Do you think marriage as a sacrament in loosing its value in Modern India?
Do you think marriage as a sacrament in loosing its value in Modern India?
Subject: Indian Society
The institution of marriage in India is undergoing significant transformation from its traditional sacramental character to a more secular and contractual arrangement, influenced by modernization, urbanization, and changing social values.
Indicators of Changing Marriage Values
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Rising Divorce Rates: According to recent data, Karnataka alone witnessed 66,863 divorce petitions in 2022, indicating growing acceptance of divorce despite India's overall low divorce rate of 1%.
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Legal Recognition of Alternatives: The judiciary has recognized live-in relationships through various landmark judgments, challenging the traditional sanctity of marriage.
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Urban-Rural Divide:
- Urban areas show increasing prevalence of love marriages and inter-caste unions.
- Rural areas continue to maintain traditional arranged marriages and endogamous practices.
Factors Contributing to Change
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Individualization:
- Growing emphasis on personal choice and individual autonomy.
- Rising educational levels and economic independence, especially among women.
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Legislative Changes:
- Proposed increase in women's marriage age to 21 years.
- Introduction of online marriage registration systems.
- Mandatory pre-marital counseling proposals.
Persistence of Traditional Values
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Social Stigma:
- Divorce continues to face social disapproval, leading to underreporting.
- Traditional joint family values remain strong in rural India.
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Religious Significance:
- Marriage maintains its spiritual importance in religious ceremonies.
- Hindu Marriage Act continues to recognize marriage as a sacred union.
The institution of marriage in India is experiencing a dual reality where traditional sacramental values coexist with modern secular interpretations. While urban India embraces new marital paradigms like live-in relationships and court marriages, rural India largely preserves the traditional sacred character, suggesting a gradual rather than absolute transformation of marriage as an institution.
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