Page 110 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Sociology of Kinship Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 15: Bride-Wealth and Dowry

CONTENTS
Objectives

Introduction
15.1 Bride-Wealth and Dowry System
15.2 Causes of Dowry
15.3 Summary

15.4 Keywords
15.5 Review Questions
15.6 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, students will be able to:
• Tell about the reasons of the birth of dowry system: a problem related to marriage.
• Explain the bad results of dowry system.
• Know about the law prohibiting dowry system.

Introduction

Even from ancient period, marriage is considered as holy sacrament. It is considered as an
important duty for every Hindus because by this several debts, pursuit and stages of life are
fulfilled. Marriage is the main basis of religion, family, society and caste. In ancient Indian
society, both the party tied to the bond of marriage, respect each other mutually and subsist the
marriage duty. With the advance of the time, many changes had taken place in social, economic
and political region. These changes affected our social institution and the institution of marriage
also never remained untouched. The conservation in the society increased and they are accepted
by the society without any arguments. In the name of god, many evil customs emerged in the
society and religion and our god fearing society had provided strength to them. Due to above
situations, many problems emerged regarding marriage in Hindu Society. The main problems
are-Dowry System, Child-Marriage, Widow-Marriage Prohibition, Divorce, and Prohibition of
inter-caste marriage etc.

15.1 Bride-Wealth and Dowry System

Dowry is still a serious problem in present age. Due to this, the marriage of girls became a curse
for their parents. Generally, dowry is that wealth or property which is given by bride side to
groom side at the time of marriage. According to Fairchild, “Dowry is that property which is
given by the parents and close relatives of bride at the time of marriage”. Max Radin writes,
“Generally dowry is that property which is got by a groom by his wife or by her family at the
time of marriage”. According to Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, “The meaning of Dowry is that

104 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY