Table of ContentsIntroductionTopics for DiscussionConclusionIntroductionMan is a social animal and is not fit to live alone. Marriage is one of the most fundamental and important social institutions of Indian society and also an important milestone in life. The concept of marriage varies from state to state, community to community and time to time. In India, marriage is considered a sacrament and not a simple civil contract. It is considered not only a union between a man and a woman but also the union of two families. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayAccording to HT Mazumdar, “Marriage is a socially sanctioned union between a man and a woman, or as a secondary institution designed by society to sanction the union. and the mating of a male and a female, for the purpose of establishing a home, having sex, procreating, and caring for offspring. Horton and Hunt define marriage as “the approved social pattern by which two or more people establish a family.” Topics for Discussion Emerging Changes in Marriage Marriage is a constant institution, but it has undergone and is undergoing radical change. Marriage has evolved considerably throughout its long existence. Many changes have been made in the development of India. The following changes have been observed: Concept of MarriageMarriage in ancient India was an obligatory subject of life. But, due to the influence of Western culture, people prefer to live together rather than marry. Earlier, people were not allowed to have love marriage or inter-caste marriage. But with the changing times, people's mentality has changed and people now accept the concept of love marriage, inter-caste marriage, inter-religious marriage and even the concept of same-sex marriage. Remarriage of widows In ancient times, remarriage was not favored. Even if it was permitted, it was never considered as sacramental as the first. The Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856 made changes and allowed widows to remarry. Thanks to the tireless efforts of social reformers and educated people, this practice began to gain acceptance on a large scale. Ceremonies and Celebrations Performing wedding rites and rituals only with family members was once the concept of celebrating marriage, but with changing times, marriage has become a 5-day event where people invite all their friends and relatives and celebrate by spending huge amounts of money. Pre-wedding photo shoots, wedding planning, destination wedding, wedding dresses, etc. are the trend factors today. Stability of Marriage Divorce in specific circumstances was allowed after the introduction of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Traditionally, society did not allow the dissolution of a marriage. Previously, women could not even think about divorce and today they resort to breaking the marital bond. Child Marriage In medieval times, marrying a girl under the age of 12 to adults was common. People believed that young girls were irrational and irresponsible in love and might take actions or perform deeds that could put the honor of their clan at stake, so they preferred to bring them into the marriage bond at a younger age. People from all walks of life started following this trend as they believed it to be a pious act. The Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929, also known as theSharada law, mentioned the age of marriage for boys as 18 years and for girls as 14 years. The law was later repealed. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006 raised the minimum age for boys to 21 and for girls to 18. Today, child marriage has become a rare scenario. Women became more educated, independent and rational. They too, like men, want to work and have a career and prefer to marry only when they want to and when no one can put pressure on them. Education broadened people's minds and they became more liberal. Parents now want their child to be a boy or girl to study and build their future and marriage has now taken a second place. Urbanization and industrialization brought about this major transition.The dowry systemThe goods and money that a bride brings to her husband's house after marriage are defined as dowry. Formerly, this system was intentionally implemented out of gratitude and love, but over time, it began to take the form of a necessary bad custom of society. This concept has caused a lot of unrest in mainstream society. Parents who could not meet the demands of the groom's family were looked down upon and their daughter often resorted to suicide. Domestic violence, mental and physical torture, etc. have become a headline in the news. A law was passed against this system in 1961. This law brought many changes; people feared punishment and avoided the practice. But this system could nevertheless not be completely eradicated from Indian society. However, in some parts of the country, dowry is collected in one form or another. Although the graph shows a decline, this act still prevails. ConclusionFactors leading to the current scenario of the institution of marriage: Industrialization – Rapid growth of industries has a huge impact on the institution of marriage. With men employed in all fields, industrialization brought women to the forefront and they too began to work in industry. This advancement made women more independent and no one could rule them or force them to marry. Working in industries has given women another advantage of choosing the marriage partner of their own choice. Urbanization – growth in urban centers or cities leads to affect marriage. In rural areas, marriage is more of a religious and necessary ceremony while in urban areas, it is more of a social ceremony. In the current scenario, couples prefer to live at home rather than get married. This factor of urbanization has also led to an increase in the number of divorces in cities compared to villages. It also provided a wide range of premarital and extramarital relationships. Education played a major role in marriage. Men and women today are educated, which allows them to have their own opinions and points of view. Also in the case of marriage, young people are the only ones to decide who to marry, how to marry, etc. Education has broadened the mentality and people, instead of performing mythical rituals, opt for simple marriage. Education should even lead to the eradication of dowry but unfortunately in India the situation is completely opposite. If a man has a higher degree, then the demand for dowry is directly proportional. Being educated also makes people aware of various laws and legislations, which leads to increased cases of separation, divorce, etc. Legislation – Reforms in beliefs, ideas and rites of marriage have brought about a radical change in the concept of marriage...