Social Implication of Child Marriage in India

 

Child marriage in Indi is not a new phenomenon. It is an age old phenomenon. It was for the first time in undivided India Raja Rammohan Roy began a glorious movement against child marriage. He had detailed discussion with Lord William Bentick which finally enabled him to ban child marriage in the year 1829 as it was declared as an offence. After that some many years have elapsed. Raja Rammohan Roy also passed away at Bristol in the year 1833 long before India's independence. Finally during the first part of twentieth century, in the year 1929 a legislation was passed by British India government to ban child marriage from the threshold of our societies. After that such a prolonged decade has elapsed with India achieved Independence along with partition of the country. The impact of partition gave birth to new Bengali nation ultimately in the year 1971 on December 16 by the name of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. Coming to the Indian perspective it is found that child marriages in different parts of India are still very much prevalent.

Though it is prevalent but we have miserably failed to find out probable causes of it. The main reason behind it is nothing but mass illiteracy and economic disparities. As the population of India has touched close to around 140 crores it is not possible for all parents of modern India to provide proper education to their wards. Worrisome part regarding child marriage in India is noticeable mostly in rural belts of the country. As most parents of rural belt of the country are unable to provide proper grooming and education to their children hence circumstances are forcing them to take up this extraneous steps. Thus in the subsequent paragraph it is my humble responsibility to introspect deeply about why the social implication is severe in modern India's social situations.

Social implication of child marriage in modern India's social situations:

India is a vast nation with around 140 crores populace. Though India has advanced a lot in comparison to previous years and decades but the basic problems which still persisting around the country is wanton poverty, low literacy level and the last but not the least is child marriage in different parts of India especially we notice in India's deep rural belt. As per child marriage is concerned we find that males get married at the age of 21 years and females get marriage at the age of 18 years or sometimes below this age. As Independent India is progressing fast but due to wanton poverty and mass illiteracy we find that child marriage is very much dominant. As per Data available with this writer it can be easily interpreted that there are at least 40% of child marriage takes place in India out of the total 60 million child marriage takes place around the globe. This Data is as per National Family Health Survey. In India there are around 14th highest rate of child marriage as per global scenarios. However there are some parts of India where we find that there has been severe revolt going on to stop child marriage. It was couple of years back when we noticed that in the Indian state of West Bengal in Purulia district we found that there are two girls from the above deftly stood against child marriage with her parents that they want to be educated. Both the girls were sisters and the difference is just two years. Finally under the influence of a reputed Non-government organization (NGO) we find that they helped those girls to get educated to stand up firmly within the threshold of Indian social and cultural lives. That example was really glorious and social reckoning one that poor people from India's rural belts want to be established in life. Same problems are also noticeable in other parts of India. Also in this regard roles played by Kailash Satyaharti, Nobel Laureate in social work have been an exemplary. It was Satyaharti who fought vehemently against child labor and child marriage. He was instrumental in picking up poor and street children and educated them in his organization. As recognition to his social work he was conferred upon Nobel Prize for his outstanding contribution to educate the poor and deprived sections of Indian populaces jointly with Malala Yousafzai. Still Kailash Satyarthi is carrying on with his noble work with Malala Yousafzai who is based in Pakistan.

Reason for child marriage in India:

There are various reasons associated as regard the occurrence of child marriage in India. Among all the reasons some of the common reasons are stated as follow,

Due to wanton poverty parents give early marriage to their children.

Due to insecurity in poor families of India child marriages are held at random.

Due to political and financial reasons child marriages in India are common phenomenon.

Due to illiteracy child marriage takes place all over India.

Due to familial pressure in India child marriage is held.

How to overcome child marriage in India?

There are various options known to us about how the child marriage in India can be overcome. Among all the options some of the common ones are stated as follow:

There should be proper social belief and understanding as regards overcoming child marriage in India is concerned.

Child marriage to girl child as well as boy child in India should not be given unless and until parents are able to provide proper education.

Parents of India should groom up their children properly and methodically so that they can plan for their marriage in later part of their life.

Parents as well as various nongovernmental organizations of India should ensure proper prevention of child abduction and trafficking of young Indian boys and girls.

Poor parents of India should not utilize their children as a means of commodity and financial investment.

Child marriage in Bangladesh:

This writer being an Indian national it is not ethical on my part to throw light about child marriage in Bangladesh. But despite the political bifurcation between the two nations social system of the above remain fully identical. That is why poor parents of Bangladesh prefer to give marriage of their child at an early age this should be stopped to prevent social malaise forever along with neighboring India.

Conclusion:

Summing up the above discourses one point strikes our mind that as the age is advancing scientifically and technologically hence all of us should be motivated to advance to new heights. In this roles played by different non-governmental as well as clinical psychologists stand as paramount importance.


Sujayendra Das is a Columnist
of Kolkata