Very dangerous tradition ‘Dowry’

Dowry System in Nepal

Surashma Lamichhane

In many southeast Asian countries, the system of dowry is still practiced and it has frankly been getting worse day by day. A dowry is a type of present of substantial monetary value given from either the bride or groom’s side (more likely to be from the bride’s side) to their future spouse upon marriage.

Dowry is the property, land or other material given by the parents of the daughter to make it easier for the daughter in marriage. I have read that the practice of giving and taking dowry has been going on in our Nepali society for a long time. However, this trend seems to be taking a negative turn in Nepali society day by day. Dowry is compulsory as it is a custom. It is perpetuating heinous social crimes such as inequality, oppression, murder and violence in society. Violence against women, murder, and suicide in our society are vivid proofs of this. Relevant research has confirmed that the main cause of such incidents is dowry practice.

I once heard in the news that many daughter-in-laws are beaten, mentally harassed, kicked out of the house, and some are also forced to commit suicide, and some are killed all because of the dowry system. This is conceivable.
The well-to-do family will give the dowry voluntarily and no one will object to it. But, what will the poor helpless family do when it is forced? Dowry is given out of desire and not out of fear.

Although the practice of dowry seems to be prevalent especially in the southern part of our country, Terai Madhes, it is not less in the inner part. There are many downsides to dowry practices that affect the bride. Which starts from the time of marriage engagement. Because in most marriages (especially in the Terai Madhes), the bridegroom decides what to give to the bridegroom. The negative impact of dowry system keeps growing. Aren’t we doing the wrong thing by following our dignified and civilized religious and cultural traditions and teaching them to the next generation?

The sad news of social issues like dowry is very likely to be unnoticed.

Some legal provisions taken against dowry system are:

The Social Behavior (Reform) Act was promulgated in 2033 BS with the intention of controlling the increasing competition and extravagance in other activities such as marriage and marriage.
The law stipulates that dowry should not be allowed in marriage, and violators will be fined Rs 12,000 to Rs 25,000 and imprisoned for up to one month or both.

But in the same act, according to its tradition, there is a provision to give dowry up to a maximum of Rs 10,000 voluntarily.

According to the National Commission for Women, some women have been subjected to violence including beatings and polygamy under the pretext of not bringing dowry after marriage.

The commission has stated that dowry is one of the main causes of domestic violence.

Dowry system is an obstacle to a civilized society. It is not that various rules and regulations have not been made for its prevention. But in my humble opinion, more strong and strict legal provisions should be made and implemented because dowry system has genuinely become a very dangerous tradition in our country. It has now become a matter of life and death so it obviously should be taken more seriously.

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