This article is written by Rahul Goyal, Student of KIIT School of law, Bhubaneswar to give women an overview about dowry death and how to tackle it together.
In layman’s words, dowry is something that is given on demand to the son-in-law or his parents, either in cash or in kind.
“Any young man, who makes dowry a condition to marriage, discredits his education and his country and dishonors womanhood”, was rightly observed by Mahatma Gandhi.
Numerous groups came forward to speak out in response to rising dowry and dowry-related fatality rates. Several demonstrations against dowry, dowry harassment, and dowry death were planned by groups like the “Progressive Organization of Women of Hyderabad,” “Stree Sangharsh,” “Mahila Dakshita Samity,” and many more. The anti-dowry movement sought to isolate the offenders in their local community by applying social pressure to them. The advertisements highlight the need for women’s assistance, general legal aid, and counselling. As a result, offices for legal aid and counselling were established across the nation.
Additionally, women’s organisations were successful in changing the dowry legislation. The Dowry Prohibition Act was passed in 1961, abolishing dowry, yet brides and their families continue to worry about it greatly.
Section 304 B(2) defines the punishment for such act according to which “whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life”.
Dowry is the result of society’s collective avarice and its desire to show its status, riches, and groom’s value in society by revealing how much money or gifts the groom received. Such a social evil is a result of the patriarchal structure of the society, in which men are viewed as superior and have absolute power over women. Women are easy prey for such patriarchs since they are considered as objects in society, making them their victims. Additionally, the gender imbalance renders the bride’s family obligated to pay whatever it takes to satisfy the dowry requirements.
Due to extreme social and familial pressure, women are compelled to live their whole lives inside the four walls of the home, silently enduring all types of abuse from spouses and in-laws in order to preserve the pride, honour, and reputation of their families. It is made considerably harder for the victims of abuse and torture to speak up, raise their voices, or express their ideas by society’s blatant ignorance and lack of empathy.
The terms “dowry deaths” and “dowry murder” refer to the suicide or murder of a bride by her husband and his family shortly after the wedding as a result of their displeasure with the dowry. Usually, it is the result of a string of earlier domestic abuse incidents by the husband’s family.
The majority of dowry killings happen when the young woman hangs herself or takes poison because she can no longer take the harassment and abuse. Bride burning is another form of dowry killing in which the bride is doused with kerosene and burned by the husband or his relatives.
Sometimes, the bride may end up burning herself on fire as a result of their aiding suicide. Dowry deaths can also take the form of female foeticide and sex-selective abortions committed by parents who refuse to pay for their daughter’s dowry when she reaches marriageable age. Due of the dowry system, daughters are frequently viewed as financial responsibilities.
What can be done?
By educating the community, the issue of dowry and the related domestic violence can be somewhat resolved. It is vital to review the current anti-dowry legislation and rectify any gaps that have partially rendered it ineffective. There is still a dearth of understanding among women and their families, which needs to be addressed through social awareness programmes. These initiatives can undoubtedly aid in raising general awareness about the evils of dowry and dowry-death. Parents should encourage their girl child to be autonomous while also providing her with better educational options. Parents should put their savings on their children’s education rather than a dowry.
Benjamin Franklin said it best: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
In order to combat the unjust dowry habit, India as a nation must transform its current mentalities. Society needs to understand and accept that women can do whatever that men do in the modern world. Women themselves must also abandon the notion that they are in any way beneath males and that they must rely on them to take care of them. The youth of this nation have the power to halt it by refusing to endorse such societal injustices.
