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Dowry – A Cultural Tradition or a Social Crime??

By Nafeesa Dhalwani & Veronica Braganza

Marriages are made in heaven and consummated on earth.
                                                                      -John Lyly

Marriage is said to be the union of not only two people and two souls but a blending of two families. But with the shifting trends, the meaning of marriage is changing too. In today’s society marriages have become a form of transaction between two families- transaction of money, goods and property and this transaction has been given the name of dowry.

Dowry is a deep-seated custom of weddings in South Asia which results in various social and health consequences. This issue is one of the central matters of our social system and it holds prime importance in the health care system due to the fatal nature of crimes associated with it for example the growing number of dowry deaths and bride-burning reflect its health related outcomes.

There is no general agreement or certainty about the origin and concept of dowry. This relationship between money and marriage that dowry projects, is one of the most immoral and widespread linkages, rooted deeply in the past and present of many cultures. Dowry is said to originate from Hindu customs where marriage is considered as ‘the gift of the daughter’ also called kanyadan. To complete the ceremony, the bridegroom is offered a special gift, the varadakshina, which forms an element of dowry. Further, as traditional Hindu law does not provide for inheritance of daughters, dowry became perceived as a substitute for succession (Huda, 2006). However, there is no concept anywhere in the Islam, of a bride paying cash or kind to the groom- this detestable custom known as Jahaiz (Ahmed, 2005). From this, it is clearly evident that dowry has not been promoted by religion. But, it is more of a secular and contemporary phenomenon.

In our culture families are closely knit, which makes parents more protective over their children. They are constantly weary for the success, happiness and security in the lives of their children. This leads most parents to get entangled in the custom of dowry. They are under the assumption that a dowry will mean a more stable position and respect for their daughters among their in-laws, empowering the girl’s status in her new family. This leads to a vicious cycle as those same parents expect the same degree of compensation for their son from their daughter-in-law’s family. However, dowry does not have only prosperity and luxuries associated with it. It brings along several social injustices and crimes against women including acid attacks, stove burns, domestic violence and harassment compelling them to commit suicide in many cases. Additionally, girls are considered as a burden on their families due to the heavy loans incurred by dowry. This leads to rising number of female infanticide. Further, the divorce rates are increasing as men are tempted by the profits in the form of dowry from their second marriage rather than commitment to their spouse. Thus, it is questionable whether dowry is actually a means of promoting the well-being of a girl or her destruction.

In conclusion, it is imperative to realize that eradicating any custom completely from the society is a very huge dispute. Exterminating an entrenched custom like dowry, which has nowadays become a pre-requisite for the pure union of marriage, is a bigger challenge. This popular custom can be defeated by upgrading the status of women in society by providing them with better education and employment opportunities. Mass weddings can be organized in order to save the money and resources of parents. The government along with the assistance of several NGOs is also making a sincere effort to eliminate this social vice. Additionally, each individual should play their role to curb this menace as marriage is more than just exchange of gifts and money – its foundations are faithfulness, commitment and a true expression of love.