The practice of dowry has been in our civilization since the dawn of humanity. The parents of the ladies used to offer newlywed couples particular gifts or money so that they may start a comfortable life. However, the definition of dowry has evolved over time. Today, a marriage’s success is measured in terms of money and free presents, rather than joyful and conjugal connections.
In a Muslim family, the birth of a daughter was regarded as a sign of good fortune. This birth is now viewed as a burden on the parents’ shoulders. When their daughter is born, most parents curse the day. People in some remote rural and tribal areas are forced to resort to homicide due to poverty. These heinous acts are the unwelcome consequences of the dowry system. If the girl child is allowed to live and grow, she becomes the house’s neglected object. Daughters and boys are treated differently, and sons are favoured over daughters. Parents are always concerned about their daughters’ marriages.
When the parents of the girls go to the market to look for potential bridegrooms, they are confronted with high dowry demands. Dowry demands are so enormous that their life savings appear to be a drop in the bucket. They have no choice but to borrow, and they will be in debt for the rest of their lives. If the bride’s parents are unable to meet the groom’s parents’ requests, the bride will encounter numerous difficulties. She has been chastised, mocked, and abused. Suicides among adolescent brides are extremely common in the country.
Much has been spoken about the dowry system, but little concrete has been done. The government should launch a strong anti-dowry campaign. Government employees should be charged and fired if they receive dowry in cash or kind before or after marriage. The government’s declaration of dowry as a social crime and an economic infraction against humanity is a positive move. The government’s laws and actions will not be enough to eradicate this evil. People must be aware of the problem and work to eliminate it from society. If such kind of steps initiated, the hope may rise that a poor man’s daughter could start a new journey of her life.
