Introduction: Dowry refers to property or money that a bride brings to her husband’s home at the time of her marriage. Dowry system is the worst evil of modern society.
Dowry system is an old but worst suffering of women in India. The system is prevalent in almost all parts of the country.
While other social evils like untouchability and caste-system are falling into a decline, the evil of dowry system is assuming a gigantic form. The enactment of the Dowry Prevention Act in 1961 by the Central Government has even failed to check its growth.
We talk about our civilized standard. We feel pride when we look at the marks of progress all around us. However, we must not forget that a sizable section of human population is still living in mind in the barbaric past. The lust for gold is still ruling supreme in them.
How it happens? The greedy family of the bridegrooms came forward with the sky-high demands. As time advances, they started treating their sons as costly commodities. Marriages became a means for demanding costly commodities and money as dowry. This tendency has contaminated our society.
Causes: The existence of dowry system in our society can be attributed to ignorance, greed, and poverty.
Effect: The Dowry System reduces the position and status of a woman. Boys and girls are reduces into a saleable commodity. The parents of well-established young men demand handsome dowry from the parents who wants to marry his daughter to their son. And the man who can offer the highest dowry can secure the most deserving husband for his daughter.
Many parents have to sell all their properties to get their daughters married. Again if the parents fail to pay the dowry at the time of marriage or after marriage, the brides have to suffer inhuman torture in their husband’s houses. As a result, some of these newly-wed brides have to commit suicide, some are put to death and some are compelled to file divorce suits.
Solution: To root out this social evil mere laws, and by-laws or social enactment cannot be sufficient. Total change in the society is necessary at this moment.To eradicate this blot or stigma from the face of Indian society a number of measures need to be taken immediately.
1. Social Awareness: This is a social evil and we should tackle it socially. Social workers and social service organizations should also come forward to rouse public opinion against this evil system. They should organize anti-dowry campaigns throughout the country and people should boycott socially all those who accept or offer dowry.
The public and the media should form public opinion against the practiced of dowry system in the country. Public awareness coupled with the efforts initiated by the government can combat the social evil of dowry in Indian society.
2. Women Empowerment and education: The women should be empowered and made self-sufficient by giving them proper education and employment so that they might grow conscious of their dignity and prestige and reject outright the young men whose parents demand dowry. Much of the problem of the dowry system will be solved if the girls and women folk in our Indian society can stand on their own feet financially.
3. Laws: The government must enact and enforce stringent laws prohibiting the evil practice of dowry in any of its form.
Conclusion: No doubt, the ball has started rolling; a new atmosphere is being created. Social organizations have become much vocal and are denouncing this cursed system. In general, people also have become much more conscious. Let us all work together and put an end to this system.