Hindu Social Issues

taken from http://hinduism.iskcon.com/lifestyle/903.htm

Poverty

The affluent world often perceives a simple, rural life as abject poverty, and a sign of social retardation. Hindus traditionally considered it virtuous to voluntarily accept an uncomplicated life for spiritual purposes. With different views on wealth, poverty and success, the West is prone to hastily dismiss India's socio-religious practices as backward and irrelevant. Nonetheless, poverty remains a real problem in many areas.

The role of women

Hindu texts stress the importance of stable family ties and valuing and protecting women. Nonetheless, there has been – and there still is – wide abuse. Despite this, the tradition largely rejects the post-modern notion that social justice is achieved simply through promoting material equality.

Child marriage

Texts recommend marriage at an early age, particularly for girls in order to protect their chastity. Sexual transgression is considered particularly detrimental to spiritual life. Many so-called child marriages were actually a form of betrothal and marriage was not consummated until the wife was of age.

Sati

Sati was voluntarily performed on the basis of overwhelming affection for the partner and a desire to follow him into the next life. Hindu texts forbid its performance in Kali-yuga, the present age.

Polygamy

Polygamy was made illegal in 1952. It was previously considered essential for a limited number of responsible and qualified men to redress the gender imbalance in a society where practically all women were supposed to get married and significant numbers of men remained celibate.

The dowry system

The dowry system was originally a sign of affection by the father for his daughter. The dowry remained the wife's personal property, not that of her husband or his family. This system has been abused by unscrupulous in-laws who terrorise and even murder those brides who don't provide a sufficient dowry.