Dahej Samaj Ka Abhishap

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Dahej Samaj ka Abhishap" by Rupesh Sinh:

Book Title: Dahej Samaj ka Abhishap (The Curse of Dowry in Society) Author: Rupesh Sinh Publisher: Z_Jain_Dharm_Vigyan_ki_Kasoti_par_002549.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/211158/1

This Jain text, "Dahej Samaj ka Abhishap," written by Rupesh Sinh, powerfully condemns the practice of dowry in society, highlighting it as a deeply shameful and destructive curse. The author argues that despite being educated and aware of the problems, society continues to perpetuate this harmful tradition.

Key Arguments and Criticisms:

• The Commercialization of Sons: The text most vehemently criticizes the practice of parents selling their sons for dowry. It likens sons to "checks" that fathers can cash in by marrying them off for money, treating them as mere commodities. The author believes that if sons understood this reality, their fathers' false pride and honor would be shattered.
• The Cycle of Suffering: The author points out the hypocrisy of parents who sacrifice their comfort and lifelong earnings for their children's upbringing and education, only to expect their children to then squander their own earnings on dowry for the next generation. This perpetuates a cycle of financial hardship.
• The Cruelty to Daughters: The text highlights the irony that fathers who invest so much in their sons' future then have to give away their life's earnings for their daughters' marriages. It criticizes the societal devaluation of girls, where fathers save for their daughters' dowry by cutting back on other expenses, signifying a negative societal outlook towards them.
• The Dehumanization of Sons: The author draws a stark parallel between how farmers sell bull calves once they are ready to work and how parents "sell" their sons for dowry. This analogy underscores the dehumanizing aspect of the practice, reducing individuals to mere transactional assets. Once sold, the original owner (father) has no further claim, similar to how a farmer loses rights over a sold calf.
• The Silence of Sons: The text acknowledges that sons are aware of their fathers' "guilt" in accepting dowry, but due to being raised within Indian culture, they are often unable to protest. The author stresses the necessity for sons to oppose their fathers' views on dowry.
• The Complicity of Women: The author also criticizes women who, despite being married to potentially "worthless" or "troublesome" husbands, worship them as virtuous and, in doing so, inadvertently encourage the dowry-obsessed society. The text calls for women to demand partnership in life, not servitude, and to openly reject the dowry system.
• The Path to Eradication: The most crucial message is that the eradication of dowry requires a united front from both young men and women. The author emphasizes that until students (both male and female) actively resist and protest against dowry, it will not cease to exist. The text suggests that women taking to the streets to oppose dowry will lead to shame for men, and they will then be able to choose their partners independently, rejecting those who demand dowry.

In essence, "Dahej Samaj ka Abhishap" is a passionate plea for societal change, urging a complete rejection of the dowry system by highlighting its moral bankruptcy, its perpetuation of suffering across generations, and its dehumanizing effects on both sons and daughters. The author places the responsibility for ending this curse squarely on the shoulders of the younger generation, particularly through their collective action and protest.