Dowry System Composition

Dowry means money, gifts, or property that a bride brings to her husband's house after marriage. In the past, asking for gifts or money from the bride's family was considered shameful. But nowadays, it has become a trend. These practices, like the dowry system, harm our society. This cruel system devalues human beings.

Originally, dowry had its roots in Hinduism. In Hindu culture, daughters don't inherit their parents' property, so they are given goods or money when they get married. However, now it has become common among people of other religions too. In the past, the bride's parents willingly offered gifts to their daughter. But now, it's no longer a spontaneous gift; instead, it's a demand forced upon the bride's parents. To make their daughter happy, parents often give goods or money to their son-in-law. The more money the husband receives, the more respect the girl gets. However, problems arise when the bride's parents can't meet the husband's demand. Incidents of murder, suicide, and divorce have become frequent. Acid attacks have added another terrible aspect to this social crime. Women in both rural and urban areas are mistreated and oppressed by their husbands and in-laws for dowry. We have laws and law enforcement agencies, but they fail to stop this malpractice. Girls and their families often tolerate such mistreatment to avoid breaking the marriage, which encourages the continuation of this crime.

This system has created a terrible situation in society. Illiteracy, poverty, and the greed of the groom are major causes of this brutal system. Additionally, women's dependence on men, their inclination to be submissive, and biased views contribute to this social problem. In a male-dominated society like ours, girls are considered inferior to boys, leading husbands to demand dowry as a condition for marriage.

We must stop this system as soon as possible for the welfare of society. To abolish it, the first step is to raise awareness among everyone. Girls should be raised to be independent and properly educated. Families of victims should not fear social shame and must take bold action against dowry. They should not encourage the girl to endure oppression. Giving or taking dowry should be recognized as a crime. Although the government has strict laws against this crime, the dowry system persists, and women continue to suffer. Raising awareness about female education and preventing the adverse effects of dowry should be a priority. Improving women's status in society is an effective measure against dowry.