Jubilee: Are Arranged Marriages Outdated?

Are arranged marriages outdated? In the newest episode of Jubilee, six people from India give their opinions on arranged marriages.

The first question they grapple with is whether arranged marriages are outdated or not. Suvir, someone who is against arranged marriages, believes that they are. 

“Societies have evolved,” he says. In modern day society, there is a lot of freedom of expression.

Rina, whose supports arranged marriages, said that arranged marriages make up 60% world wide. In India, it is 90% with 1% divorce rate.

“I feel, right now, arranged marriages not outdated, but its growing,” she says.

The next topic they grappled with is whether arranged marriages encourage religious and caste division.

Pradhyuman, whose supports arranged marriages, said that it is normal for humans to want to marry whoever is in their caste system. This is because people marry who they feel familiar with.

“In most cases, the familiar people are people of the same societies, from the same caste” he says.

Aastha, whose against arranged marriages, said that she values autonomy, especially in marriage. However, her parents told her she can marry anyone as long as they are not Muslim.

“I do believe that they definitely perpetuate caste divisions - religious divisions” she says, regarding arranged marriages.

The last question they discussed is if a couple can get divorced if they are unhappy. 

Aakanksha, whose against arrange marriages, said that if a person gives up their priority and loses joy in a relationship, then they cannot make the other person happy. Her parents were unhappy together, and that is because they simply grew in two different directions.

“Maybe if they had separated they would have been happier,” she says.

Pankhuri, whose pro arranged marriages, agreed with the statement. In a relationship, a couple needs to find what makes them happy if they are to stay together.

“Two unhappy people cannot make a happy life together,” she says.