Is It Alright for an Indian Girl to Remain Unmarried?

Yes, there is no harm in being single throughout life for an Indian girl. Just as many men commit to a life as bachelors, why should women be any different?

Personal Freedom to Choose

It is okay for an Indian girl to remain unmarried. There is no law requiring women to get married in India. In fact, there are legal rights that unmarried couples in India should be aware of.

Marriage is a personal choice. It is up to the individual to decide whether or not they want to get married. What matters is that each person makes their own decision based on what is best for them.

The Perspectives of Different Stakeholders

From a personal standpoint, it is absolutely okay if a woman chooses to remain unmarried. However, family and society have different expectations. Traditionally, society places a strong emphasis on women getting married early, but this can lead to negative consequences for the individual.

People might start to label an unmarried woman, while married women might try to save their husbands from interacting with her. She might face difficulties renting rooms, and people would always question her about her decision not to marry. In short, the societal pressure can make life challenging for an unmarried woman.

Financial Independence and Personal Happiness

It is okay if she is working and financially sound and has her own house. Having her own house is very important because unmarried women don't easily get houses on rent in India.

Interestingly, the Indian Constitution does not bound women to get married. If she is happy with not getting married, then it is totally alright. Ultimately, her happiness is what matters. She should get married when she feels like she has found someone to grow old with, someone she truly adores.

Real-Life Stories Versus Personal Choices

It all ultimately depends on the individual. I share a personal story: in a south Indian city, I know a family with two daughters. The first daughter, being beautiful, highly educated, and with a good placement, could not find a suitable partner and thus could not get married. This girl was around ten years older than me. When she reached thirty, her father died and the family lost its pillar.

However, her younger sister got married at twenty-five with a mediocre job. She had a couple of kids and was living with her husband. The older sister and her mother continued to live in their ancestral home. After a few years, the mother passed away. The older sister was very devastated and felt helpless. The situation was dire because even though she was rich, well educated, and had a good career, she was in a compromising position.

After a few days, the younger sister and her family moved in, and I could see that the older sister felt out of place in her own home. She had to go to work and care for her sister's kids during her free time. Although she never had her own family, she was now responsible for her sister’s children. Moreover, she was now outnumbered. Her younger sister and her family were overbearing, leading to a sense of alienation. If the older sister had married and had her own family, she would not have faced this situation.

It is important to recognize that not every woman may face such difficulties by not getting married, but this is a real story that happened in my hometown and reflects the challenges faced by unmarried women.

Conclusion

The freedom to choose whether or not to get married is a fundamental right in India. Each woman should have the autonomy to decide when and if she wants to marry, based on her personal happiness and life goals. The social and familial pressures can be significant, but the journey of self-discovery and personal fulfillment is invaluable.