Page 71 - Social Studies 7

Dowry System

Dowry system is a major social evil, mostly
seen in the Terai region. When bridegrooms
family demand for money and property with
the brides family during their marriage
this system is called dowry system. In the
beginning during the marriage, parents use
to give some money and property to their dowry system
daughter as per their capacity but later it
became a part of their culture and bridegroom's family started demanding the
amount with the bride's family. It has created economic burden to the girl's family.
As a result murder of girl child, abortion of fetus has been increasing rapidly.

Extravagance

An expensive way of living is also one of the main cause of social evil. On certain
accessions such as marriage, bratabandha, naming ceremony, weaning ceremony,
etc. as well as some religious occasions like Dashain, Tihar, Holi, Chhath, etc.
people spend a lot of money to show their economic status in the society. Those,
who have less money even take a loan and spend on the various occasions. These
extravagant nature of the people gives lots of problems to them. It compels them
even to sell their houses and land. It increases problems in our society.

The society is the common home to all the people. It gives strength and protection
for overall development. But the same society develops evils and perversion due
to the ill mentality, selfishness, greed, etc. of the people. These problems hinder
the development and overall growth of the society. It is mainly caused by the
illiteracy and ignorance of the people. The causes, its effects and solutions will be
discussed in another chapter.

Key Words

vandalism : the act of deliberately destroying property
extravagance : more than is usual or unnecessary expenses
witch doctors : dhami-jhakri
weaning ceremony : rice-feeding ceremony
perversion : improper changes

71 Dynamic Social Studies and Population Education - Book VII