In recent years, there has been colossal increase in the value of dowries reported in country.
The journey from caves to present modern gadgets and inventions is the proof of progress made by humanity. In every walk of life, humans have stunned and crossed all the limits. But despite conquering all the things, reaching at summit of success yet there are some rituals which are unchanged in our society. Dowry is one of them. It’s black dot on the face of our society. It will be pertinent to say that this abhorrent, appalling and disgusting practice of dowry has turned the lives of women into nightmares. Dowry is gift which is given to the bride from her parent’s side at the time of her marriage. The concept of dowry was common in Europe until the 19th century and still in practice in Muslim world including Pakistan, where the people are highly influenced by the Indian TV channels showing the dramas with unrealistic culture. In recent years, there has been colossal increase in the value of dowries reported in country.
Dowry becomes the system when the groom’s family demands expensive gifts from the bride’s family. The upper class of our society gives dowry according to their status. They provide the things from basic needs to the things which come in luxuries including luxury cars, luxury bungalows. They show off to the people but the class of poor people fails brutally to afford the burden of dowry since they are incapable to meet basic needs and even how will they wallow the illegal wishes put forward by groom and his family? In the past dowries were simple but now the burden is too much. Therefore some girls stay unmarried. Many marriages have also been cancelled where the bride’s family was unable to fulfil the huge demands of the groom’s family.
Conclusion is that it is one of the evils of our society which has ruined lots of families and has burnt the beauty of our society. It is matter of fact that late marriages and state of being unmarried are results of dowry. It is a social issue which could be curtailed with the introduction of intense kind of punishment.
Lareb Aman Abro
Karachi Sindh
