South Asians and the Dowry Problem

Every year, thousands of young brides on the subcontinent are murdered, most often by burning, or are driven to suicide over dowry disputes. In some provinces it is virtually unknown; in others it is endemic. Among communities in the west, the affluent groups now spend vast sums on the daughters' dowries and on grand weddings, in efforts to enhance their social status. And cases of dowry deaths are being reported. Drawing on papers from three international conferences, this book reviews the law of dowry and the problems of its enforcement in India, its impact on Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UK. It also reports on dowry and hypergamy among Gujeratis and the excesses of dowry giving among Sikhs in Britain. Solutions to the problem are being sought, but in the meantime young women die every day.