A 24-year-old IT professional, strong, successful, was found hanging from a ceiling fan, still draped in the pink saree that carried the lingering fragrance of turmeric and flowers from her wedding just six months prior. Before her death, she posted a WhatsApp status: "I gave everything, yet it wasn’t enough. Forgive me, Mom..." 

In another case, a mother clutched her child to her chest and jumped from the tenth floor of a building in Sharjah. All that remained were sobs and a few messages—a harrowing account of dowry demands and abuse.

These are not isolated incidents. They are snapshots of a silent, brutal war raging in Indian households, where marriage is not about love but a transaction. Where daughters are not human beings but bargaining chips. Parents spend lakhs, even crores, yet there’s no guarantee that their brilliant daughters won’t be devoured by the insatiable greed of their in-laws. 

The shocking truth? Dowry, outlawed in 1961, still thrives with impunity. Despite the Dowry Prohibition Act and sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty by husband or relatives) of the Indian Penal Code, the ground reality remains unchanged. "The dowry monster continues to claim thousands of daughters," says social activist Bhagirathi Gopalakrishnan. 

Anshika from Prayagraj died in 2024. Police called it suicide, but her father insists, "My daughter was murdered. We gave a car, jewellery, yet their greed never ended." Similarly, Athulya’s mysterious death in Sharjah is labelled a conspiracy by her family—she was harassed relentlessly for dowry. Jaipur, Delhi, Odisha, Bihar, Haryana, West Bengal—the story repeats everywhere: a new bride, old demands, torment, and then death.

Public commentator Prof Paras Nath Choudhary reveals, "According to the National Commission for Women, 292 dowry deaths were reported in 2024. But the reality is far worse. Nearly 7,000 dowry-related deaths occur annually, yet only 4,500 cases see chargesheets, and fewer than 100 result in convictions. The rest languish in courts for years. Worse, 67 per cent of investigations stall for over six months—evidence vanishes, witnesses turn fearful, and the accused roam free."

The problem isn’t just legal, it’s societal. A 2024 survey found that 90 per cent of marriages still involve dowry, often disguised as ‘gifts’, ‘customs’, or ‘respect’. When a bride enters her marital home, she isn’t treated as a guest but as a purchased commodity. 

Patriarchy, the obsession with ‘marrying up’, and the pressure on women to endure abuse—all fuel a culture where dowry demands are never enough, explains activist Padmini Ayyar. Today, girls post heart-wrenching messages on social media before taking their lives. Instagram and Twitter bear their final screams—yet society dismisses it: "It’s a private matter, don’t interfere..." 

It’s time to face the truth. India’s anti-dowry laws have failed. Not just due to poor enforcement, but because societal mindsets remain unchanged. There’s no fear, no shame, no remorse. "As long as dowry is seen as tradition, as long as police and courts prioritise saving marriages over saving lives, as long as perpetrators go unpunished and witnesses unprotected—these deaths will continue”, says young writer Mukta Khandelwal.

Every year, over 6,000 daughters die simply because their ‘worth’ wasn’t met. The next time you see a bride adorned in gold at a wedding, ask yourself. Is this her happiness... or the price of her future sacrifice?