Indian Textbook Listing Merits of Dowry gets Backlash

A nursing textbook that cites the “benefits” of dowry is criticized for having “anti-women, discriminatory material.” T.K. Indrani’s “Textbook of Sociology for Nurses,” a B.Sc. nursing textbook, has been criticized for discussing the “merits of dowry.” 

On Monday, MP for the Shiv Sena party, Priyanka Chaturvedi, wrote a letter to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. She requested that “anti-women” and “insulting” materials get prohibited in schools. 

According to the textbook, one of the so-called positives is that “because of the dowry load, many parents have begun to educate their daughters.” When women get an education or even a job, their desire for dowry lessens. As a result, it is an indirect benefit. “It is distressing that such insulting and controversial content is still in circulation.

A textbook explaining the benefits of dowry may still exist in our curriculum is a subject of shame for our country and its Constitution,” Chaturvedi said in her letter to Pradhan. 

The MP has also urged that “such regressive textbooks be promptly discontinued and removed from the curriculum.” 

“I further request that you take rigorous steps in this respect and guarantee that such anti-women material is not taught or promoted in the future, particularly by universities, and that textbooks be evaluated and authorized by a panel,” she said. 

Chaturvedi and some social media users saw a passage in the textbook that shows, “Ugly looking females may be married off with an appealing dowry to good or ugly looking guys.” “Dowry is beneficial in starting a new home,” the passage continues. 

Jaypee Brothers, a private publishing business that specializes in medical literature, released the book. According to the textbook’s cover, the curriculum has based on the “Indian Nursing Council.” Indrani, the author, has published numerous additional nursing publications, including “History of Nursing,” “Textbook of Midwifery,” and “Research Methodology for Nurses,” among others. 

Users Reaction 

Some users believe that the lines in the book are rubbish, while others believe that dowry is a mutual gift exchange between the family members. Following sick customs, some labelled the author as mentally ill. 

Reason for Persistence of Dowry 

1. Dowry is still practiced in India, although in a different manner. Previously, parents gave dowry with the assumption that their daughter would be a burden. But today upper middle-class people and wealthy people offer dowry solely for the purpose of providing presents, following tradition, and making their daughter feel happy and comfortable in her new home.  
2. Families who want to seem modern may use the phrase ‘gift’ to avoid addressing dowry. Even if it’s referred to as a “gift,” it’s still dowry, which is unlawful. 
3. Even while some educated men have started to seek educated brides, this has not resulted in a decrease in dowry payments. So, it’s not only men’s desires that keep dowries going. 
4. For money and presents, there are still individuals who abuse, assault, and even murder their daughters-in-law. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2019 statistics, an Indian woman is killed for dowry every one hour, more than half a century after the prohibition.  
5. One reason dowry persists is because the groom’s family views it as a source of quick money. 
6. However, dowry payment is an ongoing process that is sometimes overlooked. The money and gifts do not end with the wedding. Usually, the bride’s family is required to provide regular contributions to festivals, significant events like a son’s birth, etc. Non-payment of these amounts might result in humiliation and harassment of the bride in the groom’s family.
7. The recurrent nature of dowry is still not extensively studied in academics. It is still limited to the sum paid at the time of marriage. 

So, how can we get rid of the dowry demand? 

• As civilizations evolve and men become more educated, men seek educated wives. In this case, parents might use dowry funds to fund their daughter’s education. Dowry might be the daughter’s education’s opportunity cost. Even parents can invest this money if the daughter wishes to pursue her interest or want to set up a business. 
• An educated and independent woman can fight for her rights and against any injustices, as well as financially support both of her families. 
• If the need for a female labor force rises, men may be more willing to marry working women in order to enhance their family’s overall income and become less willing to dowry. However, female labor force participation has been steadily declining since 2005.

Published by : Aditya Andharia 

Edited By : Kritika Kashyap