonors womanhood”

— Mahatma Gandhi.

                                                                                   


Dowry or Dahej, one of the deep-rooted social evils, is flourishing in our society at an unprecedented rate. There is no denying the fact that modern citizens condemn it, yet this practice varies according to the region, caste, and creed.

From being a financial burden on a daughter’s family to wastage of money, this evil is silently claiming the lives of innocent married women.
So how do we deal with this social stigma? We live in a society where hypocrisy is on the rise. People do not openly support the system. However, deep inside themselves, they seem to put faith in it. 

Although our Constitution grants equal rights to women but has our patriarchal society stopped seeing them more than a personal possession? Simply put, the infamous dowry system dehumanizes females by treating them as exchangeable commodities.

Dowry is often given in the hope of getting a better groom. This practice is not limited to well-to-do families. In fact, poorer sections of society follow the custom to make sure they get better grooms and push their families into debt. 

The demands, ranging from buffaloes to motorcycles, are openly communicated in spite of the practice being a crime as people are not concerned about the law. Receiving gifts from the brides' people is an obligation that forces many into debt for the rest of their lives. 

Often, women face harassment and persecution in their new 'homes' after marriage because of dowry. Ultimately, many either ends their lives or are murdered by in-laws. There have been multiple reports of hanging, poisoning and 'bride burning'.

Creating social awareness among the masses should be the first step in the fight to eradicate this social evil. Media, in this case, can play a proactive role. No doubt, several laws have been enacted so far, including the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, but the action needs to be taken on the front of enforcement.

Even though Indian laws against dowries have been in effect for decades, they have been criticised for being ineffective. 

One solution to this grave situation is education. Women need to be empowered. They need the education to become financially independent. Parents should focus on investing money and time to secure their daughters' futures right after birth and pave the way for them to be free-thinking individuals who can live life on their own terms. 

Bottom Line:
Our conscience needs to be fully awakened to the evils of the dowry system. Also, educated males must refuse to be sold and choose their partners in a fair manner. Taking into account the far-reaching consequences, it is the need of the hour to stand up against this social evil.

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