Business Environment & Society Presentation

1. Business I Environment I Society - Rajesh K Satpathy

2. Social Issue
# 4
Dowry System in India

3. Dowry System in India
In India, Dowry (Hindi: Dahēj) refers to the durable goods, cash,
and real or movable property that the bride's family gives to the
bridegroom, his parents, or his relatives as a condition of the
marriage.
It is essentially in the nature of a payment in cash or some kind of
gifts given to the bridegroom's family along with the bride and
includes cash, jewellery, electrical appliances, furniture, bedding,
crockery, utensils and other household items that help the
newlyweds set up their home. Dowry is referred to as Jahez in
Arabic (derived from Islamic jahez-e-fatimi).

4. Dowry System in India
The dowry system is so deeply rooted in Indian culture, that
sometimes one feels that there's going to be no way out - at least
not for another century.
Dowry (Dahej) is one of the most ancient practices of India. The
Vedas prescribe that a dowry be given by the bride's family to the
groom. The Rig Veda states that cows and gifts given by the Aryan
father of the bride to the daughter accompanied the bride's
procession- [ Source: RgVed X.85 ]

5. Dowry System in India
The ancient Vedic custom of “kanyadan”, where the father
presented his daughter with jewelry and clothes at the time of her
marriage, and “vardakshina” where the father presented the
groom with cash and kind are, in essence the dowry system. This
was offered out of affection and did not constitute any kind of
compulsion or consideration for the marriage.
These examples show that dowry was practiced in ancient times,
thus, in order to marry ‘Sita’ to `Godly Ram’, her father had to
supply her with 100 Crores of gold mohurs, 10,000 carriages, 10
lakhs horses, 60,000 elephants, 1,00,000 male slaves, 50,000
female slaves, 2 Crores of cows and 1,00,000 pearls, and many
other items [Source: Ram. wh 61 ].

6. Dowry System in India
But in modern times, Michael Witzel, Scholar, in contrast, claims
the ancient Indian literature suggests dowry practices were not
significant during the Vedic period.Witzel also notes that women in
ancient India had property inheritance rights either by
appointment or when they had no brothers.
Later after the vedic period, problem of dowry has become a
serious social evil among the upper castes and middle classes both
in towns and villages. The rules of marriage, namely, anuloma
(hypergamy) and pratiloma (hypogamy), have been misinterpreted
and misused for maintaining the dowry system. These rules restrict
the choice of mate selection, as marriage takes place within one’s
caste and outside one’s clan or race or tribe.

7. Dowry System in India
Further, a girl needs to be married to a boy who belongs to a family
with a status higher than that of her family, this practice of
marriage alliance is known as hypergamy or anuloma. When a girl
is married to a boy whose family status is lower than that of the
girl’s, it is known as hypogamy or pratiloma. Thus, anuloma has
restricted choice and created a desire to give away a girl through
marriage to a superior family.

8. Causes of the Practice
Economic factors: There are many economic factors that contribute
towards the system of dowry. Some of these include inheritance
systems and the bride’s economic status. Dowry gave, at least in
theory, women economic and financial security in their marriage in
the form of movable goods. This helped prevent family wealth
break-up and provided security to the bride at the same time.
For many, dowry has become a greater financial burden on the
family, and can leave families destitute based on the demands from
the groom.The demand for dowry has increased over time.
Story: UP’s Lower Caste Marriages

9. Causes of the practice
Social factors: The structure and kinship of marriage in parts of
India contributes to dowry. In the north, marriage usually follows a
Patrilocal (lives with husband’s family) system, where the groom is
a non-related member of the family. This system encourages dowry
perhaps due to the exclusion of the bride's family after marriage as
a form of pre-mortem inheritance for the bride.
In the south, marriage is more often conducted within the bride's
family, for example with close relatives or cross-cousins, and in a
closer physical distance to her family. In addition, brides may have
the ability to inherit land, which makes her more valuable in the
marriage, decreasing the chance of dowry over the bride price
system.

10. Causes of the practice
Religious factors: Dowry in India is not limited to any specific
religion. It is widespread among Hindus and other religions. For
example, Indian Muslims call dowry as ‘jahez’, and justify the
practice in terms of jahez-e-fatimi.
Islamists classify ‘jahez’ into two categories: The first comprises
some essential articles for the outfit of the bride as well as for
conjugal life. The other is made up of valuable goods, clothes,
jewellery, an amount of money for the groom's family, which is
settled on after bargaining. The ‘jahez’ often far exceeds the cost of
the baraat and marriage parties.

11. Thank You !