I am starting with an issue which has always been regarded from unidirectional viewpoint by everyone in our society. The term is "dowry". As every modern girl thinks I also had this idea in my mind that I shouldn't be a burden to my parents during my marriage, with groom's family demanding their pound of flesh as dowry.

When I asked my dad, "Will you fulfill my wish of marrying without dowry."

He replied, "Will you fulfill my wish of gifting you the best memories of your life?"

Here I want to share my views on this custom in our Indian culture. Yes it's a custom of our culture. What is dowry for all of us?Its a crime, something inhuman right? Many of us will surely agree on it. But is it really so? Then why dowry thing had come into our society? Why this thing is still being practiced now and which was carried out by ancestors?

According to me dowry is a lovely custom between father and daughter and nothing else. When a girl gets married she takes nothing with her except memories. In common parlance, dowry actually means   new cloths, jewelery, household stuffs and few gifts which will be a part in the new life of the parting daughter from her family and she can cherish these as sweet memories from her parents. The actual dowry includes everything that the girl might need to start her new life, in fact i was surprised to know that even a broomstick, a mat on which we are supposed to sit and have food (which of course is now replaced with dining table), are part of dowry!

It is the last chance that a father can get something for his daughter. It is the last time that a girl can ask something from her father.  All the things help the girl to start her new world with the memories can be consisted as dowry.

Coming to another aspect of it, that is legal side. According to our constitution, the property of parents must be divided equally amongst all the siblings, so its not a problem or a curse if  the daughter some of her share as dowry during her marriage which is totally legal. But there is another law which has to be followed in this case, and that is with in three months of getting married, all the properties and assets like land, money has to be registered in the bride's name. This also ensures the security of the daughter in case of any mishaps or adversities, as her life will be secured with the help of this insurance sort of thing.

I hate to look at the fact which is put on me that how cruel people have become now a days with this dowry. I don't understand why the mother in law,father in law, sister in law, all interfere in the father daughter relationship. I think this beautiful custom of father gifting his child shouldn't be turned into a demand and take process between the two families.With the help of laws and NGOs we the young guns have to ensure that we respect this custom and maintain it with the same purity as it was when it had come to existence.