The statement that says, ‘In a fairytale wedding, the prince charming wafts his bejeweled and decked up bride away to an idyllic town’ does not hold good for every marriageable damsel and her natal family in India, as the family may not be qualified to make her wedding a resplendent one.
In India, an ordinary family has the means to marry the daughters off on a decent budget. Not everybody can afford extravagant dowry on the daughter’s wedding. In recent years, the topic of dowry has intrinsically been connected to the discourse on marriage and family.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Literature Review
- The Forms of Dowry in Literature
- Perspectives on Stridhana or the Bridal Goods
- Section A: How does South India cope with the 'Dowry Disease'? A Case Study of Dowry in South India (with a special focus on the 'Nagarattar' mercantile caste in Chettinadu Town in Tamil Nadu)
- Marriage: A Dream for a Poor Nagarattar Woman
- Case Study 1: The Unfortunate Tale of an Unmarried Girl, Sala, who has Seven Siblings in her Family
- My analysis
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the ritualistic traditions of marriage and dowry among the Nagarattar caste of South India and the Marwari caste of North and East India. It aims to understand the challenges faced by poor Nagarattar families in arranging marriages and the consequences of marital dissolution, as well as whether the concept of "bridegroom price" has impacted traditional dowry practices among Marwaris.
- The challenges of marriage for poor Nagarattar women.
- The role and significance of dowry (stridhana) in different communities.
- The impact of dowry on women's lives after marital breakdown.
- The evolution of dowry practices and the potential emergence of "bridegroom price."
- The effectiveness of initiatives like "Dowry Less Mass Marriages" in changing social norms.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage by contrasting idealized notions of marriage with the realities faced by many Indian families, particularly those with limited financial resources. It highlights the increasing connection between dowry and the discourse on marriage and family, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of these complex social practices. The author establishes the methodology – qualitative research analysis of existing literature – and defines the scope, focusing on the Nagarattar and Marwari communities.
The Literature Review: This chapter outlines the research methodology, specifying the databases (JSTOR, Taylor & Francis, ELSEVIER, Cambridge Core) and keywords used to identify relevant scholarly materials. The chapter clarifies that the study is based on a selection of 20 peer-reviewed articles and books, narrowing the focus to dowry violence, the ritual of dowry among Marwaris, and dowry traditions in South and North India. This section provides the foundation of the academic research and sources utilized for the analysis.
The Forms of Dowry in Literature: This section examines the various forms dowry takes, distinguishing between legal definitions and practical realities. It identifies three main forms: bridal goods (stridhana), lavish wedding celebrations, and the problematic demands made by the groom’s family. The chapter draws upon legal definitions (Basu 2005) and anthropological classifications (Menski 1999) to provide a nuanced understanding of this multifaceted phenomenon.
Perspectives on Stridhana or the Bridal Goods: This chapter explores diverse interpretations of stridhana, highlighting the complexities and ambiguities surrounding it. It discusses contrasting viewpoints from Hindu Law commentators, anthropological perspectives linking stridhana to inheritance (Goody and Tambiah 1973, Hirschon 1984), and community-specific variations observed by Nishimura (1998) in her field research among different communities in India. The chapter reveals the inconsistencies in the interpretation and practice of stridhana across different communities.
Section A: How does South India cope with the 'Dowry Disease'? A Case Study of Dowry in South India (with a special focus on the 'Nagarattar' mercantile caste in Chettinadu Town in Tamil Nadu): This section begins the analysis of the Nagarattar community in South India. It explains how the financial transactions within Nagarattar weddings are elaborate and well-defined, with the groom's mother receiving a cash payment (mamiyar siir danam) to care for the couple. The chapter then moves to the importance of the stridhana for the Nagarattar women's independence and their continued connection to their natal families even after marriage.
Marriage: A Dream for a Poor Nagarattar Woman: This chapter explores the challenges faced by poor Nagarattar women in achieving marriage, emphasizing the high social status associated with being a married woman (“Sumangali”). It highlights the difficulties faced by women in securing a marriage due to financial constraints, drawing on the experiences of unmarried women within the community to illustrate the social implications of remaining unmarried.
Case Study 1: The Unfortunate Tale of an Unmarried Girl, Sala, who has Seven Siblings in her Family: This detailed case study of Sala, a schoolteacher from a poor Nagarattar family, exemplifies the difficulties of marriage for women lacking sufficient resources. It highlights the financial burden of dowry payments and the family's reliance on the women's earnings and previous dowry to survive. Sala's story serves as a powerful illustration of the social and economic pressures faced by women in this community.
My analysis: This concluding section offers the author's interpretation of the case study, highlighting the significant financial barriers preventing poor Nagarattar women from marrying. It emphasizes the inability to afford the necessary bridal goods and payments to the mother-in-law as crucial factors impacting women's prospects. This analysis directly relates the previous findings to the central arguments of the paper.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Dowry, stridhana, marriage, Nagarattar, Marwari, South India, North India, caste, gender, kinship, property rights, economic inequality, social status, community marriage, case study, qualitative research.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Study of Dowry in South and North India
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper examines the ritualistic traditions of marriage and dowry among the Nagarattar caste of South India and the Marwari caste of North and East India. It aims to understand the challenges faced by poor Nagarattar families in arranging marriages and the consequences of marital dissolution, as well as whether the concept of "bridegroom price" has impacted traditional dowry practices among Marwaris.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores the challenges of marriage for poor Nagarattar women, the role and significance of dowry (stridhana) in different communities, the impact of dowry on women's lives after marital breakdown, the evolution of dowry practices and the potential emergence of "bridegroom price," and the effectiveness of initiatives like "Dowry Less Mass Marriages" in changing social norms.
What is the methodology used in this research?
The research employs a qualitative approach, analyzing existing literature from databases such as JSTOR, Taylor & Francis, ELSEVIER, and Cambridge Core. The study is based on a selection of 20 peer-reviewed articles and books focusing on dowry violence, the ritual of dowry among Marwaris, and dowry traditions in South and North India.
What are the different forms of dowry discussed?
The paper identifies three main forms of dowry: bridal goods (stridhana), lavish wedding celebrations, and problematic demands made by the groom’s family. The analysis distinguishes between legal definitions and practical realities.
What is the significance of "stridhana"?
The paper explores diverse interpretations of stridhana (bridal goods), highlighting complexities and ambiguities. It discusses contrasting viewpoints from Hindu Law commentators, anthropological perspectives linking stridhana to inheritance, and community-specific variations. The inconsistencies in the interpretation and practice of stridhana across different communities are revealed.
What is the case study about the Nagarattar community in South India?
The case study focuses on the Nagarattar caste in Chettinadu Town, Tamil Nadu. It examines the elaborate financial transactions within Nagarattar weddings, including the groom's mother receiving a cash payment (mamiyar siir danam). It also highlights the importance of stridhana for Nagarattar women's independence and their continued connection to their natal families.
What challenges do poor Nagarattar women face in getting married?
The paper highlights the significant financial barriers preventing poor Nagarattar women from marrying. The inability to afford the necessary bridal goods and payments to the mother-in-law are crucial factors impacting women's marriage prospects. The high social status associated with being a married woman ("Sumangali") further exacerbates these challenges.
What is the significance of the case study of Sala?
The case study of Sala, an unmarried schoolteacher from a poor Nagarattar family, exemplifies the difficulties faced by women lacking sufficient resources to marry. It powerfully illustrates the financial burden of dowry payments and the family's reliance on women's earnings and previous dowry for survival.
What is the author's overall analysis and conclusion?
The concluding section emphasizes the significant financial barriers preventing poor Nagarattar women from marrying, directly relating the findings to the central arguments of the paper. The analysis focuses on the inability to afford necessary bridal goods and payments as crucial factors impacting women's prospects.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Dowry, stridhana, marriage, Nagarattar, Marwari, South India, North India, caste, gender, kinship, property rights, economic inequality, social status, community marriage, case study, qualitative research.
- Quote paper
- Anusua Chowdhury (Author), 2021, Cash, Jewelry, and more. Marriage or a Money-making Business for the Groom's Family?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1318746
