India, is now touted as the fastest growing economy in the world along with China, and is recognized as such by even the United States of America. However, what many in the West do not understand is that India's economy, also has a rich social tradition, which is also connected with a religious tradition and central to this tradition, is the institution of marriage.
Historically, the Indian male has been glorified and in almost every state in India, women are always taught to accomodate men at whatever cost and live with them throughout their lives. Furthermore, each woman who goes into the household brings with her, some aspect of the culture that she has been taught, back home and there is tolerance for ambiguity, adversity and even poverty or any natural calamity.
Also, Marriages in India are always big affairs. There is a sacred thread that is tied around the neck of the woman by the husband, and this is a very religious symbol. It means that the man has accepted the woman as his life partner and will do anything to take care of her needs and wants for a lifetime. Such marriages are always performed in the presence of a huge audience and thus, the social sanctity of marriage is very well maintained in India.
Lastly, even though there are strong differences of opinion and even physical fights between the couple, the strong roots in Indain culture helps to ensure that marriage is an institution that still survives.
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Seriously, i don't really like the idea of Indian marriages that woman should be "attached" to her husband like how someone is taking full ownership of an object. I feel that both husband and wife should be accomodating towards each other so that healthy interactions can take place. However, i feel that we can learn something very important from it which is the resilience in the marriage despite all odds for Indian marriages.
ReplyDeletepz
I would say, being an Indian myself, that those sentiments are true. However, this really only applies to more traditional Indian couples who have not really faced the wrath of globalization as yet.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the turgidity of marital connection is now becoming weak and flaccid in India. Divorces have gone up by a tremendous amount, women are not merely kitchen-dwellers and the men are not always the sword-yielding individuals as previously seen to be.
The career orientated aims of women in India have them being alot more well-educated and hence search for more well-educated men. If these men don't come by, the women just tend to stay contented with their enriching-single life.
It's actually kind of sad that in developed countries, marriage and divorce occurs as and when people feel like it. How ironic. It seems like as the economy develops, people lose their very roots already. ):
ReplyDeleteIt is true that India's strong culture of marriage has kept its society intact but shouldn't they start practising freedom of choice as well? It is good for marriages to be kept as they are but sometimes, people truly cannot get along with the other party and they should not be condemned for divorces. -Eunice
ReplyDeleteTransform has been seen from the past where women were expected to stay at home and serve their husband to now where women gained greater respect and recognition. However, i still feel that marriage in India seems to restrict women's freedom. I feel that women are regarded to be of lower status than men.
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