India – LOVE VERSUS TRADITION

In India, more young couples are challenging tradition nowadays. To conform to tradition and religion, all marriages were arranged by the bride and groom’s parents, now however, a lot of reasons are putting pressure on the orthodox methods. With rigid injunctions against crossing caste borders, arranged marriages restrict them to hereditary occupations by preventing lower castes to conjugate with higher castes. Parents can even advertise in the newspapers to have beneficial and favorable matches for their children, obscured from their knowledge until the process is in progress. The inevitable influence of the western culture is also a factor which emplace men and women to assert their liberty and become more exposed to other cultural influences. Many lucrative opportunities have emerged over the years for the men and women in India, earning enough to defy their parents. Some of these job opportunities require for them to relocate outside their families’ realm. The languishment of tradition has made conjugation more equal but it has also led to higher divorce rates. The society is struggling to cope with the transformation. A research study shows that India is becoming rapidly modernized and a lot of Indian people nowadays are changing their views on marriage. Tales of rebellion are on the rise. My friend’s used-to-be fiancé is now married to a different girl because of arranged marriage. Their three-year relationship has ended early this year because her used-to-be fiance’s parents are against her. With so much love and respect to his parents he agreed on his parents’ wish to marry the girl they have matched for him. Love, as defined by others, conquers all; but in India today, love is vanquished by tradition as tradition remains nearly as puissant.