Section Article

Changing Social Meaning of Dowry in Upper-Middle-Class Urban India
Author(s): Roshan Lal

Abstract
Dowry once a customary form of gift-giving during marriage in Indian society has evolved in both form and meaning especially within the socioeconomically mobile classes of urban India. While dowry is officially prohibited under Indian law it persists—albeit in modified often subtle socially accepted ways. This paper explores the transformation in the social meaning of dowry among upper-middle-class urban Indians analyzing how modern aspirations consumer culture family honor and gendered expectations intersect to sustain the practice in contemporary contexts. Through ethnographic interviews case studies and secondary research in cities like Delhi Mumbai and Bengaluru the paper examines the symbolic and material dimensions of dowry exploring how it is rationalized as “gifting” “custom” or “mutual exchange.” The findings reveal that dowry in upper-middle-class settings is less about direct demands and more about implicit expectations and performative status signaling. The paper argues that despite the veneer of modernity the practice continues to reflect entrenched patriarchal structures posing challenges for gender equity and legal enforcement.