Monday, June 8, 2009

Dowry dilemma



Dowry is an evil still prevalent in Indian society. It is still common in most of the communities but some of the communities are especially notorious for this practice.

I would like to give an example. Funny but sad........last year one of our family friends were looking for a bride for their young, handsome engineer boy who is well settled in Canada. They belong to a specific community of India, in which dowry is even more vital than oxygen! But the parents of this boy were reluctant to take any dowry, as their son in law refused to take any while asking for their daughter's hand. So the parents were kind of thankful and hence they didn't want to take any dowry for their own son too.

Anyway, last week after a year the parents met us again. We asked for any progress about their son's wedding. Sadly they said, they are finding it very difficult to get a good bride for their son now. They said since they don't want any dowry, so the girl's family would suspect that there must be something wrong with the boy. On top of that some of the family 'friends' would brainwash the girl's father with words like “ You know, the boy is living alone in Canada....and they are not asking for any dowry.....There has to be something wrong with the boy. He must be in some bad company or he must be having some bad habits. Otherwise how is it possible that an engineer boy in our community is not asking for any dowry??”

Sad to say, but now they are not getting a bride because they don't want to take dowry!!