Q. Do you think marriage as a sacrament is losing its value in modern India?
Introduction
Marriage in traditional India has been viewed as a sacred and indissoluble union rooted in religious and moral values. However, modern socio-economic and cultural changes are reshaping this perception.
Flow Chart
Traditional Institution → Urbanization & Education → Individualism → Changing Gender Roles → Rise in Divorce & Live-in Relationships → Redefinition of Marriage
Marriage Losing Its Value in Modern India
- Shift from Sacrament to Contract:
- Earlier, marriage symbolized dharma and duty; now it is often based on choice, compatibility, and consent.
- Legal reforms (Special Marriage Act, Divorce laws) have secularized the institution.
Economic Independence & Gender Equality:
- Women’s financial autonomy has reduced dependence on marriage as an economic necessity.
- Egalitarian relationships challenge patriarchal norms of traditional marriage.
Urbanization and Individualism:
- Urban life promotes privacy, personal goals, and delayed marriages.
- Western ideals of freedom and companionship influence youth.
Changing Social Patterns:
- Increasing acceptance of live-in relationships and singlehood.
- Rising divorce rates, inter-caste and inter-religious marriages show changing social values.
Media and Globalization:
- Exposure to global lifestyles normalizes alternative relationship forms.
- Popular culture reshapes expectations from marriage.
Conclusion
While the sacred nature of marriage is declining, it continues to adapt to modern social values. As A.M. Shah observed, Indian families and marriages evolve with time rather than disappear.
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