New Delhi : Twenty five-year-old Seema Sharma got married seven months ago and now she is fighting for a divorce in the court on grounds of mental and physical torture by her husband. Like her, many are bearing the brunt of being called divorcees or separated after their marriage lasted only for a few months or years.
The number of divorcees under 25 years of age has risen over the years in India as the number of divorced couples in that age group has gone up from two percent in 2008 to eight percent in 2011, according to a study by matrimonial website jeevansathi.com.
Seema’s initial one or two months of marital life was good but the situation soon turned bad. Her divorce case is pending in court. She alleged that her husband used to beat her over minor things without listening to her pleas.
“My in-laws forced me to leave my job and take up household chores. Leaving my independence and dreams I began to look after the house work,” rued Seema, adding that they also began to harass her on minor things.
Seema now lives with her parents in east Delhi, waiting for the court orders on her divorce. She is happy and hoping she would be free again and enjoy life the way she did before marriage.
“This marriage took away the charm from my life. It is disheartening to separate, but I will get the chance to live my life again and follow my dreams,” Seema said.
Commenting on the findings of the study, jeevansathi.com business head Rohit Manghnani told IANS: “Incompatibility and lack of adjustment are the key reasons for the increase in the number of divorce profiles amongst youngsters.”
But experts believe that commitment issues, family pressure and immaturity often lead to separation of these young couples.
“These young couples often remain over-committed to the relationship, which raises the expectation level among them, and when they don’t live up to those expectations differences arise, leading to divorce,” said Vikhayat Singh, a sociologist who also runs a counselling centre for such couples in the capital.
Vikhayat Singh believes that family interference is the main cause for such break-ups.
Advocate Osama Suhail, lawyer at Delhi High Court who specialises in cases of marital disputes, said that most of the cases he gets are of young married couples in their first or second year of marriage.
“Young couples often take the decision to get married in haste and then land in trouble. The in-laws’ expectations, incompatibility after marriage and misunderstandings make them separate,” he said.
Seema may be happy with the break-up, but another divorcee Bindu – also under 25 – is fighting for her rights over her two-year-old daughter in court.
Bindu got separated some months ago after three years of marriage because of her husband’s extra-marital affair, according to Vikhayat Singh, whose counselling centre is looking after her case.
“Although the court separated them, the fate of their two-year-old daughter lies in the lurch,” said Singh.
Like Seema and Bindu, Saurav too is facing the same pain. The 24-year-old got married three years ago but is now fighting for divorce.
“My wife used to disrespect my parents and often engaged in verbal duels with them. I tried to make her understand many times. Finally I had no option but to file for divorce,” said Saurav, whose two-year-old daughter lives with her mother.
IANS
