Love and Marriage in Modern India
by Love marriages were very rare in India till a couple of decades ago and one can say that there were very minimal traces of love marriages in India. But from the past two decades, love marriages are very conspicuous in Indian society, though not as much as in western countries.
The main reason for this less number of love marriages is the society. Besides this, arranged marriages are considered the best type of marriages for years. Even in the mythological stories which are considered very sacred by the Hindus there is no trace of love marriage. From years arranged marriage is the basic type of marriage in India. Families meet and get their children married. Sometimes, the parents don’t even ask for their children’s opinion.
Besides this, a girl is deprived of going around freely. She should not mingle with guys as freely as she mingles with girls. Girls are reprimanded if they are seen talking to a guy or talking about guys. There were many restrictions for girls. So love is not a part of Hindu culture for many years.
But as times are changing and world is becoming modern, India is developing in the direction of modern world. Many restrictions were lifted off from the girls and they are free to do whatever they want, though their freedom is still restricted owing to the fact that they are girls. They started studying and doing jobs and they are thinking of themselves. So, obviously love marriages also slowly prevailed in India.
But still, people take their parents’ permission before getting married. A couple who are in love take consent from their parents and with their permission, they get married. It is seen in most cases, though there are cases of people running out of the houses and getting married. Some parents are wise enough to understand the love between the people and some are not so understanding in nature. The major thing that decides the fate of a couple in love is their parents’ mind and their attitude.
But these love marriages are seen in very limited numbers. Even now, arranged marriage is the basic type of marriage in India and Indian people consider it to be the successful way of getting married for better life.
In the coming decades, the situation may change because of the developing modernity of society and technology. Though I am not sure of the change certainly, the changing world might bring a change in the perception of people towards the love marriages.
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