This document discusses dowry as a factor of violence in Indian society through 5 case studies. It defines dowry as a payment from the bride's family to the groom's family often demanded after marriage. The case studies describe instances of women being tortured and killed by their husbands and in-laws over dowry disputes. Through these cases, the document examines poverty, illiteracy, patriarchal social norms, and women's economic dependence as underlying causes of dowry and related violence. It also discusses the economic hardship and psychological impacts dowry has on families and society.

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SUBJECT:
Sociology
Case study ON:
Dowry as a factor of violence in society
INDEX
 Acknowledgement…………………………………….3
 Dowry as a factorof violence in society…………….4
 Case Studies on: Dowry…………………...................5
 Introduction:……………………………………5
 Definition of Dowry:………………………………….6
 Case studies from recentpapers:…………………....7
 Case 1……………………………………………7
 Case 2……………………………………………8
 Case 3……………………………………………9
 Case 4……………………………………………10
 Case 5……………………………………………10
 Searchfor the causes andconsequences:…………....11
 Impact of Dowry in our Daily life:…………………...12
 Positive awarenessagainstDowry:…………………..13
 Conclusion……………………………………………..14
 Bibliography…………………………………………...15

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks to my teacher:
Dr.Tarundeep Kaur, who gave me this opportunity to work
on this wrathful and very important social issue: Dowry as
a factor of violence in marriage
I also thanks my parents and friends for helping me to
finalize this case study.
Neha Tiwari

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Dowry as a factor of violence in the
society
Introduction:
Women are more deadly than the male species. Women are submissive,
vulnerable, oppressed and often subject to be exploited be their male counterpart.
Women are considered equal to male in our constitution and we are headed to ensure
women empowerment and women’s equal share in every sphere of life. But women
are exploited and violated every day from the pre-birth gender selection abortion to
separation of widow through sexual and gender based exploitation in pre and post
marriage period of life.
Violence against women are extreme violation of human right. But women are
exploited every second, even in the time I am writing this paper may somewhere in
the world at least one woman is violating. Dowry, domestic violence, rape, acid
throwing, are most common form of women violence in our country.
Dowry is the most extreme form of women violence among them in our society.
Upperclass, middle class, and even in lower class are now faced this dowryproblem.
It’s seemed that men bring some burden throw marriage and dowry is a sort of
remedy of that burden.
Women are tortured physically and mentally for dowry by their husband and
members of her husband’s family. Women are considered as a money making
machine to their husband.
According a research of “Adhikar” it’s found that 138 women in 2007 were brutally
killed bythe members of their husband’s family members. Male think dowry is their
right and women have to give it to be married but they don’t think that once they
will be father of a girl and they have to pay same dowry to their son of law.
Definition of Dowry:
Dowry is a sort of payment often by the parents of bride to the husband or
his family members. It’s a payment for the happiness of the brides after marriage
life.

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“Dowry usually refers to the property that a woman receives from her parents and
other kin as a part of her settlement. Although dowry connotes the wealth in cash or
kind given to the daughter at the time of marriage, in recent times, its focus is on the
gifts in kind and cash transferred to the bridegroom and his kin not only at the time
of marriage, but also perpetuated after the wedding ceremony.”
Dowry is said originated from the tradition practice of Hindu marriage system. In
their religion women do not get any property of their father’s family. So often father
of bride would gave something valuables with the bride to be use full after her
marriage in her in laws family. It was not any obligatory rule for bride’s parents. But
gradually bride groom started to demand this gifts from his in laws family to marry
their daughter. And now it’s widely practiced by all the religion in our country and
practices as obligatory rules for women’s family to marry their unmarried daughter.
Different Cases related to Dowry:
Here I am headed to describe the present scenario of dowry related violence in our
society. Her I first will merely describesomecases which I have collected from daily
papers and later I will try to find out he causes behind the cases and its impact in our
society.
Case: 1
“Mahabuba is fighting with death as she did not pay the Dowry”
Mahabuba khanom of district Bhola, is now fighting with death in the burn
unit of DMCH. Her guilt is she did not pay the promised dowry to her husband from
her parents’ home and at the same time she did not accept he extra marital relation
of her husband and protested it.
For these two fault her husband set fire on her body in day light. This caused severe
burn in Mahabuba’s upper portion of body and her two hands, nose, neck.
Mahabub is the daughter of Aminul Islam of Vola upozila. She was married with
Anower Hossain son of Foyzulla Miya of the same area. She in laws family was
pushing her for dowry from the end of her marriage. She was both physically and
mentally tortured by her in laws family members. She was bitten by stick and leg in
a daily basis. They would put salt in her body after she was bitten.
She told her helplessness when she was interviewed in the burn unit of DMCH. At
the same time she expect the right punishment of her husband. For this attempt of

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Mahabuba she in laws family is threatening her and they said they will kill her four
years old son.
Mahabuba told that she got good behavior for only a few month from her in laws
family when she marry without the consentofher parents. After that she was violated
for dowryregularly. She was not do any job in spite being educated. Only a few days
ago she got a job in school after a fighting with her husband. But as she became
mother of her child so she accepted all the brutality of her in laws family for the
better of her and her child.
At last 23rd November when she was quarreling with her husband for dowry and his
extramarital relation, her husband suddenly beat him cruelly. At the next morning
her husband again started quarrel with her in front of “Fahmid Enterprise” which is
actually a shop of petrol and mobile phone, near the north bus stand, on her way to
school. Mahabuba said this shop is too made by her money.
In between of the quarrel, Mahabuba said, suddenly her husband said, “Wait, let me
teach you” – and then he take some patrol from the nearby can of patrol and pour in
Mahabuba’s body and set fire. The incident took place at 9 am. Then there was
nobodyin the shop. Whenshe was caught by fire she came out to the street and local
people took and admit her in the local hospital. Late she was transferred to DMCH.
She complained against her husband at last 27th November. According that complain
her husband now in the jail.
Mahabuba’s family informed us that, from her admission in the burn unit, two
operation is done to her and she needs two more operation in her chest and neck.
These costalmost 90 thousand taka and she needs more. But who and how will the
money be paid is still unknown.
 Case: 2
“17 thousand taka of Dowry and Story of a Sadia”
Dowry took another life of a housewife named “Sadia”. Her husband “Roni” pour
kerosene on her body on the last 24th December as she did not pay the 17 thousand
taka of dowry. After 12 days of treatment in Rajshahi medical college hospital they
transferred her to DCMH. But Sadia’s family tookher to their home instead of Dhaka
due to lack of money. And the next day Sadia died.
According to Charmohor thana and Sadia’s family, Sadia, (18) daughter of late
Abdus sattar of chatmohor Upozila of Pabna was married with Oahidul Haque Roni
(24) son of Belal Hossain of Kakmari of Aatghoriya Upozila. Roni was a garments
worker in Dhaka. He was promised to give 27 thousand taka as a dowry. But the
brother of sadia who are daily labor could not afford more than 10 thousand taka at

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time and sadia was cruelly bitten for rest of the money. Sadia oncecame back to her
brother’s family as she failed to tolerate the brutality.
At the next day of last Eid of 22nd December, Roni came to his in laws home and
demand the rest of the money. When he was said the money is not possible to pay,
then he started to beat his wife. At last 24th December he pour Kerosene in Saida’s
body and set fire. Saida cried out and her brothers came. In the mean time she was
burned dangerously. And Roni fled. She was admitted in Rajshahi Medical college
Hospital. She was treated there for 12 days and when they got no development then
at 6th January the doctors wished to transfer her to Dhaka. But as her poor brothers
had not enough money so they took away their sister to home and at 7th January
Sadia died.
The poor family failed to manage any source of money to treat her, corresponding
family members said, and no none from Sadia’s family came to help them. Sadia’s
cousin, student of master in Edward College said “Mostof the part of Sadia’s body
was burned and as she had worn worm cloth, so she got a quick fire. She needed a
better treatment, but her poor family had no way to bear the cost of the treatment”
Habibur Rahman, elder brother of Sadia told, “Our father died 20 years ago, we
hardly kept our nose above water. But we studied our sister till class 10. What Roni
did for Dowry is not any humanoid behavior. We expect his death sentence.”
Sadia’s elder brother Habibur Rahman filed a case against Roni at next day of the
incident. But Roni is not found by police and they are searching Roni.
Case: 3
“Teenaged housewife brutally chained up for payment of
Dowry”
Shilpi (18) years old teenage housewife is punished in feudal way as she did not
withdraw the case against dowry. She was been bitten in this way for almost 2
months by the members ofher in laws family. She is now mentally ill due to chronic
physical and mental torture. Shilpi is the daughter of farmer Abu of Baufal ‘char
diyara kochuya’. Shewas married with Jahangir Farayezi (25) sonof Shamsul haque
Farayezi of the same Iceland almost one and a half year ago. Abu gave 20 thousand
taka in cashand gold of 35 thousand taka price and other valuables cost30 thousand
taka for the happiness of her daughter.
But only after the one and half month of the marriage Jahangir demand another 50
thousand taka from Shilpi’s parents. But as Abu failed to pay the dowry so Shilpi
had been cruelly bitten.

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Shilpi sued against her husband under the child abuse law in patuakhali. After that
her husband started brutal torture on shilpi. They put chili powder in her body
sensitive parts of her body. Sometimes she would kept chained on ground or cot
without any blanket. She did not get regular food and bath.
In the meantime Jahangir married for second time and at 22 May Jahangir “Iwill not
torture any more one my wife” gave this statement and get a relies from the child
abuse law. But Jahangir still continued torturing Shilpi to withdraw the caseagainst
Jahangir. And they again chained her up for two days. The local journalists got news
and inform the local police station. The inspector rescued Shilpi but she is still did
not get relies from mental illness.
Case: 4
“Wife is killed by beaten for Dowry in Dhaka”
Rehana Begam (22) is killed by cruelly beaten by her husband in Badda of Dhaka
city. Husband Roton Miya is missing after the incident. Jashimuddin brother of the
killed woman informed us, Rehana Begam was married with Roton Miya 5 years
ago. After some months of marriage Rotonoften would beat his wife for 1 lack taka
dowry. Forthis demand they gave somemoney for several times to RotonMiya. But
the sister’s luck did not change and the brutality continued.
It was 8am of Friday morning, Roton started his brutality in the ma-92 no holding
of Merul Badda. Rotonleft their sister senseless. Jashimuddin got the news at 11am
and rushed to her sister’s house and found Rehana senseless there. He took her to
DMCH and filed a case under “nari o shisu domon ayin.” But at Saturday 11pm
Rehana Begam took her last breath.
Case: 5
“Wife is killed for Dowry in Shampur”
Jannatul ferdous Jhinu (24) mysteriously died in Shampur ofDhaka city. Police took
her body at last Thursday from Rasulpur.
She is died for brutality of her husband Mirajul Islam, claimed her family. They
claimed, Janntul is killed for dowry. Her husband is missing after the incident. They
had two children Joy (7) and Raka (3). Jhinu’s cousin, A.K.M. Shohidul Islam said,
Jhinu was married with shaon at 2000. They gave 10 ‘vori’ gold and 2 lack taka cash
in the marriage. Recently Jhinu’s husband put presser on her for bringing another 6
lack taka cash. But as Jhinu’s family failed to pay the expected dowry, Jhinu was

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killed with active help of Shaon’s father, mother, and siblings, claimed victim’s
family members. After the incident a case is filled in the shampur thana.
Search for the causes and consequences:
Above discussed Dowry related case studies reveal that dowry is not result
of one factor but several causes are related to it. Poverty, illiteracy, patriarchy, low
economic condition of women and social values or norms that objectified women
are directly or indirectly underlined behind dowry.
Poverty are considered as one of the main causes of dowry. It’s found from above
cases that mostofthe incidents tookplaces in middle and lower class who are mainly
economically poor. Theyoften failed to pay expected dowry and it resulted violence.
Education make people aware about their rights and laws of the nation. But most of
the illiterate people are unaware about their rights and laws against dowry. So they
think it’s natural to pay the dowry to the bride groom. If they would know that its
forbidden in our law that both giving and taking dowry is restricted then they would
stop paying dowryto the groom. But the remote places suchas islands of the country
where the media does not work or the people are not well educated there dowry
settled permanently.
Patriarchal social system made a belief in our society that keeps women in subject
to men. They think women as worthless. They think as men take care ofwomen after
marriage so they have right to take dowry.
Low economic condition of women is too important to continue dowry. As women
are not money earners in family and they have no income so men take this
opportunity and demand dowry. But if women would have any source of income,
then men would respect them and would not demand any dowry.
Impact of Dowry in our Society:
Dowry does not only create women violence but also create other social
tension and problems. It creates economic hardship to a family and psychological
stress in family life.
Another case studyof Lakshipur district published in the “Daily Prothom Alo” 20th
April 2008 said that, a poor farmar named Abdul kalam killed his two daughter
Shurma (13) and Parveen (6) as he failed to pay promised dowry to his son-in-law.
When his 13 years old daughter was bitten for dowry and as he had no other way to
pay the dowry so he killed his daughters and surrender to the nearby police station.

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Not only has this it often found women are killed for dowry. Not only they were
killed but also they were bitten brutally and sometimes they have to face acid
violence or direct sexual violence.
In Gaibandha district another house wife “Champa Begom” (23) killed her two
children and committed suicide by drinking pesticide. It’s found that she too was
tortured for dowry.
In Kaliakoir thana of Gazipur District a daily labor “Abdul Salam” suicides when
he heard the news ofhis daughter’s divorce for dowry just after 25 days ofmarriage.
When he got the news of his daughter’s divorce then he enter in his home and drink
pesticide.
It’s found that, Dowryis a majorreasonforchronic povertyin a survey conducted
in 1800 household jointly by Washington-based “International Food Policy
Research Institute” for 14 years till 2007 in rural Bangladesh. Peter Davis of the
University of Bath in report said,
“The losses caused by dowry are far more than the gains. It is major cause of the impoverishment of poor
families.”
So dowry is one of the major violence in our daily life that causes several negative
impacts. So we need to stop it right now.
Positive awareness against Dowry:
Dowry where is like a poisonous snake coiled in our daily life there some
people still trying their best to get rid of this problem and to increase the public
consciousness.
“Taking Dowry means Begging, Taking Dowry means losing personality”
Above mentioned two are some of the wall sign of Jumman Khan Niyazi, a
Rickshaw painter ofVoirob Town. He mainly a painter and having shop in his town.
After the complication of his work he write this type of public awareness raising
comments behind Rickshaw, road side wall, without any cost.
This Low earning young man is doing this for last 12 years. He personally heat
dowry and tell others not to take dowry.
---Around the country many cultural functions (like stage… shows, plays etc.) are
going on aided by bothgovt. and non-govt. organizations against dowry and to raise
public awareness.
---In Gaphargong, such cultural function took place at last 18th April 2008 with the
presence of local politicians and administrative figures.
---Another positive awareness is found in Lalmonirhat district. There people of
North Saptana Boycotted a Dowry greedy family form all forms of social factions
and restricted their communications with others in the village.

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Conclusion:
To conclude, we can say that, Dowry related violence is now
an everyday event in our country. The law against dowry is
stringent enough to act as a deterrent. But the reality of the
wretched lives of young women, particularly among the less
educated sections of society, is that they still have to justify their
presence in the husband’s family by bringing in money and other
valuables from their parents’ home.
So it’s the right time to take proper steps against Dowry. If
failed to make proper solutions of the problems, then our next
generation has to face more problems than we are having right
now.