DOWRY: THE CANCER OF SOCIETY

Abstract

“Several lives sacrificed for dowry, stop this sacrilege” 

Since a long time the harassment and the violence against the brides revolves around the demand for more dowry which often culminates in the death of the bride. Many questions can be raised about the recent increase in killing and burning of young brides for non- fulfilment of demands or insufficient offer of dowry. The young married women are not only the victims of burns but also they are the victims’ strangulation, poisoning, injury inflicted by heavy weight weapons and being compelled to commit suicide and so on. Although Indian laws (Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961) against dowries have been in effect for decades, they have been largely criticized for being ineffective. The practice of dowry deaths and murders keeps on occurring unchecked in numerous parts of India and this has added to the concerns of enforcement. Dowry is illegal only on paper in judiciary or legislative benches but the reality is the complete opposite. For all intents and purposes daughter in law is for most part is regarded as the goose that lays golden eggs. Once they stop laying egg, they are tortured both mentally and physically. Also those victims are driven out to leave the house or to commit suicide. It is a disgrace that coming to at present day age the society. Like untouchability and caste system, dowry system is not as it were a simple fiendish but too a criminal offence. One of the worst evils of our society is dowry system. The custom of dowry is prevalent in all the section of our society in one form or the other. At the beginning it was voluntary, but later on the social pressure was such that very few could escape from its clutches.  

There are many reasons why dowry system is existing in the Indian society. Firstly, there is the greed factor which is treated by the major sector of the society as an event for extortion from bride’s family. Demands of dowry are put forward shamelessly are expected to be met with silence. When the dowry demands are not met, either the marriage is called off, or the bride is exploited leading to domestic violence.