Study of Dowry System (Tilak) in Maithili Community: A Case Study of Gaushala V.D.C., Mahottari District
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Central Department of Rural Development Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Abstract
Maithili community is one of the communities who reside in Nepal. ‘Study of
dowry system (Tilak) in Maithili community’ is the title of this study which was done
in Gaushala VDC of Mahottari District. This study tries to shed light on the kind of
problems community has faced due to dowry system. This study’s objectives are to
assess the attitude and perception of the dowry system in study area, to analyze the
impact of dowry system in socio-cultural, economic and educational sector, to assess
the domestic violence in Maithili community because of dowy system, and to account
present practice of dowry.
This study is mainly passed on primary data. 90 households of Maithili
community from 3022 households of Gaushala VDC were selected through non-
probability sampling method which comes under purposive sapling method. 6 females
from each ward were selected, and remaining six females was selected as key
informants. Similarly, 3 males were selected from each ward, and remaining three
males was key informants too.
While analyzing educational status of study area, 16.67% are illiterate, and
11.11% are educated till secondary level. 38.89% said boy’s occupation is the criteria
to choose groom, likewise 33.33% and 27.78% said they choose bride in terms of her
beauty and education respectively. %5.56% said cash is the mostly used commodity
as a dowry in marriage, and physical material and lands, and jewelry were selected by
bot 11.11%.
Similarly, 66.66% told that cash were used widely in the past, but in the
present 54.44% and 45.56 percent choose cash and non-cash stuff respectively which
shows both of them are widely use in present condition. While getting the perception
regarding dowry from respondents, 11.11% said it’s a good system, and 88.89%
showed negative perception.
Academic qualification is the main factor for deciding the amount of dowry in
this study area. If the groom is highly educated, then his price is higher. If giving part
is not capable of meeting demands on their own then 38.89% told ‘loan’ is a way to
fulfill the demand, 32.22% told ‘land as a collateral’, and 16.67% said ‘selling
vii
lands’. 44.44% said they have to face verbal abuse if they are unable to fulfill the
demands. Likewise, 92.22% said education has helped in the rise dowry system, and
7.78% said educated has not effect in anyway in dowry system. There were no
respondents who chose ‘daughters should not be taught’, 46.67% said ‘girls should be
taught’, but 53.33% said it’s better to give dowry than educate the girls.
42.22% which is the highest percentage of respondents answered ‘cultural
effect’ is the main reason behind the dowry system. Boy’s side take dowry to refund
their expenses in marriage, and if some money is left out then they save it for future
guarantee or occupational use. 41.11% said mother-in-law is more responsible for
domestic violence due to dowry, 25.56% said it’s father-in-law, 20% said it’s
husband, and 13.33% said it’s others. Similarly, regarding who is more responsible
for growing trend of it, 57.78% said ‘demanding side’, and 10% said ‘giving side’,
and 20% ‘both of them’. 29.41% chose dowry is extra burden for parents, so it should
be eradicated, 24.71% said its useless practice, , 22.35% said its makes females
inferior in front of male, and 23.53% said it increases the domestic violence.
Hence, this system is a major fence for social development since it has been
creating many problems in society. And this study also elaborates this system as a
setback for social development. So, law should be made and marriage should be done
according to law to reduce the dowry system, or culprit should be ready to face the
punishment according to the law