DOWRY

(A curse of society)

ASSIGNMENT ON: DOWRY

Submitted To:

Mam Maria Shahid

Submitted By: Ayesha Nadeem Fatima Afzaal Farheen Kazmi Kiran Bashir Ramsha Naz Shahar Bano Rabia Ehsan

CONTENTS:

Definition of dowry Introduction History Explanation Curses of dowry in Islam Curse of Dowry in Pakistan Penalty For Demanding Dowry Analysis of Dowry Deaths Affects of Dowry On society Control of dowry system Arguments for Traditional Dowry Arguments against traditional Dowry Conclusion Reference

DOWRY
Definition:

A present given to a new husband by the bride upon marriage. It took the form of land, goods, or money. The marriage wealth-exchange practice in which the woman's family is required to provide the husband with property (eg, money, land, household goods) in order to make the marriage.

INTRODUCTION:

Dowry is the payment in cash or/and kind by the bride's family to the bridegrooms family. The brides parents offer dowry to the grooms family in the form of money and materials. In Pakistan dowry (known as /Dahej) is the payment in cash or some kind of gifts given to bridegroom's family along with the bride. The dowry system has been putting great financial burden on the daughters family. It has been one of the reasons for families and women in In Pakistan resorting to sex selection favoring to have a son. The payment of a dowry has been prohibited under The 1961 Dowry Prohibition Act. Despite the anti-dowry law in India and Pakistan it is still widely and illegally practiced across the country

EXPLANATION:
Dowry may be to provide the husband with "seed money" or Property for the establishment of a new household and to help feed and protect the family.

Dowry originated in upper caste families as the wedding gift to the bride from her family.
The dowry was later given to help with marriage expenses and became a form of insurance in the case that her in-laws mistreated her. Although the dowry was legally prohibited in 1961, it continues to be highly institutionalized. The groom often demands a dowry consisting of a large sum of money, farm animals, furniture, and electronics.. Cultural practices such as the payment of dowry tend to subordinate women in Pakistan.

When the dowry amount is not considered sufficient or is not forthcoming, the bride is often harassed, abused and made miserable.

CURSES OF DOWRY IN ISLAM:

A study has revealed that an estimated one million (1,000,000 ) female fetuses are being destroyed every year in India alone where, even today the birth of a female child is viewed as a curse. If I dont kill her today; tomorrow she will kill me financially or someone, else will burn her for the sake of dowry," A Muslim father does not have to bother for dowry, as there is nothing called Dowry in Islam. On the contrary, Islam enjoins the groom to give a Bridal-Gift or Dower as a token of love and assurance to his would be wife at the time of marriage. In fact without payment of this sum, the marriage cannot get solemnized. The Holy Quran instruct its believers: "And give the women (whom you marry) their dower (obligatory bridal gift) happily-(4:4)

PENALTY FOR DEMANDING DOWRY:

The offence of demanding dowry stood committed even before the marriage was performed and also when the demand was repeated again and again after the performance of marriage in respect of the same items of dowry. There had been no agreement between either parties to the marriage nor their relations to give any property or valuable security to the other party at or before or after the marriage. Furnishing of a list of ornaments and other household articles at the time of settlement of marriage amounts to demand of dowry and accused are liable to be convicted under section 4.

ANALYSIS OF DOWRY DEATHS:

In 1988, 2,209 women were killed in dowry related incidents In 1990, 4,835 women were killed in the same dowry related incidents. According to Government figures there were a total of 5,377 dowry deaths in 1993, an increase of 12% from 1992. In 2008 a total of 1, 95,856 cases were registered. In 2009 a total of 2, 03,804 cases were registered. And in 2010 a total of 2, 13,585 cases were registered. A woman is murdered for dowry every 20 minutes. There are 2400 dowry deaths per every year. This has distorted the sex ratio in India 933 females per 1000 males and has given rise to female feticides.

AFFECTS OF DOWRY ON SOCIETY:

The parents of daughters, who are suffering from the curse of

dowry system, are also criminals. After getting news of their daughters suffering from this new system, the parents advise her to live in her in-laws house and win their heart by her good deeds. The end of this is the bride-burning, bride-suicide or at least continued mental and physical torture at the hands of her in-laws. In spite of several laws to contain the dowry system, the parents do not even gather courage to file a complaint against the perpetrators of this crime.

ARGUMENTS
For Traditional Dowry :

Against Traditional Dowry :

Payment of dowry demonstrates that the husband-to-be is capable of caring for and supporting a wife. Payment of dowry makes the wife feel that she is worth 'something' and that her husband considers her valuable. Payment of the dowry satisfies family involvement.

It degrades the woman to the status of a commodity being sold and bought. Selfish economic factors do not build genuine love and fidelity.

CONCLUSION:

Dowry is a curse for those who value a relationship more than money and for whom marriage is a sacred knot. For all practical purpose, dowry has spoiled the social fabric and slackened the sacrosanct word marriage.Now what requires is, mobilizing the social consciousness to ban effectively the vicious survival of the social evil The Dowry. Remember: The love of money is the root of all evil ( Bible; I Timothy 6:10)

REFERENCES:
http://www.allwords.com/word-dowry.html Http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Dowry www.scribed.com.pk www.wikiapedia.com.pk http://www.islamawareness.net/Marriage/Dowry/ dowry_article003.html