Dowry: A Social Evil Still Prevalent In India?

“Congratulations, Mr Goel, you have been blessed with a baby girl!” said the nurse. 

“Ah, another girl. I really wanted a boy this time. I already have two girls. How many times should I keep on trying for a son?”

“Poor Goel, now he will have to try again for a son.” “It is for sure the fault of his wife; she cannot give this family a boy.” cried everyone.

“I will have to sell everything I have to arrange dowry for these girls!” “What a pity.”

Source: indian-culture

This story may be fictional, but it surely still happens in many parts of the world. “Arey itna kharcha kar rahi ho?  Isko apni shaadi ke liye bacha lo.” “Waah! Itna achha gift set mila hai Diwali pe, sambhaal ke rakh lo, gudiya ki shaadi mei kaam aayga.” These statements have become a part of most girls’ lives. 

Dowry refers to gifts in any form, be it cash or kind like gold, property, etc given to the groom’s family by the bride’s family during or after the wedding. Although; the concept of dowry was declared illegal in India a long time back, people still ask for or give dowry under the name of ‘gift to their own daughter’ in many parts of the country. 

The demand for dowry doesn’t only put pressure on the bride’s family but on the bride as well. Not just financially, this pressure can be emotionally damaging for the bride’s family as they may have to sell a lot of their assets to meet the expectations and demands of the groom’s family. What the groom’s family doesn’t understand is that this is the beginning of a debt or poverty cycle, which the bride’s family have to live with for the rest of their lives. If you think that’s it, then it’s not! The bride, too, has to go through emotional, mental and even physical abuse if her family fails to meet their financial demands and expectations. 

Source: timesofindia

These effects are not it; the consequences of dowry are much more than people even know. Dowry is one of the main reasons for the widening gender gap, the financial burden on the girls’ families, physical and mental abuse against the bride, high divorce rates, poverty and many more. 

Do you know that in some places of the world, gold equivalent to the girl’s weight is given to the groom’s family as dowry? How sad is that? We still hear of such cases more often than not! Marriages being called off, wives being beaten up, and men divorcing their wives just because they didn’t bring enough money are some of the news that just makes us furious! Is this a developing country?

It is high time, people stand up against this evil practice and make this a better place for every girl. Let us all celebrate the birth of a girl in the same way we celebrate a boy and not think of how much pressure you get when you get her married.

Banner image source: kashmirglacier