Dowry- A Practice Plaguing Our Society

She is well-educated, self-independent, smart, confident and possesses all other qualities of a modern girl. Unlike most of her contemporaries she is also religious and manages household chores with equal ease. In spite of all these qualities, her parents are finding it really difficult to find a suitable match for her. Often several candidates drop in to check out whether she actually meets their expectations. But even though she passes on some of their major parameters, the inability of her family to give heavy dowry dampens the spirits of the suitors who have no other ground to reject the proposal. Every time she is rejected, her frustration level rises filling her heart with bitterness against this entire social set up where a girl is subjected to such humiliation.

Well, this is a common problem that many families are facing today. Though India is believed to be progressing at a very fast pace, social evils like dowry still prevails in the society. The worst part is that this disease plagues not only closed society where people are uneducated and narrow minded but also the educated and the so called ‘modern’ class. A friend of mine was involved with a guy for the past five years. They seemed very serious and were ready to go to any level to spend their life together. Just few days back I came to know the boy got married to some other girl. Reason, the girl’s parents belonged to very modest background and could not meet the boy’s family’s expectations who belonged to a richer class. The boy could not convince his parents and hence finally preferred to end the whole affair by marrying the girl whose parents could pay him his right price. It’s really sad to see how educated and well-to-do families give in to such evils.

Boys are available at different price tags. Depending upon the income of the family and his family status the rate varies. While in villages and smaller regions dowry is openly talked about and bargain fluctuates as per the fairness and other physical attributes of the girl, in modern class it is discussed in a more sophisticated way. They don’t negotiate, they simply apprise the family of the exact desirables and the deal is closed. There is no room for any bargain.

Whenever I hear of such cases it evokes anger in me against these people. Criminals are not only the ones who put their son on sale but also the ones who surrender to their demand. By accepting such practice they in a way support it and encourage the other cheap and greedy people to go for it. Who will stop this? It is believed that education will transform the mindset of people and young generation will bring- in the desired change in the society. Though there have been some cases where the family or the Girl has voiced against such ill practices, but it is just the tip of the iceberg.

Lot needs to be done. All young and educated minds must take tirade against dowry and all those supporting it (overtly or covertly), to make this place free from such ill practices.