A recent incident in Gujarat shocked the entire country when a 23-year-old girl committed suicide over alleged demand of dowry. She was tortured by her husband and in-laws in the name of dowry and ultimately she gave up her life. Unfortunately, this is not a new incident and so many women in our country have suffered and paid for their lives over the question of dowry. Dowry is a social evil that denies women dignity and self-respect.
India has an alarming rate of dowry deaths and threatens the social fabric of Indian society. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India reported 7000 dowry-linked deaths in 2007; however, the highest number of dowry deaths was reported as 8,391 in 2010; which means there were 1.4 deaths per 100,000 women. These are just reported cases with many more unreported. It may be recalled that the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, explicitly prohibits giving and taking dowry and declares it as a crime with provisions for a 5-year sentence. But all the laws have proved ineffective and dowry is still a part of Indian marriages, culture, and traditions irrespective of religion, education and geography.
The increasing prevalence of dowry in our country is a big question mark on women’s empowerment, women’s rights, and gender equality. The question arises; who is then responsible for this? Is it the family, society, culture, tradition, religion, or our education system? Which of these are responsible for increased dowry deaths?
From a woman’s perspective, no single factor is solely responsible. There could be many factors, but one of the most important factors that has an impact on this evil system is gender inequality. Boys and girls are treated differently by society. This starts in the family and in childhood, where the upbringing of boys and that of girls are significantly different; the boy is regarded as superior to the girl child. The birth of a baby boy is celebrated but the birth of a girl child is a matter of sadness and grief. Gender inequality in a society that values men over women makes it easy for the groom’s family to demand dowry in lieu of accepting their girl. Some people willingly give dowry as ‘security’ for their daughter. Educated families also accept it in the name of culture and fearing backlash from society.
Usually, gender inequality increases the risk of violence against women. It is a normal belief that men can control women; they have all rights over women. This increases the violence on women by men in the form of domestic violence, dowry, social and emotional harassment, rape, and sexual abuse. Although the Indian society is a blend of different cultures, beliefs, and religions, a patriarchal society is untouched by belief and culture. The dominance of one gender (male) is a big question mark on women’s rights and nullifies those steps taken to empower women.
Gender inequality is the main cause of crime against women. However, sometimes the mentality of people, adherence to this social evil in the name of tradition and culture, lack of education, religious beliefs, and other social factors are also responsible for this evil. Dowry deaths are a threat to Indian society as well as humanity. The early redressal of the increased rate of dowry deaths is the need of the hour. We together can uproot the dowry system from society, using awareness, dowry-free marriages, legislation, social boycott, and most importantly by eliminating gender inequality.
The Holy Qur’ān revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ granted women the rights to live in dignity and freedom. The status of women was elevated significantly by the Prophet ﷺ. It was for the first time that women were given the right to education, the right to inherit and acquire property and legitimate conjugal rights, the right to choose one’s partner, to receive Mehar (the wedding gift/alimony from husband), and the right to walk out of marriage when it becomes unavoidable.
The Holy Qur’ān eliminates any injustice to women and treats them both as an individual and part of society. Islam treats men and women equally. Allah the Exalted mentions in the Holy Qur’ān: “Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance], from their wealth.” [Al-Quran 4:34]. This verse discusses the husband’s role as “protector and maintainer” of his wife. In Islam marriage is a legal contract between a man and a woman and the consent of both is necessary for marriage.
The Qur’ān says in Surah Nisa Ayat 19: “O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the Mehar you have given them unless they commit open illegal sexual intercourse. And live with them honourably.” At the time of marriage, women have the right to get Mehar in the form of financial security from their groom. Also after marriage, she is not bound to change her family name and adopt her husband’s family name like in other religions.
The fulfilment of all her basic needs is the responsibility of her husband. The Qur’ān says: “And give the women (upon marriage), their bridal gifts graciously” [The Qur’ān 4:4] Here it is mentioned that at the time of marriage, women have the right to get her Mehar, it may be paid in the form of money or asset. Allah the Exalted also said it is her right to spend it as she wants and if she so desires she can forgo that right.
In this way, Islam enhances the socio-economic status of women and gives them financial security. She is allowed to take any decision that is good for her and society. Islam also empowers women by giving them different rights and eliminates gender inequality by treating women as independent individuals. Practising Islam and implementing the teachings of the Qur’ān in our life is the solution to this social evil.
However, other steps which we can take to uproot the dowry system are as follows: Family counselling centres must be established, pre-marriage counselling is necessary for both boys and girls, women should be aware of the rights given to them by religion and law, boys and girls both should have equal rights to send or refuse marriage proposals, boys in the family should learn to respect women since childhood, gender inequality must be removed i.e. boys and girls should be treated equally in society without any discrimination.
[Dr. (Mrs.) Saba Taj, (MSc., Ph.D. Bioscience, D.El.Ed, and B.Ed), Administrator and Educational Consultant, MM Model School , Kolkata. [email protected]]