Divorce in India - The Social Impact

Divorce in India - The Social Impact

By Raveendran Nambyar

 

Arranged marriages fail some times, may be far and few in India. The arranged marriages do not break up that easy. There are several reasons why arranged marriages do not fail that much. A lot of precautions are taken. Community match, social match, financial stability match and horoscopes match and what more can you ask for?

 

With such broad based preparations and precautions, arranged marriages can not fail. But it does fail. May be a few!

 

When a boy gets married to a girl, their two families also establish a bond of relationship and friendship. These families share happiness and grief together. They participate in every ceremony and function. It may be child-birth, naming ceremony, marriage, house warming or funeral; both the families are involved and active in these activities. The daughter of one family becomes the daughter in law of the other family. Similarly the son becomes the son in law. Both become two solid pillars of the united families.

 

If and when they break up and seek a divorce, both the families get a shock, a storm or an earth quake; may be all these rolled into one. The shock waves reach their very root. Every one is confused. They do not know how to react. They do not know what to say to others in the community. How can they hate these two? They learned to approve them, they recognized them, accepted them; and began to love them.

 

The relationship is not like an electric switch; put it on and put it off when you wish. Is there a way to settle their differences? Can’t they bring about a compromise? Those who admired the couple are confused to the core. Society and horoscopes agreed whole heartedly to such a perfect alliance. And yet!

 

When the mystery is revealed the whole community would stand still!