How was dowry humiliated women?
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Answer:
The dowry system in India 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.Dowry stemmed from India's skewed inheritance laws, and the Hindu Succession Act needed to be amended to stop the routine disinheritance of daughters.Dowry 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, vehicles and other household items that help the newlyweds set up their home.Dowry is referred to as Dahez in Arabic.In far eastern parts of India, dowry is called Aaunnpot.
The dowry system can put great financial burden on the bride's family.In some cases, the dowry system leads to crime against women, ranging from emotional abuse and injury to even deaths. The payment of dowry has long been prohibited under specific Indian laws including the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 and subsequently by Sections 304B and 498A of the Indian Penal Code. The Dowry Prohibition Act 1961,defines dowry in the following words:"Dowry means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly - (a) by one party in marriage to the other party in marriage; or (b) by the parents of either party to a marriage or by any other person to either party to marriage or to any other persons;at or before or after the marriage as consideration for the marriage of the said parties, but does not include dower or mahr in the case of persons to whom the Muslim Personal law applies"
A court judgement clarifies the legal definition of dowry as
"Dowry" in the sense of the expression contemplated by Dowry Prohibition Act is a demand for property of valuable security having an inextricable nexus with the marriage, i.e., it is a consideration from the side of the bride's parents or relatives to the groom or his parents and/or guardian for the agreement to wed the bride-to-be.
The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 article 3 specifies that the penalty for giving or taking dowry does not apply to presents which are given at the time of a marriage to the bride or bridegroom, when no demand for them have been made.
Although Indian laws against dowries have been in effect for decades, they have been largely criticised as being ineffective. The practice of dowry deaths and murders continues to take place unchecked in many parts of India and this has further added to the concerns of enforcement.
Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code required the bridegroom and his family to be automatically arrested if a wife complains of dowry harassment. The law was widely abused and in 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that arrests can only be made with a magistrate's approval.
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Dowry is often given in the hope of getting a better groom. This practice is not limited to well-to-do families. In fact, poorer sections of society follow the custom to make sure they get better grooms and push their families into debt.
The demands, ranging from buffaloes to motorcycles, are openly communicated in spite of the practice being a crime as people are not concerned about the law. Receiving gifts from the brides' people is an obligation that forces many into debt for the rest of their lives.
Often, women face harassment and persecution in their new 'homes' after marriage because of dowry. Ultimately, many either ends their lives or are murdered by in-laws. There have been multiple reports of hanging, poisoning and 'bride burning'.
The Dowry Prohibition Act, enacted on May 1, 1961, is intended to prevent the giving or receiving of dowry. Under this Act, dowry comprises property, goods or money given by either party to the marriage by the parents of either party or by anyone else in connection with the marriage and applies to people of all religions in India.