Dowry System - Some Reflections
It is gratifying and satisfying as well that the state government has realized that development as perceived in popular sense of the term unaccompanied with a change of in mindset of the people towards societal issues is hardly enough for its holistic development. Despite a number of legislations to address these issues the progress made so far towards minimizing them much less eradicating them is far from satisfactory. The evils perpetrated by the customary system like dowry is a case in hand for better appreciation of the matter. I have not found, despite my best efforts, that this so called system of dowry has any sanction in any Hindu religious scripture. There is not even a slightest reference of Dahej or its english equivalent Dowry in any hindu religious book save mention of Vardakshina which is a sort of offering purely voluntary presents at the time of marriage(not before or after) to the bridegroom after Ka...