The divorce rate in India has increased quite a bit in the recent years. Divorce is a common phenomenon these days, and people are more open about it around the world. But still, divorce remains a taboo or an unforeseen situation in India. The older generation often plays a blame game on western education when it comes to divorce. India has long garnered the idea of a marriage that lasts forever, but with time the image has drastically changed to its true form. In reality, marriage is an institution or contract that binds two people in a social relationship.
In India, marriage doesn’t end with the spouses but is a relationship between two families. The divorce rate was quite low in the past, but now it has gone up. The Love Marriage vs. Arranged Marriage debate is loved by almost all Indians. They think that the divorce rate in arrange marriages are low. But these days the surveys are showing a different picture. The modern Indian women do not want to be subjugated by men anymore. So, people are seeking divorce and separation more than ever before. Let us see some of the reasons for which the divorce rate has increased in India.
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Empowerment of Women and Financial Stability
There was a time when almost every woman was bound to the patriarchal bond of a stereotyped female role. It often included taking care of the house and its members. Several films, books, and TV serials have glamorized those days. But with the education and means to support oneself, the view of women have changed over the years. Girls can now study as much as they like and compete with their opposite sex. They do not need to be bound in household chores. Marriage is often a decision that they take on their own, and so is the divorce. Women who are in abusive marriages or unhappy relationships can easily break out of it if they have the proper education and stability.
In former years, often women were unemployed and lacked any education. They were taught to serve their husbands and his family to make them happy. They often took their abuse and torture as their fate. But the women of new India know the boundary. With education and talks going around women can understand a situation of bad marriage. They can also file a divorce on their own and get done with the proceedings. Even friends of people who are abused can help the person in seeking the desired help. The financial stability of women is also important as after the divorce they can help themselves and their children. So, the divorce is rising, but it is also going in a good direction. It is helping women in getting out of abusive marriages.
Dowry is a big problem in India till this date. Many women face abuse due to dowry from their in-laws. Divorce has helped them to get out of the abuse and set up a life for themselves. Women who are in such troubles should seek help in the form of divorce or even from the law.
Communication Gap and Lack of Time
Communication is the key to any relationship. Couples need to talk so that they can understand each other in a much better way. But the busy lifestyle of today has often decreased the time of communication. The couples cannot spend quality time together and often let down their spouse’s expectations. The constant conflicts and arguments make the relationship bitter. With time the love vanishes, and the couple becomes strangers to each other. One of the reasons for this is constant work pressure on both the spouses. Most of such strenuous relationships end in divorce as it has no other way. People may seek a marriage counselor,but it doesn’t work most of the time. This reason is one of the biggest reasons for young couples who are getting a divorce. Most of them do not want to spend a lot of time in making their spouses understand their point of view.
Conflicts with in-laws and husband
The stereotypical Indian wife has to do everything on her own. It includes cleaning, cooking, washing and caring for the children. The modern women often have individual dreams that they want to fulfill. They may also want to skip some work and do it in their own time. But this individuality often causes conflict with the in-laws. As in India many people still live with their parents, this is a huge problem. There are daily conflicts between the wife and the mother-in-law, and it can get tedious. Often the wife can face mental abuse from the whole family. In many cases, the wives seek a divorce when the thing gets out of hands. The wife may plead for a different household to her husband, but in most cases, it is denied. So, the divorce becomes their last resort.
In a contrasting case, often the parents of the wife can also become interference. They can be too nosy about their daughter’s household and can cause harm in it. There have been cases where the parents have coaxed a divorce out of the couple. This often happens when women marry someone of their liking. In any case, the decisions should always lie in the hands of the spouses and not on their parent. This is why India needs to learn individualism and privacy.
Forced Marriages
Till date, several families in India believe in the caste system. They want their children to marry people who they decide for them. But as life has evolved, people do fall in love, and they want to get married. But there have been several instances where parents force their children into marriage. It never works out properly and may also turn abusive. So, the last resort for the people is a divorce which is often mutual. It also happens when fraudulent marriages take place. These can include a marriage of convenience for homosexual individuals, polygamy or many other things. But it is still prevalent in India, but as women are empowered, they can easily seek a divorce.
Misuse to IPC 498A
The law mainly provides empowerment to the women if she is facing abuse from her in-laws or husband. It has been made in the best of wishes from the Judiciary,and several women have had success with it. They have gotten rid of the extreme abuse that they used to face especially in case of dowry and demands. But there have been some cases where women have misused the law to coax money out of the husband and his family. If a husband is facing something like this, then they have the right to notify it to the police. The law has helped many women who are in need so it shouldn’t be gotten rid of. It is better to seek a mutual divorce when someone isn’t happy with their marriage.
Adultery
Adultery is a grave problem, and with technology and source, it is easier to know about it today. The lack of commitment in men was a common thing in India, but the views of women are changing. They do want a husband who is faithful and wouldn’t cheat on them. But with the availability of apps and websites, adultery is rising. People can cheat on each other for various reasons. But it is often the endpoint of a relationship. Many divorces in India happen due to the presence of extra-marital affairs in a relationship. A fewyears ago, women would have been told to live with the problem, but now they can take their stand. They know that living with an unfaithful man is not a good choice.
Incompatible Sex Life
Indians may feel shy about the word sex, but it is an important part of every marriage. If the partners aren’t sexually compatible, then it may become a grave problem for them. The couple may be unsatisfied with everything and also it may hinder in having children. The lack of a sex life has been a leading cause of divorce in India the recent past. But a fun fact is that most of the divorces were filed by unhappy women. A very sad thing about India is that several husbands divorce their wife if they aren’t able to bear children. This is quite shameful to an institution like marriage. But couples should try to understand that physical problems can be solved. They should discuss them mutually and then see a doctor or a therapist. Sex therapists aren’t prevalent in India by they are providing help to couples all over the world.
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So, here are the key reasons for divorce in India. ‘Divorce’ isn’t a bad thing as carrying a dead relationship hinders the growth of an individual. But divorce due to unnecessary reasons can often be troubling. It is not a license to leave women in a bad state. People who are seeking divorce shouldn’t face discrimination from society as it may be a necessary step for them. India is getting over the stigma, and we can hope to have a better stand in divorce in the upcoming years.
