Matrimony is an institution which is considered sacred by Indian people. Unlike people from other countries, people who belong to India gives more importance to tying nuptial knots.
We all know that in India, a girl is observed as Paraya Dhan. As soon as a baby girl born in a family, her parents start thinking about her marriage instead of making her life better by providing her good education to secure the future. Although, a significant change has been noticed in the perspective of Indian parents in last few years.
Though a girl is revered as Goddess here, she is treated badly. She is always get judged on the way she dresses, talks, laugh, sits, stands, walks, at every action, and at every moment.
As we all know that it’s a dream of every girl to meet her prince charming one day, marry him and live a happy married life full of love, laughter, care, concern, stability, space, understanding and respect but not every woman is lucky enough to flourish a happy marriage with her partner as not every man is a gentleman. There are certain factors which compel a woman to avoid getting married. So, here, at mangal parinay, I am going to reveal key reasons why a woman refrains from being a bride.
• Partiality between daughter and daughter in law
However, parents of all groom say that they are looking for a daughter (hume bahu nahi beti chahiye) who should treat their home like her own and can do whatever she wants (if right). But as soon as she enters her new home, she has given the responsibility to look after their home and needs of everyone without complaining in return. Everyone taunts her if she fails to get up on time due to ill health or any other reason, buys anything she needs, asks to meet her parents and the list is endless. It is then they forget that they have brought a daughter, not a daughter-in-law which hurts a woman.
• Girl-A ticket to get dowry
Regardless of the fact that grooms parents’ say that they don’t want anything except bride (hume kuch nahi chahiye..beti ke alawa). But as the wedding day approaches, the statement turns to- “Aap jo doge, apni beti ko doge…uske kaam aayega.” They contemplate her as a ticket to dowry who will bring expensive and lots of valuable gifts (jewellery, cash, clothes and other necessary items) along with her. The harsh truth is that no matter she brings a trunk full of treasure, they humiliate her later which breaks a woman and she hates the concept of getting hitched.
• No value is given to her advice and opinions
Despite of the fact that bride is also a matured individual who has a thinking of her own, has a certain perspective about any issue or happening, and has a viewpoint about the definite matter but she is expected to keep her mouth shut. Even if she tries to explain her outlook towards any problem, she has to listen to the bitter phrase- “Mt bhulo ki tum ek aurat ho.” Her guidance or enlightenment to any topic goes unnoticed and she is enforced to be quiet and pressurized to become silent overlooking whatever is happening in her surrounding.
• Inferior to Men
No attention is paid to the truth that men are not superior to women in any condition. They both are equal. nevertheless, a woman is always holding a position inferior to men disregarding how well educated, qualified, independent and financial stable she is. She has grown up listening- “kitna bhi padh lo, karna toh tumhe chula-chauka hi hai.” A groom’s education defines his personality but a woman’s education determines her attitude (in a negative sense). Her credentials only help her to get married without ensuring a happy married life.
• Ill-treatment by husband and in-laws
There are a majority of people who do not treat their wives/ daughters-in-law lovingly and only deemed them as the maid who will do all the household chores without taking any leave. There are certain people who become violent with their respective wife/daughter-in-law, and in return, the woman has to keep her mouth shut thinking her parents will get shattered knowing this harsh reality and “4 log kya kahenge.” Seeing this cruel face of society, a woman of marriageable age becomes terrified with the institution of marriage which only expects a woman to do all the sacrifices, compromises and becoming a victim of domestic violence.