Dowry System In India

Dowry is a frequently practiced marriage ritual in India. Dowry is a wealth transfer from the bride's family to the groom's family. Clothing, appliances, vehicles, property, jewelry, money, and furniture are all examples. There have been several causes for the development of this technology in the past. Because all of the family property was inherited by males, it was a form of legacy for the bride. It was designed to provide a safety net for the bride in case something bad happened to her husband's home.

It was also a way of praising the groom for his readiness to accept the bride as his wife in marriage, with presents ranging from large sums of money to modest tokens of good wishes. The desire for dowry, on the other hand, has influenced the majority of Indian households. Almost all violence against a married woman stems from this threat. The issue of dowry will almost always emerge after a marriage. If the woman is unable to supply all that her husband and in-laws require, her life at the groom's home becomes a living hell. She will be treated severely, and she may lose her life in some situations. The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 has been enacted, and the laws have been strengthened, with Section 304 B (dowry death) and Section 498 A (cruelty by husband or his relatives) being incorporated into the Indian Penal Code (I.P.C.) and Section 113 B (presumption as to dowry death) being incorporated into the Indian Evidence Act (I.E.A.) respectively, to eliminate or at least reduce down.

The problem of cruelty against women in Indian society is still present; domestic violence against women in India is rooted in the need for dowry. There is no distinction between the affluent, bourgeoisie, poor, educated, or illiterate families when it comes to dowry. When a marriage is set, no one cares about the girl's intelligence, homeliness, or intelligence; all that matters is how much money and pleasures she will bring to her husband's home. With time, dowry became a customary part of Indian society, and men began to demand dowry as a right to marry a woman. As a result, when the groom's family did not receive enough dowry, brides were harassed or cruelly treated, and dowry deaths occurred, particularly in certain parts of India. Dowry demands have a social, economic, and cultural impact on women's lives.

Dowry persists in India not just because it is difficult to enforce the legislation against it or because the groom's family is extremely demanding, but also because the bride's family continues to tolerate it. Despite increasing awareness of the negative implications of dowry and the troubles it causes, it is still considered as a manner of buying the bride's happiness. Many households feel that providing a large dowry will result in the groom's family treating their daughter better. This has further exacerbated the situation as the dowry standard has risen, and marriage has become contingent on whether the bride's family can reach that dowry standard or not.

By: Samaira Sachdeva
Delhi Public School, Gautam Buddh Nagar