Dowry Demand

More than half of the Indian girls would cancel their wedding if their would-be in-laws demand dowry, according to a new survey.

When single Indian women were asked in a survey by Shaadi.com about what they would do if they learnt about a dowry demand made to their parents, 51.4 percent women said they would call off their wedding.
Another 48.6 percent women said they would name and shame the would-be in-law's family by publicly humiliating them, as per the survey.

I doubt if a single respondent was from Uttarakhand. Because from my four year stay in Uttarakhand I can say with certainty that you cannot imagine a marriage where dowry is not given.

It is said that kumaoni culture do not have a dowry system. But people there have found innovative ways of demanding dowry. Gift, beti ki khushi,
ghar ka samaan, hamari baaratiyo ke saamne naak na kat jaaye- if the bride's side is using these words; it means that they want to know how much have you saved for you daughter.The girl's family start saving for her marriage since the day she is born.

A middle class marriage in kumaon cannot take place until a Car is promised by bridegroom's family. The car's model depends on what is the occupation of boy. Though exchange of dowry is a crime but it does not deter boy's family from flaunting "gifts" in front of their relatives, who get envious on seeing the items and decide that when their turn come ,they'll demand a bigger car and more items.

Interesting fact is that dowry is demanded in love marriages too; unless the couple decide to marry themselves without informing their family.

This evil custom is so entrenched in society that even girl's family know that they cannot do without it and they themselves give the list of items they are capable of giving along with their daughter, to the boy's parents in first meeting.

M.N Srinivas has said that dowry is modern day sati. In the fire of sati a girl is burnt once and then die. But in the fire of dowry a girl is burn everyday till she die. Unfortunately parents know this but still push their daughters in the fire.

I wish my sisters' of kumaon also cancel their wedding if dowry is demanded from them. And the family which demands dowry should be boycotted socially.

I know the situation would not be much different in other parts of the country but I will reserve my comments about other states and culture till i read and experience about them.