Free sample essay on Evils of Dowry system. Dowry system is one of the major evils afflicting India. It is really a great curse and a blot on our nation and society. It is discriminatory against women in general and unmarried girls in particular. It reflects man’s domination and superiority over the women, which is really shocking and condemnable.
It is really sad that outdated and orthodox systems like dowry still prevail in Indian society. It reduces the bridegroom and his parents to the status of beggars and exploiters, and the bride’s parents to that of helpless victims. It is high time that the evils of dowry are eliminated forever. Let us stop it before it becomes more and more menacing with the ever-increasing demands of greedy and evil-minded parents and relatives of a would-be bridegroom. There is no limit to greed and accumulation of wealth by such dirty means as demanding dowry from the parents and guardians of young, unmarried girls.
The evils of this major social sin are many and too apparent. Because of this evil, hundreds of deaths and incidents of bride-burnings are reported every year in our country. Many more cases of this nature do not come to light at all. When they fail to bring in sufficient dowry, in cash or kind, young brides are harassed, tortured, and burned alive and humiliated by their unscrupulous in-laws. Such an evil is to be found nowhere else in the world. It is a matter of great concern and shame to all of us that marriages are being settled on the basis of the value of the goods and money offered by the parents of brides, in the form of jewelers , costly clothes, TV., car, scooter, furniture, and refrigerator, etc. and hard cash.
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This immoral and vile system has generated black money, corruption, greed and many financial malpractices, besides various psychological complexes. The unprincipled and unconscientiously parents of a would-be groom try to justify dowry on the false presumptions that the newly married couple be given dowry to set up a new home and to begin a new venture. Such people do, however, condemn dowry in no uncertain terms when they have daughters to marry. This is nothing but a double standard. No doubt, dowry system is very old in India, and is perhaps as old as the institution of marriage itself but, certainly now it has lost all relevance, both social and religious. As such, the sooner it is eradicated the better.
In ancient days a girl did not inherit any property. Therefore, to compensate this loss, she was given several gifts in cash and kind by her parents, relatives, friends and well-wishers in dowry. These gifts ensured a sort of future security to the newly married girl. But now the situation has totally changed. Now women have equal rights. They have equal rights of succession and inherit property from their parents and ancestors. Now giving or receiving of dowry is a cognizable offence under the Dowry Prohibition Act. According to this Act, if any person, who gives, takes or abets in the giving or taking of dowry shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to 6 months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or both. Now, apart from the parents and relatives of the bride, the police and registered social organisations can also lodge a complaint against the party demanding dowry. Moreover, there is no time limit for lodging such complaints.
The laws enacted in recent years against the dowry system are very powerful and specific and yet they are not enough. They are being violated with impunity. There are thousands of cases of dowry every year but very few offenders are actually punished. In spite of these laws, the cases of dowry deaths are on the increase. Besides these legislative measures, we need other meaningful and effective social measures. All our efforts should be made to generate an effective public opinion against dowry system.
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More and more people, organisations, social institutions, leaders, religious heads and elders in the communities should be involved in the movement against this evil. The movement should be taken to villages and far flung areas of the country. The social and women’s organisations should organize agitations against the parties indulging in demanding dowry. Social boycott and demonstrations against the offending parents and’ relatives of the boy can prove a powerful weapon in checking this evil. Moreover, the laws against dowry must be made more stringent so that the offenders may not get off scot-free.
To curb this evil, registration of marriage should be made compulsory, where both the parties are required to declare that they have neither taken nor given any dowry. Group and community marriages can also help in removing this evil to a great extent. Such marriage ceremonies can be solemnized in a community function in the presence of elders. In such marriages, there is no room for demand of a dowry.
Young women themselves should come forward and take the lead in this movement. They should never feel weak, helpless and feeble. They should recognize their strength, rights and potential. The weak is always exploited by the strong. They should refuse to marry when dowry is demanded. They should revolt and expose such anti-social elements. They should learn to stand on their own feet and try to improve their economic status in the society. It is heartening to know that there is a lot of awakening among the women folk of the country in the matter, but this is just the beginning. They should fight against all sorts of discrimination and unjust male domination. The young boys should also be made aware of the evils of dowry. They should reject their parents’ plea of seeking dowry. What is needed is that the menace is fought both on the levels of law, and society.