Dowry: an Obscene reality of Indian Marriage system: A Feminist Contemplation

The article delves into the socio-economic ramifications and the ostensibly egregious reality inherent in the Indian matrimonial system, which is deeply entrenched in the ancient cultural and religious fabric of India. It delineates, within familial kinship, how the patriarchal and socio-religious framework has historically determined the roles of women, that permeates not only Hindu matrimonial rites but also extends across various religious matrimonial traditions. The dowry system, intimately intertwined with the conceptual framework of marriage within the Hindu doctrine. It has manifested in various forms: a) as gifts, b) as a mode of pre-mortem inheritance and c) as a form of compensation. The perpetuation of the dowry as a sociocultural tradition within the Indian societal fabric necessitates a rigorous critique. The degree of agency women wield over their dowries engenders considerable discourse; however, sociocultural cline in their agency in the contemporary context is unmistakably observable. Despite the enactment of the Dowry Prohibition Act in 1961 and its subsequent revisions, the legislation has been ineffectual in eradicating this malign and inhumane practice from our capitalist and semi-feudal society. Drawing upon a theoretical and legal framework, the paper scrutinises the situational, sociocultural and identity processes of Indian brides within social actions.