Whenever a high profile case gains social media traction, dowry becomes a hot topic. People talk about it actively, and with the course of time, things just settle down. Even feminist vs non feminist debates sparkle just to discuss if it’s a Hindu cultural practice or not. Dowry is an imported evil and time has come to permanently get rid of it. Let’s dive deep into the roots of dowry
The dowry system in India is often portrayed as a deep-rooted, ancient tradition that reflects the oppressive nature of Indian society, particularly toward women. Media coverage and social commentary frequently link dowry to issues like domestic violence, dowry deaths, and gender-based discrimination. This has led many to believe that dowry has always been an inseparable part of Indian culture.
But is this really true? Let’s explore the facts more closely.
Historically, ancient India did not have a dowry system as we understand it today. Classical scholars and travelers like Megasthenes and Al-Biruni, who visited India thousands of years ago, specifically noted the absence of dowry in Indian marriage customs. Instead, Indian tradition honored a practice called “Stridhan”—a form of wealth gifted to the bride by her family, which remained her personal property. It was passed from mother to daughter and was meant to provide her with financial security and independence throughout her life.
In many cases, this movable wealth—like jewelry, money, and gifts—was controlled exclusively by women. Rural land was not typically seen as a reliable form of wealth. This system gave women status, dignity, and some level of economic power within the family structure.
The current form of dowry—where the bride’s family is expected to give large sums of money or gifts to the groom’s side—became prominent only after British colonization. The British introduced legal and social frameworks that drastically altered property rights in India. They passed laws that made land a credible, inheritable form of wealth—but only for males. If a man died without a male heir, the government could seize his land. This made having a male child a necessity, and gradually shifted societal preferences toward sons over daughters.
Under this system, daughters no longer had legal rights to property, and marriages began to involve financial negotiations as a way to “compensate” the groom’s family for accepting a daughter who would not bring inheritable wealth. In effect, what was once a woman’s right—Stridhan—was replaced by an exploitative demand: dowry.
Unfortunately, many historians and commentators today attribute the rise of dowry to traditional Hindu practices, ignoring its colonial origins. This misrepresentation has led to the belief that dowry is a “cultural crime” rooted in native traditions, rather than a social distortion that evolved due to foreign rule and flawed legal structures.
Ironically, during the same period when dowry was gaining ground in India, it was also a common practice in Victorian Britain, where women had few or no property rights and were treated largely as dependents. Yet, no one calls dowry a cultural failure in British history.
Even today, when dowry-related crimes occur in India, they are treated as symptoms of backward culture. In contrast, crimes with similar motivations—like spouse murders for insurance money in the U.S.—are treated as individual cases, not cultural indictments.
This double standard reflects a lingering colonial mindset. It’s time we re-examine how we understand dowry—not as an eternal part of Indian tradition, but as a product of colonial disruption, legal exclusion, and social distortion.
Dowry is a serious issue, but solving it requires understanding its true origins and how far we’ve drifted from systems like Stridhan, which empowered women rather than burdened them. Reform begins with clarity—by separating tradition from misinterpretation, and history from imposed narratives.
It is also important to note, that dowry as a custom has no roots in scriptures of Hindus or any indic religions. It is also illegal in India. So are we ready to detach our Hindu society from this evil modern era practice that is causing numerous deaths every year?
Share this with your friends if yes.
Written by :
Vedangi Deshpande(@vedangiddeshpande)
