Neha Devi (left) whose life was tragically cut short in 2025, and Aruna (right) on her wedding day, 30 years ago

How long will the harmful practice of dowry continue to take away the lives of innocent women?

Neha Devi had been married for only five months before her life was tragically cut short. The incident took place in the village of Jhinjri, near Sri Anandpur Sahib, following harassment and pressure from her in-laws over dowry.

Neha was rushed to PGI Chandigarh hospital for treatment but could not be saved.

The police have arrested her husband, Sanjeev Kumar, his mother, Tej Kaur, and their relatives, Karam Chand and Raj Singh. They face charges under multiple sections related to Neha’s death.

We wish to offer her family our deepest condolences and that she gets the justice she deserves. 

Rest in peace, Neha.

My experience of dowry

It deeply saddens me that the practice of dowry still exists in today’s world. 

I was thrown out for dowry 30 years ago with my first marriage after my in-laws made more demands. I was just 22. On honeymoon, my first husband complained that my parents didn’t buy us a house or a car. I wasn’t prepared for them to keep making demands of my family, so they threw me out of the marital home. My husband’s brother called me a b**** because I put my foot down. To this day, I’m not sure if I dreamt this or if it actually happened – I was so stunned. We lived with my in-laws, they kept my belongings, clothing, everything. I had to wait 2 years before I could get anything back. 

It was better to be out of this situation rather than live with these constant demands on me and my family. Would I have suffered a worse fate if I was in India?

My second marriage lasted 8 years and I have a beautiful daughter as a result. I set up Asian Single Parents in 2011, so we would have company when doing activities and to support others after everything I went through. 

What is a dowry?

Sarah Al-Jourani, Family Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell LLP, explained what dowries involve and shared her insights into the continuing practice of dowries in England:

“In my experience as a Family Solicitor specialising in these types of matters, the tradition of dowries in Asian marriages remains prevalent in England, particularly among South Asian communities. Whilst there is the Dowry Prohibition Act in India, which criminalises the giving and receiving of dowries, the practice continues in England without any legal prohibition. Dowries typically involve the bride’s family providing money, goods, or property to the groom’s family as part of the marriage arrangement and while originally the intention for a dowry was to offer security and inheritance to the bride, dowries have in some cases evolved into a monetary transaction that at times reinforce gender inequality and financial dependence.

During divorce proceedings, the dowry (especially when given in the form of familial gold) can often be the most contested matter. The use of a dowry can sometimes lead to coercion and financial exploitation which highlights the need for legal protections and cultural shifts to address these challenges. Although there is no legal prohibition in England, dowry related abuse is a form of domestic abuse and it is important for lawyers dealing with matters including dowries to consider the position carefully and sensitively.”

You can read more about the tradition and challenges of dowries in South Asian culture in our blog for Amicable.

What can we do to make a change?

As generations become more educated and South Asian women gain greater independence, attitudes are shifting but not fast enough. Varying beliefs around dowry in South Asian cultures and countries allow the practice to still continue.

To make real change, we need to stop accepting marriages where the giving of gifts (dowry) is acceptable, even though it is deeply ingrained in South Asian traditions. Slowly, things are changing – more couples are doing things for themselves, but there are also many who still practice these customs.

Have you or someone you know experienced these customs? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories – do you think dowries still have a place today?