Dowry system in india. The Actual History of Dowry System in India : Why did such an evil 2023-01-01
Dowry system in india Rating:
8,8/10
1633
reviews
The dowry system in India refers to the practice of giving and receiving a dowry at the time of a wedding. A dowry is a transfer of money, goods, or property from the bride's family to the groom or his family, and is often considered a necessity for a successful marriage. The dowry system is deeply rooted in Indian culture and is prevalent in many parts of the country, particularly in rural areas.
Historically, the dowry system was intended to provide financial security for the bride and her family in the event of the husband's death or divorce. It was also seen as a way for the bride's family to demonstrate their wealth and status. However, over time, the dowry system has become an entrenched and controversial tradition that has been criticized for its negative impact on women and for promoting gender inequality.
One of the major criticisms of the dowry system is that it places a financial burden on the bride's family, often leading to debt and financial hardship. The cost of a dowry can be significant, and families may go into debt or sell valuable assets in order to pay for it. This can be particularly problematic in situations where the bride's family is already economically disadvantaged.
In addition to the financial burden, the dowry system can also lead to discrimination and abuse of women. There have been numerous reports of dowry-related violence and abuse, including physical and emotional abuse, as well as dowry deaths, where women are killed or driven to suicide due to the pressure to provide a dowry. The dowry system can also create a sense of entitlement in the groom and his family, leading to the expectation that the bride will provide a dowry as a condition of marriage.
The dowry system has been illegal in India since 1961, but it continues to be a widespread and deeply ingrained practice. Efforts to combat the dowry system have included public awareness campaigns and legislation, such as the Dowry Prohibition Act, which makes it illegal to demand or give a dowry. However, enforcement of these laws has been difficult, and the dowry system remains a significant problem in India.
In conclusion, the dowry system in India is a controversial and harmful tradition that has had negative impacts on women and families. While it may have had some original intentions, it has become a source of financial burden, discrimination, and abuse, and efforts to eliminate it are necessary to promote gender equality and protect the rights of women in India.
The Actual History of Dowry System in India : Why did such an evil
Families often borrow heavily, mortgage properties leading to major decline in economic health. There is the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 which is enacted, and in addition the laws have been made more stringent namely, Section 304 B dowry death and Section 498 A cruelty by husband or his relatives have been integrated into the Indian Penal Code I. It may be in the form that daughter-in- law is not allowed to speak to her own family or only under the supervision,not permitted to speak to neighbours or attend social function. Dowry death Most dowry deaths occur when the young woman, unable to bear the harassment and torture, commits suicide by hanging herself or consuming poison. Greed Factor — dowry demands often is exemplary of the collective greed of the society. Urge to Show Off — dowry is often a means for showing off social stature in our country.
Archived from PDF on 18 May 2015. Dowry is a social evil in society that has caused unimaginable tortures and crimes towards women and polluted the Indian marital system. A Practical Solution to end the menace of Dowry Yes, there is a law in India which makes taking dowry illegal and a criminal offence. Post Independence, India gave equal legal status to daughters and sons among Hindu, Sikh and Jain families, under the Hindu Succession Act in 1956. It is subject to punishment for up to 3 years and a fine under the section.
Dowry System in India: Problems, Social Dimensions and Other Details
The term dowry does not include repayment of marriage expenses. Owing to such a social infrastructure, the dowry system still finds its takers and propagators. The marriage of Christians in India is still regulated by the Indian Christian Marriage Act of 1872 and and the Indian Divorce Act 1869. Aggression and Violent Behavior. The dowry system in India jahez in The dowry system can put great financial burden on the bride's family. Variations in social structure, in terms of caste, class, ethnicity, religion, region and culture, result in variations of the system of dowry.
If the wife isn't ready to provide all, which her husband and in laws demand, her life within the groom's house become miserable. Retrieved 28 March 2015. Although these laws and rights have been abused in the past, and this has been going on for a long time. However, a surplus of women in the marriage market should, more generally, shift the distribution of marital resources towards men. A court judgement "Dowry" in the sense of the expression contemplated by Dowry Prohibition Act is a demand for property of valuable security having an inextricable nexus with the marriage, i. Legislation has several lacunae, and it is not easy to overcome them. Thereafter followed by household furniture and luxury goods.
In the landmark judgement of Suresh Kumar Singh v. Education and self-dependence of women — education is not just required to find your vocation in life, it is essential to gain eyes and ears to a world beyond the one you can immediately see. In addition, she had many marks of abuse on her neck. The Nayars of Kerala pay neither bride-price nor give dowry. However, owing to the male dominated setup in our society, they suffer both physically and mentally. In this ancient system of dowry, the parents of the bride, even her kith and kin, all gave wealth to her in the form of valuable gifts etc. The experience is not equivalent for women, for whom higher education or powerful careers can hurt.
Dowry system in India: 19 women die everyday, Why it is not ending?
Their opinions are suppressed, not valued or ignored more often than not. We then add this difference SDP 2016-15 minus SDP 2015-14 to the 2015-16 official SDP estimates, giving us the 2016-17 SDP estimates. Further, in the case of Raja Lal Singh v. The preventive and short-term devices would include immediate action when incidents of dowry deaths, harassment and humiliation occur. ADVERTISEMENTS: Dowry has also become a symbol of prestige for both the dowry-givers and the dowry-takers.
This served as a required tool of financial independence for women even after marriage. Boys of marriageable age with desirable qualifications become a prize and this in turn encourages the practice of the catch being caught by the highest bidder. Solutions to Dowry System 1. It was also a system of honouring the groom for his willingness to accept the bride as his wife in marriage, and the gifts given could range from anything significant to even a small token of good wishes. If this takes place within seven years of marriage, it will be taken into account as a dowry abetment.
They dictate the items to be given in the dowry and the arrangements to be made at the time of marriage. The problem of dowry is experienced by all sections of Indian society, but it has become a chronic evil particularly among the educated middle classes engaged in salaried jobs and trade and commerce. Educated boys, with administrative and profesÂsional jobs, became the most prized prospective husbands. The giving of gifts and help to a daughter was quite a normal activity in ancient India. It is considered more as an expenditure on the marriage of a girl, which parents are required to incur by force. It prescribes a minimum punishment of two years imprisonment and fine to anyone demanding dowry. Commentaries on the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
It was only in 1956 that the Hindu Personal laws were amended giving the right to women to inherit ancestral property. There can be no solution without the victim refusing to be victimized. The violation may be in form of quarrelling,beating,taunting,harassing,blackmailing or mental torture. It has evolved into an unspoken demand that is now used as a negotiation tactic when arranging marriages. They accept all sorts of briberies. For Muslim women and Christian women, the rights are even less. Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 The Dowry Prohibition Act was passed on May 1, 1961, to eliminate the dowry system in India.
Dowry helps newly married couple to establish their family: The advocates of the practice of dowry say that the dowry, money, utensils and other house hold articles that a bride brings at the time of marriage help the newly married couple to establish their new home and also enables them to furnish their home with necessary accessories. As one reads the shocking story of individual women and families, one notice that there's little or no and sometimes no awareness among them of the roots of the problem or any motivations to curb the practice and bring about a much-needed social change. People there after started fighting over land. Thanks to the efforts of NGOs and government for decline in dowry deaths between 2001-2005. The Dowry Prohibition Act was passed on 20th May, 1961 with an aim to eradicate the evil practice from the society. So if this was the importance given to women in our tradition, then when and where did this contradiction of the menace of dowry enter our society? Parents should understand that they are not trading their children in marriage.
