Dowry system in Nepal

Dowry is money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage. It can be in the form of cash or valuable things. The practice of giving dowry to the bridegroom in wedding has long been practiced in Nepal though it is unknown who started it and when. Especially in the terai region, it has been an epidemic. There is no caste or creed untouched by its fire.

Due to the dowry system, women have become more vulnerable and the crimes against women have increased in a large scale. A woman is often tortured physically and mentally by her husband and his family in case she cannot bring enough money or valuables from her parents' house as per their demand. Many women lose their lives in Nepal's terai region every year. They are often beaten to death or burnt alive by their family. The media are often full of the news of this gruesome cruelty.

It is often the poor who have been suffering the most because of this ill-practice. A girl born in a poor family finds it very difficult to get a proper husband for her. She often cannot think of her marriage just because of her poverty. Even if she gets married, there is always a possibility of being tortured and victimized. The rich are also not happy when a girl is born in their family. But the family celebrates profusely if a boy is born. It has helped to increase discrimination between a boy and a girl. Many couples try abortion if a foetus is recognized as a girl.

However, it's not easy to convince people about the dowry system's disadvantages. Despite knowing everything, they cannot stop this practice for various reasons. Firstly, it has been a means to measure a family's property status in the society. The society values the amount of dowry given in the daughter's marriage. Second, the parents, if they are rich, do not want their daughter to suffer at her husband's house. Therefore, they themselves want to give her money and valuables as much as they can. It is because they love her. Third, it is now almost impossible to break the age-old tradition of giving dowry because it is deeply rooted in the society. A woman's parents generally do not have courage to revolt. But it can be stopped if all the men of our society protest the system by their heart.

In conclusion, dowry system has been a matter of shame for us. Daughters are being tortured or killed for their parents' inability to afford money for dowry. The system has also helped to increase the gender discrimination in the society. Therefore, it is high time we stopped practicing it if we want to make our society better.

(Written for academic purpose.)