HUMAN
HUManist Association of Nepal
Study on Dowry System
Dowery can be defined as forced financial and
material arrangement to be given by the parents of the bride to the parents
of the groom or the bridegroom himself as an essential condition of the
marriage. The financial and material amount is fixed and demanded
by the parents of the bridegroom or bridegroom him-self. If the parents
of the bride do not fulfill such demands, the marriage cannot take place
or even if the marriage takes place, the bride will be subjected to outrageous
humiliation, tortured and even deaths. This is a social evil of enormous
magnitude in the southern Terai region of Nepal bordering with India.
HUMAN conducted a study on the state of Dowery in Nepal focusing in the Terai region. The study attempted to examine the extent and the impact of this evil on the general perception of the community. The study revealed that the dowery is very prevalent in the southern region of Terai bordering with India, particularly the Bihar and the Utter Pradesh states of India. It seems that the dowery system originated and spread from Indian states of Bihar and Utter Pradesh and spread over to southern Terai in Nepal. Its impact is gradually spreading to the mid-hills area also. In terms of the population composition, it is pervasive in those communities that have recently migrated from India and settled in Nepal. The educated younger generation is more progressive in its attitude and regards dowery as a social evil that needs to be eradicated.
HUMAN conducted a study on the state of Dowery in Nepal focusing in the Terai region. The study attempted to examine the extent and the impact of this evil on the general perception of the community. The study revealed that the dowery is very prevalent in the southern region of Terai bordering with India, particularly the Bihar and the Utter Pradesh states of India. It seems that the dowery system originated and spread from Indian states of Bihar and Utter Pradesh and spread over to southern Terai in Nepal. Its impact is gradually spreading to the mid-hills area also. In terms of the population composition, it is pervasive in those communities that have recently migrated from India and settled in Nepal. The educated younger generation is more progressive in its attitude and regards dowery as a social evil that needs to be eradicated.