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DOWRY SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN
Name: Zia-ur-Rehman Asif
Roll Number: 231450449
Instructor: Ma’am Farheen Saeed
Course: WRCM 102
Section: GG
INTRODUCTION
Dowry is a great curse that exits in our society although all of us dislike this and see as an evil.
Marriage is an essential part of a person’s life. It plays and important role in the life of a human
being as it is the turning point of one’s life. But there is a big deal before the marriage that can
affect the life after marriage of the newly married young couple and that is dowry. Dowry is a gift
from bride or groom to their future spouse that has some monetary value. However, dowry is no
more a set of gifts nowadays. Furniture of a bedroom, branded designers’ clothes, car, properties
Copious and loud marriages and many other course meals are all a part of dowry system. This kind
of particular greedy marriages are becoming trendy and are adding miseries in society where an
immense majority of populace lives beneath poverty line and is devoid of basic human
requirements like health, education, electricity, sanitation and water. Among the cultural afflictions
that are contaminating Pakistani society, the dowry system plays an important role. It is rambling
its roots far and deep in the general public troubling pretty much every portion of the society and
it is particularly predominant in Pakistani culture.
LITREATURE REVIEW
The dowry is extraordinary that actually exists in Pakistan. It is an act of victimization against
unmarried young ladies, whose qualities are characterized dependent on the costs of their dowries.
It is a perfect example of greedy and selfishness. and is a great curse, especially for the parents
who belongs to lower middle class. This is reason behind why they get discouraged and feel the
birth of a daughter. The dowry system ought to be restricted in Pakistan, much the same as the
serving of more than one dish at a wedding function was prohibited and individuals should decline
to wed when dowry is requested or given. Prohibiting this custom will lead towards a more joyful
life since it is a big source of stress and worry among parents of young girls. When hassles for
dowry are not congregated, the bride is subject to torment, and often even murdered. The cause
many parents don't wish to have daughters is because of the dowry they will have to reimburse at
her marriage, and the strain they go through due to never ending loads from her in-laws.
Dowry is an ancient tradition and custom and its existence may be older than its records.
Historically, dowry was a way of giving girls with a segment of her family's abundance, which she
would not, in any case, be entitled to through legacy. It was accepted to be the best approach to
shield a lady from enduring maltreatment or sick treatment by her better half. Initially it was like
a bride price that groom has to pay in exchange for marrying her. A similar concept is also seen in
Islam which is called “Haq Mahar”. However, its records are found in Indian civilization at early
ages. India has the most ancient civilization of world. It is not confirmed that when this concept
was originated in India. Because in third century B.C. Megasthenes and Arrian always selected
their wives by looking their inner and outer beauty rather than having dowry or thinking about the
fortune of women. The two concepts “Bride wealth” and “Dowry” are also found the early half
twentieth century which also has roots in the ancient civilization of India. The both are different
as in Indian civilization dowry is referred a prestigious thing which belongs to the higher class of
Indian Hindus, Brahman while bride wealth is referred towards lower class people. In ancient texts
dowry has also been referred as “Yautraka” and this means a marriage gift which confirms a man
and women has agreed with a martial relationship. “Sulka”, a price, was also given to the girl who
was married which was like a compensation for her parent for her daughter’s loss. Since the Vedic
period dowry was widespread and a that time gifts from parents and relatives were considered as
the property of bride and it was called “Stridhan”. However, somewhere “Kanayadana” was also
practiced Kanaya means daughter and dana means gift. As in Indian marriages jewelry and other
expensive items were also given to groom in dowry along with money. It was also called “Hunda”
which means pot because at that dowry was given in pot. The main reason of the dowry practice
was to help the women so that she can be independent in case of any accident happen in her. In
the past if a married woman died without having any sons, husband should have to return the
dowry with deduction of bride price. The bride price began to disappear in most of the nations and
dowry used to be practiced as transformation occurred time by time. The practice became
compulsory and dowry was set like a standard in marriage customs. In present times it is an
essential part of marriage and in Pakistan only five percent marriages occur without dowry. As
Pakistan was part of India and this curse is influence by Hindu rituals in Pakistani culture.
Currently, dowry is the among the most prevalent sin in Pakistan. From a man who works at daily
wages to a rich man, everyone gives and take dowries although all of them dislikes this system.
This is due to because every father wants to secure the life of her daughter. Dowry now acts as
