Marriage is the most indispensable part of one’s life consecrating one with a partner to spend their entire life with them flamboyantly. Once you find a perfect soul mate, you can not only lavish your youth as well as you have found a shoulder to enlighten the gloomy days of old age. Besides, you have got a confidant that will accompany you just at the side of your grave after your expiry date. Marriage is a ravishing and bewitching stage of life. However, in Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, Iran, and Pakistan, a stigma exists, that has been depriving many women of this beguiled promise of spending and taking care of each other and that is dowry.
Another big discussion is always going on, Love Marriages or Arrange Marriages; Which One Is More Successful?
What is Dowry?
Dowry basically is a particular amount of money, property, or households given by the family of the bride to groom at the time of the wedding. It can be in one aspect considered as the ultimate price for lifting the burden (as considered in society) of one’s daughter.
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This dowry has led to the burial of numerous dreams. Let us look into the reason for this mournful reality of our society. One of the prominent Pakistani English poets Taufiq Rafat has written a poem with the title 'Wedding in the Flood'.  Why has dowry become vital in every wedding? Before every wedding, a truck loaded with households and
crockery is kind of essential to arrive at the groom’s house. If it doesn’t,
then a possibility, however, arrives of ruling out of the marriage. Now, why has
this stigma so much life in our society? Following are some of the main reasons
for its existence: Patriarchal Society: One of the major reasons for the demand for dowry is a patriarchal society in which men are always dominant and are considered assets and females are always thought to be liabilities. These liabilities must be hurled to males with gigantic money or goods.  A Pseudo Credulity of Prestige In Asian countries, a weird orthodox belief exists, in which
males have a credulity to consider themselves distinct and this feeling of
supremacy that is always showered upon them by society (just because of their
gender) makes them compress women. This presiding behavior of man leads to
demands of disgraces like dowry. The paucity of Formal Education Due to decreased literacy rate, unfortunately, the stains on the
sacred cloth of humanity aren’t fading but, becoming more significant. And
these will continue to exists unless are removed by the detergent named
education. Conservative Thinking Though it’s the 21st century, we can’t deny the fact that
conservative traditions are constantly making room for them. With a growing
planet, these stigmas are not only getting momentum but are modifying to fight
a bit of awareness that’s coming. This conservative thinking of always feeling
the women feeble making them susceptible to dowry and other demands. Everlasting Avarice The greed that deprived humans of their humanity is a prevalent
factor in raising the demand for dowry. Once, the humans accept that they will
get, what is meant to be theirs: then they will realize that this greed is just
an oasis. Ignorance towards Anti Dowry Laws There have been several laws to account for this social stigma
in nearly every concerned country. Considering Pakistan, there’s a restriction on marriage dowry
and even a restriction on the display of dowry according to act 1967. Similarly, in India, there’s a tough anti-dowry law according to
section 489A of the Indian penal code. However, the government has been successful in forming laws but
authorities pay little attention to implementing these laws and punishing the
culprits. Surveys Some surveys have been conducted to search the major aspects
related to the dowry system, in Pakistan. According to a recent survey, the middle class is mostly engaged
in promoting the dowry system, with a relatively little contribution from the
high and low class.  Another survey was conducted in 2019, in order to look into the
reason for exercising dowry.  What Can We Do? The revolution never needs millions of people, history has
proved several times that even an individual can bring change in the society
leading to a complete revolution in the entire world. To eradicate this social evil, we can and must play a role so
that a large number of women don’t sit in their house unmarried and desperate. Everyone can play an integral role, as a male you shouldn’t
demand or accept dowry from your bride, and as a female, you can clarify that
you are totally against the dowry system and you will marry without it. Let the world harmonize and let us fight together to extirpate these orthodox social norms and let us ensure that we contribute to making our Earth, a heavenly place.
Interesting
Thing! Do
you know a fair and beautiful lady can’t be loyal or vice versa? One of the
famous metaphysical poets John Donne wrote that it might be possible to catch a
falling star but a loyal woman is difficult to find anywhere. You can read the
amazing poem Go and Catch a Falling Star with Analysis here.
Contributor: Syeda Rabia Batool Naqvi |
