Major reasons of increasing divorce in India

Dr. A. S. Kalra 2011

There is no concept of divorce in Hindu or Sikh religions. According to these religions, once a
couple gets married only death can separate them apart. Concept of 'Talaaq' came into India after
Muslim rule and the concept of divorce came with the British Empire. In the last few decades,
divorce has started taking place even among couples of Hindu or Sikh backgrounds, and divorce
rates have started increasing very rapidly in India. Despite the influence of the outside world,
reasons behind divorce in India stem primarily from within the Indian culture.

One of the major causes of divorce in India is that women are getting financially independent.
Earlier, women were not educated and rarely employed, so they had to depend upon their
husbands for their needs. Even when husbands insulted or beat them, women did not have the
courage to ask for a divorce. It was not easy for a woman to go back to her parents' house
especially when she has children because they simply could not afford to support them. This
situation, however, has changed. Today, parents, even in rural areas in India, are encouraging
their daughters to study and work. Women have also become more aware of their rights after
marriage, and would seek divorce if they felt trapped in their marriage.

Many couples divorce due to the interference of parents in their children’s married life. This
often occurs when the woman is forced to share the same house with her in-laws, as often the
case in India. Maladjustment of a married woman within her in-laws family, results in strains in
her relationship with her husband. Small disagreement about everyday chores in the house,
privacy issues and meddling could escalate into fights leading to hard decisions like the decision
to move out of the house. Many men face a dilemma. They do not want to leave their parents in
their old age, but on the other hand, living with their own families- wife and children also
becomes essential.

Some divorces happen because of religious beliefs, cultural and lifestyle differences. When the
couple do not share the same cultural background, there could be a values clash. Complaints are
often heard about how the wife dresses or what the husband eats. When the couple discovers that
they do not share any interests or beliefs this could lead to them to spend less time together, and
a disconnect could take place. In this case, the couple needs to be highly adaptable to tolerate
each other. Certain divorce cases cite conservatism as a reason for the disputes and describe how
it kills the joy and spontaneity in life, leading to dissatisfaction and frustration.

There are many reasons that can bring an end to family life through divorce. Some of these
reasons are internal, dealing with the relationship between the couple, while others could be
external, involving other people or factors around the couple. However, this does not mean that
marriages cannot be saved. Commitment and focus on the family from both sides are often
needed to overcome everyday issues and to allow life to continue.
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