A few months after a regressive content on dowry in Maharashtra state board's Std XII sociology textbook triggered a controversy, a college in Bengaluru has now found itself in the middle of a storm after it allegedly distributed the study material endorsing dowry system to the sociology students.
"The marriage of ugly girls who would otherwise have gone without a partner is made possible by offering heavy amount of dowry," read the notes given to undergraduate students at St Joseph's College of Arts and Commerce.
"It (dowry) is a useful and effective method of attracting good, handsome and sometimes unwilling boys for marriage," said the text, sparking off widespread protests on social media. It also claimed that dowry provided an opportunity for meritorious boys of poor classes to pursue higher education.
The study material further said: "Dowry increases the status of a woman in the family. As a woman brings substantial sum at marriage, she is treated well just for her economic contribution. It affects the love and affection her husband bears for her. A poor girl who does not bring huge dowry in her marriage does not usually receive the same attention and affection that is bestowed up on a rich girl."
The incident came to light after a female student posted a picture of a page of the study material on Facebook which shows that the page starts with "Generally, though accepted as an evil practice, dowry has its supporters," under the caption 'Advantages of Dowry'.
As the incident drew widespread criticism, the college launched a probe and said they were opposed to such “obscurantist” views.
"The matter is being investigated and we are trying to find the root of the problem. Such views have never been part of the college syllabus. Infact, the department and the college are opposed to such obscurantist and oppressive patriarchal views as are contained in the page cited," college Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kiran Jeevan said.
Earlier this year, Maharashtra state board was forced to drop a section on dowry from its Std XII sociology textbook after protests from teachers and public.
"If a girl is ugly and handicapped, then it becomes very difficult for her to get married. To marry such girls, the bridegroom and his family demand more dowry. Parents of such girls become helpless and pay dowry as per the demands of the bridegroom as family," the text book had said.
India declared illegal the dowry system in 1961. Though the act was given significantly more teeth in amendments in 1984 and 1986, the system still continues in many parts of the country leaving women vulnerable to domestic violence and, sometimes, even death. Government data showed that the dowry system has claimed nearly 25,000 lives between 2012-2015, with Uttar Pradesh on the top with 7,048 deaths.
(With inputs from agencies)
