Dowry and Daughters: The Social, Religious and Legal Dilemma of Denying Dowry

This book explores the historical connection between traditional cultural texts and modern statutory law, examining how dowry as a custom defines the value of daughters in Indian marriages. It also provides a critique of the cultural textual tradition of India and South Asia and argues that Vedic materialism is essential to understanding dowry's central position in marriage.

Format: Hardback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 10 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the significance of dowry as a customary practice in Indian marriages, exploring the intricate relationship between traditional cultural texts and modern statutory law. Through a comprehensive examination, the author seeks to understand how daughters are valued in Indian society and how dowry as a custom shapes this valuation. By drawing upon insights from various historical periods, the author establishes a conceptual link between modern, medieval, and ancient marriage rites, highlighting how dowry behavior and practice have been formulated and embedded within Indian culture. Additionally, the book offers a critical analysis of the cultural textual tradition of India and South Asia, challenging the notion that Vedic materialism is central to understanding the centrality of dowry as wealth in marriage.

This book is a valuable resource for students and scholars engaged in the study of cultural studies, women's studies, gender studies, religion, history, law, and South Asian studies. It provides a deep understanding of the historical and cultural factors that have shaped the practice of dowry in South Asia, shedding light on its social, economic, and legal implications. Through its rigorous scholarship, this book contributes to our understanding of the complex dynamics of gender, power, and inheritance in this region.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367210731