The legal age for marriage in India is 21 years for men and 18 years for women. But do you think that all 18 year old women and 21 year old men are ready to settle down and start a family? If you (or your parents) are on the hunt for a groom/ bride, then you should definitely read this article. If nothing else, then ask yourself the following questions before you take that all important decision to tie the knot.
Do I feel mature enough to make a life time commitment?
A lot of women get bored of studies after graduation, and think that marriage will make a welcome change in their daily routine. I hate to burst your bubble, but marriage can be just as demanding as academic life. Especially if you are living with your in laws J.
Can I see myself, 20 years from now, living happily with my fiancé?
You may think that you have found your Prince Charming and that you both will live happily ever after once you get married, but life is not a fairy tale. Unless your relationship is strengthened by the bonds of mutual honesty, open communication, shared interests, similar values and most importantly, respect for each other, chances are that the marriage will not bring you the happiness that you dream of. A generation ago, divorce was almost unheard of, except in cases of domestic violence or dowry harassment. The divorce rate in 1990 was 7.4 divorces per 1000 marriages, which increased to 11.4 divorces per 1000 marriages in 2008. The divorce rate in New Delhi, has doubled in the past 5 years alone, and it has tripled in Bangalore in the same period of time. While beginning a new relationship, no one wants to consider its end, perhaps driven by a superstitious fear of avoiding “ashubh” thoughts. But if you do not want to end up as just another statistic, then it is vitally important that you seriously evaluate whether your relationship is strong enough to stand the test of time.
Can I afford to support a family on my current salary?
Long gone are the days when marriage meant that the husband would be the sole breadwinner to support the entire family. Not to sound clichéd, but the importance of economic and financial independence for women cannot be sufficiently stressed. These days, husbands and wives work together to support their families. Besides, given the rising cost of housing, health care and other necessities, a woman can hardly afford to stay at home and be a housewife these days (unless she marries someone whose last name is Mallya or Ambani, of course). So before you make the decision of getting hitched to someone, you need to decide your goals for your life? Do you have plans for further education? If you do, then it is best to postpone your marriage until you have completed your plans for higher education, since a Master’s degree usually guarantees a higher income.
To summarise, wait until you are 24 – 25 years of age & have achieved a stable standing in your career before you start hunting for a groom. Of course, this does not mean that those who are older are “on the shelf” and have to lower their standards and accept whatever comes their way. Above all, I would advice people not to get married until they are ready to – whether that age is 25, 30 or 40.
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