In every country in the world, there are different societies and social units with distinct perspectives, theories, and cultures.
Society is formed through the interactions, language, conversations, gatherings, and norms of various individuals. Traditions in this society are the continuous inclinations that can change over time.
Unfortunately, Pakistani society has long been stagnant. Whether it’s in Sindh, where arranged marriages or voting on orders are common, these are highly unacceptable customs that we haven’t been able to eliminate even in the 21st century.
The nation has completed 76 years of its existence, yet the presence of such ugly customs still make us ashamed, for Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, did not play his role in securing us a free homeland like Pakistan to have these customs persist.
If the founding father had known that the Pakistani nation would become a victim of ignorance, prejudice, sectarianism, and murder and looting, perhaps he would never have thought of giving us a free homeland, and today, we might not be breathing in a free space.
The painful reality is that anyone who raises their voice against such customs is suppressed, and they are not allowed to speak out. It’s as if those who try to extinguish these customs have become the culprits of this society.
There are some social behaviors that are not just adopted by illiterate people but also by educated ones without feeling ashamed. For example, considering divorce as a stigma and labeling divorced women as morally corrupt, or feeling joy in taking dowry.
For taking dowry, the groom’s family makes formal demands, and the more reprehensible the demands are, the less they are criticized. Dowry is a gift from a parent to their daughter, something that they can give according to their means and circumstances.
We have turned marriage into a crime because if a girl wants to get married, the groom’s family demands, age is questioned, her complexion is scrutinized, and various conditions are set. If the boy wants to marry, he faces difficulties as well.
The biggest problem that a boy faces when getting married is arranging a feast for hundreds of people and managing seven-course meals at the wedding ceremony. The society doesn’t let newlyweds and married couples decide how they want to manage their lives to make it easier.
Parents and in-laws should understand that when a married couple embarks on a new journey in their lives, they may face financial and social difficulties. If the bride does not bring dowry, then new brides are made to listen to things.
The world has moved far ahead of us. Even economically stable countries like India have reached the moon, and we have not been successful in solving our social issues. It is essential for our society to reflect on its perspectives and eliminate unnecessary and unacceptable practices through our moral principles. Perhaps this could bring some improvement in our society.
