Dowry Dilemma: Of Loopholes and the Evils of a Worn-out Tradition

Abstract

Marriage is a beautiful union in which two people are bound together by love and begin a new life together. Giving the bride and groom presents before and after the wedding, in cash, gold, or both, is a traditional way to express love in India. It is seen by the families of newlyweds as a sign of love and a blessing that helps them start their new life. However, the Dowry System has come to be perceived as representing a family's status over the last three or four decades. It is now required to give the groom's family money and gold. Generally speaking, dower refers to the wealth and material possessions that the bride or her agent transfers to the groom or his family upon entering a marriage. Contrary to popular belief, the concept of dowries is not exclusive to Hindu culture. The payment of dowries is a multi-cultural custom. The dowry system has been a major cause of marital violence in Indian households and has led to the innocent deaths of many women, even though there is a robust legal framework in place to prevent the practice from continuing. The researcher aims to find out why dowries are still sought and paid for in many communities despite desperate legislative measures to halt the dowry tale. Since laws cannot completely abolish a social evil such as the dowry practice, the researcher's approach in this study is to investigate the causes of the practice's existence and persistence. Numerous political, social, and economic factors have contributed to the continuation of the dowry system in India. It is the legislative attempts' mistake that they have not addressed the cultural and sociological elements that support the dowry's enduring appeal in Indian society.