Marriages are made in heaven, but dowries are negotiated on Earth.
Stridhan and Kanyadaan – dowry practices originating from ancient times were meant to empower our daughters. But what started as a protective practice has transformed into a disease that keeps on festering. Harassment, abuse, and mental torture, this social evil continues to claim lives across India.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 5,737 dowry deaths were recorded in India in 2024. While this marks a decline from the 7,634 cases reported in 2015, the numbers remain alarming. On average, more than 15 women lose their lives to dowry-related violence every day.
Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of dowry deaths, followed closely by Bihar.
The act of dowry is not a new one; instead, it has had a long, tragic and harrowing history in India. To first combat this, the Dowry Prohibition Act was brought into force on July 1, 1961.
The law made it a punishable offence, directly or indirectly, to give, take, or abet the exchange of dowry, resulting in a minimum imprisonment of 5 years and a fine of ₹15,000.
Stringent amendments were made in 1984 and 1986 to curb dowry- related violence, strengthening legal protection for women and introducing stricter penalties for dowry-related crimes.
Several landmark cases have also shaped India’s legal response to dowry violence. In this video, we look at five cases that changed India’s fight against dowry:
Read More: Watch: 5 Justices Who Changed The Course Of Law
Despite stronger laws and decades of legal reforms, dowry-related violence remains a grim reality. Recently, back-to-back cases of dowry deaths have come into the spotlight. The Twisha Sharma Case, Bhopal, May 2026; Deepika Nagar Case, Greater Noida, May 2026, Seema Case, Faridabad, June 2026 are stark reminders of the fact that legislation alone cannot eradicate a deeply entrenched social practice.
More than six decades after the Dowry Prohibition Act came into force, India is still grappling with difficult questions. Why are our daughters still undergoing the same fate? Why are they still being harassed, abused and killed? Why does a practice that has been illegal for generations continue to thrive despite education, urbanisation and economic progress?
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: The Hindu, NDTV, BBC
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This post is tagged under: dowry, dowry deaths India, dowry-related violence, dowry prohibition act, Indian law, social issues India, social evils, harassment, violence against women, domestic violence, landmark legal cases, legal reforms India, women’s safety
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