Free sample essay on Dowry System in India (Free to read). The Concise Oxford dictionary gives the following meaning of the word ‘dowry’: “Portion woman brings to her husband, talent, and natural gift.” We stick to only the first meaning of the word and we forget altogether the second meaning.
Even the meaning of dowry as we understand it today is not so relevant or as irrelevant as we have made it through our vicious practices. Most probably the practice of giving of dowry by the girl’s parent to the bridegroom originated in a noble spirit. Its purpose was to enable the newly wedded couple to start their household comfortably and with least inconvenience. But it all depended upon the capacity and will of girl’s parents. There was no compulsion or coercion involved in it.
Unfortunately, in modern times, the dowry system has assumed alarming proportions. Dowry is given and taken freely. The boys are auctioned, as if, in the open market. They go to the highest bidders. The girls are treated as commodities or as cows and goats. No attention is paid to their natural gifts, their education and accomplishments. The poor fathers of the girls have to get themselves ground in the mills of sweat, toil and sacrifice all their lives. Thus the birth of a daughter becomes the bane and stigma to the unlucky father.
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Even after having given a handsome dowry after begging, borrowing and stealing, the woes of poor parents do not end there. The girls are asked by their greedy in-laws to bring more and more gifts. In fact, there are endless demands. Many girls at last get bored and bold enough to raise a tremulous voice against cruel and unjust demands. The result is torture by the in-laws and in some cases even death by burning.
We claim to live in a civilized society. Often we flaunt our moralistic and idealistic pretensions. Should we not be ashamed of ourselves for practicing or letting practiced such cruel practices as the dowry system? If we have any qualms of conscience that prick us, should not we raise a full-throated voice against such barbaric practices?
As a first step, all of us should pledge never to give or take dowry in any form. Better to remain unmarried than to participate in such an obnoxious system. Secondly, we should socially boycott the defaulters. Thirdly, mustering up courage, we should report the matter to the police in case of default of the Anti-Dowry Act passed by the Parliament and the state legislatures. Fourthly, the women organisations should, in particular, activate themselves further and, if need be, sit in dharma in front of the houses of dowry seekers. In fact, this evil has taken such deep and firm roots in our society that only a determined bid and effort can uproot it.