The dowry system in India, despite being illegal since 1961, persists due to a complex interplay of historical, social, economic, and cultural factors. Below is a detailed analysis of the primary reasons behind its endurance:
Historical and Cultural Evolution
Ancient Origins: Initially absent in Vedic times (c. 1500–500 BCE), dowry emerged as "stridhan" (woman's property), intended as a voluntary gift for the bride's financial security. Historical accounts by Greek historian Arrian and Persian scholar Al-Biruni note its rarity or absence in ancient India.
Colonial Transformation: During British rule, dowry shifted from a symbolic gesture to a mandatory practice. The British codified inheritance laws, excluding women from property rights, which entrenched dowry as a substitute for inheritance.
Medieval to Modern Shifts: By the medieval period, dowry became a status symbol, spreading from upper castes to others. Post-1947 independence, dowry payments surged, with prevalence jumping from 40% of marriages in the 1920s to 88% by 1975.
Social and Patriarchal Structures
Patriarchy and Gender Roles: In India's patrilineal society, women are often viewed as economic burdens. Dowry is seen as "compensation" to the groom's family for assuming this burden, reinforcing women's subordinate status .
Caste and Hypergamy: Marrying into a higher caste or social stratum ("hypergamy") drives up dowry demands. Families pay hefty sums to secure "superior" grooms, perpetuating a cycle of competitive gifting .
Social Prestige and Pressure: Dowry is a public display of wealth, linked to family honor. Refusal to participate risks social ostracism. As one woman recounted, families openly discuss dowry amounts "over coffee at family gatherings".
Economic Drivers
Groom's "Market Value": Education and income significantly inflate dowry demands. Studies show each additional year of a groom's education increases dowry by 4–6%, as families treat it as an investment in socio-economic mobility.
Inheritance Substitute: Despite the 1956 Hindu Succession Act granting daughters inheritance rights, societal norms bypass legal equality. Dowry acts as a "premortem inheritance," transferring wealth at marriage instead of after parental death.
Labor Market Disparities: Low female workforce participation (e.g., Kerala's high female unemployment) heightens women's economic dependence, making dowry seem "necessary" for security.
Systemic and Institutional Failures
Weak Law Enforcement: The Dowry Prohibition Act (1961) and related laws (IPC Section 498A) are poorly enforced. Only 10,000 dowry cases were reported in 2015 despite an estimated 90% of marriages involving dowry, reflecting cultural normalization and fear of retaliation.
Marriage Market Dynamics: Arranged marriages within tight-knit caste networks limit brides' options, enabling groom families to demand dowry. Online matrimonial groups amplify this, with grooms' resumes explicitly listing expected payments.
Misguided Modernization: Economic growth increased wealth disparity, raising dowry amounts. Contrary to expectations, educated grooms command higher dowries, and educated brides face penalties for "outearning" husbands.
Consequences and Persistence
Violence and Death: 7,000 dowry deaths were reported in 2019 alone (21 daily), often disguised as kitchen accidents or suicides.
Gender Imbalance: Dowry fears exacerbate son preference, causing 460,000 "missing girls" annually due to sex-selective abortions.
Economic Burdens: Families incur debts equivalent to 1–5 years of income, perpetuating cycles of poverty.
