[davidtanner]

While I certainly believe you, I'd still love to see a reference for my own curiosity.

[KaoruAoiShiho]

Sure:

http://www.hitxp.com/articles/history/origin-dowry-system-br...

https://www.google.com/search?q=dowry+pre+colonial+india&oq=...

[heuan]

I have only looked at a wikipedia article so far, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry#India which mentions how it changed at the end of the section