Why India's singles are not ready for marriage vows?

19 July, 2012

The trend of single-person households is gaining in India and more people like to prefer being single due to financial freedom. However, they are not ready to talk about social security and effective policing for them. They just want to enjoy being singletons.

GONE ARE the days in India when marriage was consider to license to the old age and one must have to marry by attaining average age of nuptials. Earlier, people who didn't have an option or sufferered some poor tragedy - were forced to live alone. However, things are changing fast now. London-based marketing firm Euromonitor has projected that India will have 17.4 million single-person households by 2020. The country 2011 census shows that total households occupied by unmarried people has gone up by 0.5% from 11.1% in year 2010 to 11.6%.

Its indicate economic empowerment with various option coming up in the way to singles population and emerging markets culture. The financial independent turn into more dependent on commodities than the joint family structure. This is big shift for a society that generally celebrates the idea of having the family and togetherness.

I live alone because it is my choice, it is about my independence and I get time for myself after hard day works,” said Jyoti Rai, a 42-year-old woman who is happily single, and works as an Executive Manager with Rock India Ltd., Goa.

Despite society's continuous raising eye brows on singles most of young Indians like to live and enjoy life without matrimony due to our dynamic economy, which has made it easier for them to buy privacy and hit out on their own. It may be a serious cultural changeover in last two decades as the institution of marriage is failing remarkably and compromises do not work anymore.

I consider marriage as gender biased and there is no personal space for you. My married friends spend 90% of the day in worrying, solving and searching for solutions for their problems. This has made me feel that what's the use of life? In comparison, I lead an exciting and happy life, would never like to settle down with someone,” said Adesh Mishra, a Webmaster with leading Delhi daily.

The Euromoniter survey says that India will become fourth nation with most single person households after the US, China and Japan in a decade - due to rapid urbanisation, which leads to more young people living independently. In the west, the situation is leading to new conflicts between states, religious and individuals while in India family values are still a favourite with conservatives. Is a single person really happy being alone? Women seem to have fun in their choice, however many men refused to comment on this issue. Society seems to observe single women as a sign of liberation but single men are viewed as somehow lacking.

Experts believe that these single-person households will change the equation of real estate to insurance. The study shows they are greedier to achieve anything and generally associated with degree of rebellion. What about their future. It looks bright or does it. There is no state support or provisions for single people in India like in West. Lack of social security and effective policing could make life tougher for Indian singles. Choosing to live alone is not the safe idea in the long run. India do not have special healthcare system for them which are one of conducive factor to a flourishing singles lifestyle.

“Wait and watch, are we ready for the change?” concluded Himashsu Ghose, an advocate who believes that the life of a single is a nightmare.

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COMMENTS (4)

Guest

As far as my experience goes very few people even of the present generation wants to be single let alone live a life as a single person. if what the article states are actually happening then it is good sign as people should marry for companionship and not for financial dependence or societal pressures

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Reema Khanna

I think this article only takes into account the urban perspective. In smaller towns or in rural India, marriage still is very much a part of life and that too within a fixed time frame.

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Saunav

Its not only about economic revolution. Marriage often came for physical desires too in old days. A boy or girl would get married knowing and expecting that there will be a physical connection - that was a unknown territory they were excited to venture into. The societal scenario have changed a lot now. Having a boyfrnd/galfrnd or even a live-in partner is no more an uncommon thing. Sex is not a dreaded subject as it was in past. Virginity is passée. All together the physical relevance or desire for marriage have declined a lot.

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Raktim Bannerjee

There are primary two reasons that I see - one, the joint family concept is gone. Children going out to other cities for jobs, stabilizing their career. Hence not getting married within a certain age is not seen as a taboo, at least in the urban set up. And since they stay out the peer pressure on their parents also gets diluted to some extent. And secondly, the economy has opened up. There are so many career paths one can choose that 'getting a job' is not limited to only few. Hence everybody wants to focus on their career and push aside the marriage.

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