Marriage and Morals
A CNN IBN buff, I’m waiting for 10 pm tonight to watch a CNN IBN showcase on India’s three generations and their take on marriage. It’s an initiative in countdown to India’s 61st Independence Day. Their preliminary poll claims that 82% of the Indian youth consider marriage an integral (read necessary) part of life. The study will explore social acceptance of divorce, live-in relationships and nuclear families.
Mostly, until adolescent and puberty years, most people (children) tend to shun marriage and vow bachelorhood forever. As we come of age however, mindsets tend to change, mature if I may say, and magically enough, people seem to accept marriage as the next step in “settling down” in life. The next step to finishing schooling, starting a job and ensuring a steady stream of income.
Well, I hope I’m not the only one who hasn’t been transformed by the magic yet. I’ve thought about it time and again, examined the concept, contested the logic, pulled my hair out. Always the same answer. No offense, but marriage to me is probably the most irrational concept in our human society. People claim that finding the ‘right’ person lends rationality. Well, let’s say, the ‘right’ person does come along, and you do complete the mammoth task of identification, I ask, what is the pressing need to tie a knot to mark your territory? Isn’t trust, confidence, togetherness, “love” enough? Why do we need a legal and societal stamp? Will it be any less a relationsip minus the trumpet and the singing and the food?
Support me here, CNN IBN. Tell me, live-ins are the marriages of today.
Welcome to my blog, The Shooting Star. I’ve been called a storyteller, writer, photographer, digital nomad, “sustainability influencer,” social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism consultant and environmentalist. But in my heart, I’m just a girl who believes that travel – if done right – has the power to change us and the world we live in.
Yeah! I agree – why is there so much pressure for marriage? Why can’t we just be “we”??
Why do we need a legal and societal stamp?
I guess because we live in a society.
Isn’t trust, confidence, togetherness, “love” enough? its enough… actually more than enough because even in realtionships tagged with marriage, you do not find the 3 things u mentioned.But again…When living in a society you are to follow certain rules laid by it, even though the rules may be ridiculous.If you do not folow the, you are called a rebel.Thats the price I guess we are paying for living in a society.
You know, in many places in India, you would not get a place to live on rent if you are in a live-in relationship. Sound horrible isn’t it?
Yeah. But it’s us who make the society, right? We need to initiate the change if we want people to accept it. Would you accept a couple in a live-in relationship? Give them a place on rent, for instance?
I certainly would… 🙂 If I have place I would certainly rent it out, leave alone live-in couples, i would rent it to people suffering from HIV+, or homosexuals etc.
I know some1 should initiate the change….. I am ready 🙂
but unfortunately I am myself living in a rented house.
I am reading your second article. I was impressed by one which i read few minutes before on 15th august.Now i am not only impressed in your articles but also influenced by them too.
Love
KUMKUM
Oh, finally I have my much needed support from IBN. No wonder I’m such a fan 😀 Apparently, live-in relationships have been legalized by the Maharashtra Government. Now, that’s a start!
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/legislation-in-place-but-would-you-want-to-livein/75762-19.html
“Mostly, until adolescent and puberty years, most people (children) tend to shun marriage and vow bachelorhood forever. As we come of age however, mindsets tend to change, mature if I may say, and magically enough, people seem to accept marriage as the next step in “settling down” in life”…
Your answer lies in these lines. As time passes by, as we see more of this world, our views change.
Yes, live-ins are the marriages of today, but should we be so short viewed? Lifes abt preempting 2moro.
So will live-ins be the marriages of 2moro too?