Jyoti
Mandal
Since
we have old traditional value and beliefs and still we having faith on it,
there are some of the customs believes and values which we still practice in
today's context. And one of them is dowry system. According to the dictionary,
dowry means the property which women bring to her husband house at the time of
her marriage. The system of dowry is as old as the institution of marriage
itself. It is an age old system and a peculiar phenomenon. In past context
dowry system was practiced as custom and tradition. In simple language it is
said as the goods, gifts, materials or amount of cash given by parents of
daughter to bridegroom at the time of marriage. It has been practiced since
from many years. In past time also kings or landlords used to give goods, animals,
certain portion of land and gold and silver coins bridegroom as a gift of
marriage so, that their daughter status and prestige will be secured in new
family. For the well settlement of their daughters people give dowry.
In
past time there was no any specific concept of property right related with daughters
as in today's context. Dowry was the certain amount given by parents to their
daughter during marriage as the right of parental property of daughter on their
parent property too. Dowry system came in to existence to protect daughter
right to property on their parental property as there was no specific written
rights or values for providing equal property to daughters from their parents.
Besides this, in those days, the girls were not educated so, this dowry could
serve the girl as a backup support system in case of any emergency after her
marriage. Every father wants to give some presents to his daughter when she is
leaving his home for good and starting life afresh. Though the dowry has been
restricted by law, it is increasing day by day. All the groups, castes and
communities are affected by dowry system one way or other. Basically this system is practiced in terai
belt of our country. Still in terai region, people are following this system as
their custom. Dowry system is one of the social evil prevailed in terai region
of our country. In the name of dowry many married women are burnt, killed and have
to bear domestic violence. When there is the birth of boy child, the certain
family members became happy but with the same regard if girl child is born they
feel and take it as a burden. Dowry might be reason that still the girl and
women of terai belt are uneducated and still backward in developmental
activities. Every day we heard the news that someone is killed or is the victim
of domestic violence in the name of dowry.Though education is our fundamental
right but mainly in context of terai region, most of the parents think or
prefer to give dowry instead of educating their daughters. Parents think if
they will give dowry to their daughters, they might find a good husband and
family for her, they think might be by giving dowry their daughter may not become
the victim of domestic violence like others. Those responsible for enforcing
laws have also been practicing this syetem. It is the matter of shame and ills
of society to have increasing incidents of VAM( violence against women),
domestic violence and killing of women in the name of dowry at a time when all
citizens are equal constitutionally and women can legally enjoy their parental
property on a par with their brother.Because of dowry system, every day someone
is victim of domestic violence.
Some people they take action regarding such
violence whereas still many women or girls are the victim of such domestic
violence. Every time in the name of dowry they are physically as well as
mentally tortured.It is not only the of middle class or lower class people
still practice such evil activities but the educated members of society, they
too still practice such tradition. Because of the dowry system, still the girl
child istaken as burden in the family. There are some provisions regarding
abortion in criminal code of law and some of the people go against it and force
the pregnant woman to check whether the baby in the womb is girl child or boy
child and in some cases, girl child are aborted. Not only illegal abortion,
domestic violence but due to dowry system, it has given arise to child marriage
also. Most of the girls are forced to get married at the age of 14/15 years. Because
of child marriage neither they are able to complete their education and because
of unwanted pregnancy at small age some of them has to lose their life also.
Conclusion:
Though our country is in the process of developing era. But there are still
some of the old customs and traditions which is still prevailed in our society as a evil. Because of evil
norms and values, our country is still lacking behind in development. Development
of society does not only mean developing of infrastructures and all. Unless we
won't bring changes in our mentality and thinking capability, we can't develop
our society. Dowry system is one of the social evil system which is still
prevailed in our society.Though the government had made it illegal but still people
perform such activities. Though this system was taken or regarded as a culture
is past period but now it has grown up as most evil system in context of our society.
To abolish such system, our government should implement and should enforce more
strict laws regarding such evil system. People who practices such system should
be strictly punished. Might be because of such evil practices, still the women
of terai are still backward in education and other developing activities. To
uplift the socio-economic condition of women of our society, such system should
be abolished from our society.
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