People in India follow the arranged marriage system. Dating is taboo. Parents find suitable spouses for their children from appropriate families. So, there is no chance of marrying outside their own religion, caste, social status or economic class. This protects the couple from the problems that usually originate from disparity of religion, caste and class.
This system originated when child marriage was the custom in India. But Child marriages are now abolished by law. But these days parents, still try to control their children by arranging marriages within the limits of race, caste, class and religion. If children find their own mates, it brings shame upon the family.
The other concern is the dowry system. This is where the girls’ family has to pay the boy’s family a huge amount of money. Generally starts at R800,000. If the girl’s family is poor, it becomes diffucult for the girl to find a husband. And an unmarried girl in India is a taboo.
Technology has made fast tracked arranged mariages. Many matrimonial sites have been developed to find spouses. For those treking for a husband under an arranged marriage and balancing a modern day lifestyle is rather difficult.
Here are some of my concerns …
How safe is it to marry some one you meet on the net?
What happens to the people in rural areas that can’t afford a computer, let alone a subscription to matrimonial sites…
This once again creates the gap between the rich and poor …
And the eternal question .. what about love????
