Dowry Prohibition

Marriage is considered a sacred institution in India, where two families establish a lifelong relationship with each other. But at the very beginning of this sacred bond, a deadly social evil entered in - the dowry system. Dowry is the amount of money, goods or property that has to be given to the bride's family on the occasion of marriage. This practice is not only the root of discrimination against women, but also remains a major source of economic and mental pressure in the society. The slogan “Stop the dowry system” is as relevant today as it was before. In this article, we will discuss in detail the history, impact, legal aspects, social changes and measures for redressal of the dowry system.

History of the dowry system

The roots of the dowry system are found in ancient times itself. In early society, marriage was a social and economic agreement. Dowry was often considered as an investment by the bride's family for her security and future stability. But as time passed, this practice started to get distorted. Dowry is misused, and at times it was adopted as an obligation and burden..

Child Marriage: A Social Curse

Child marriage (Bal Vivah) is a social evil, which has been prevalent especially in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and African countries. It is a practice in which boys or girls are married at an early age, usually below 18 years. This practice has been prevalent due to many social, economic and religious reasons, but its ill-effects not only affect the health and education of children but also hamper the overall development of the society. Although, many laws have been made in modern times to stop this practice, yet this problem has not been completely eradicated.

History and Origin of Child Marriage

The tradition of child marriage has been going on since ancient times. It became more prevalent in medieval India when there was an atmosphere of insecurity in the society and due to external invasions, families started marrying their daughters early. Apart from this, child marriage was also encouraged due to many religious beliefs and traditions.

In ancient India, it was believed that it was the religious duty of parents to marry girls early.