Controversy Arises over Maharashtra Textbook’s Listing Ugliness as a Cause of Dowry

Controversy has arisen over a section of Maharashtra board’s class 12 sociology textbook, which lists a girl’s “ugliness” as a cause of dowry.

This section, included in the chapter ‘Major Social Problems in India’, reads as follows:

“If girl is ugly and handicapped, the it becomes difficult for her to get married. To marry such girls bridegroom and their family demand more dowry. Parents of such girls become helpless and pay dowry as per the demands of bridegroom’s family. It leads to rise in the practice of dowry system. ”

Among the other causes listed are ‘social prestige,’ ‘expectation of the bridegroom’ and ‘compensation principle’ among others. The section on ‘social prestige’ refers to dowry as a symbol of social prestige; hence the higher the dowry obtained, the greater social currency a family has. Another reason, ‘kulin marriage’ states that since such marriages are considered more auspicious and hence are more sought after, it increases the opportunity of demanding a higher dowry.

Criticism has been pouring forth from all channels that the text lacks critical engagement. Rather than make the students aware of the social problem that dowry is, the language seem to justify the practice.