It's true the dowry system still exists in India. But it's completely not true if you term it for the whole of India.

As many people around the world are well aware that there are hundreds of different communities, religions, castes and cultures exsiting in India. A person coming from the Northern part of India could be a completely different person when compared to a person from South India. Their lifestyle, language or looks will be in no match whatsoever, and you could be surprised to call both of these individuals Indians.

Likewise the Dowry system, it exists in many communities but not all over India. The parents still do decide for their son/daughter's future soulmate, it's true for some families, but again not true for all. Things are changing slowly but surely. Nowadays in the greater Metropolitan cities, like for eg., Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, people are getting married in different castes and cultures. These cross culture marriages are nullifying the Dowry and starting a new trend.

There is a large community of muslims in India and they have traditionally the reverse system, and that is the Meher (just like most Arabs). Meher is given by the Groom to the Bride in return for marriage. Even they are Indians.

The Indian women are becoming more and more independent and it's not like before when they had no choice, and had to go by their parents wishes, now they are in a position to choose their own soulmate.

I could go on and write a thesis on this, but I dont wanna bore all of you, I'm just trying to make my point clear. Yes there is a dowry system (madness), but not in India as a whole.