Yes, many people in rural parts of India are very orthodox and have arranged marriages. But I won't - I want to fall madly in love with someone and be whisked off my feet.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Marriage of attraction is a gamble anyway, so you might as well marry into a family that is similar to your own, and make that much less of an adjustment. But the 'love marriage', as it is called, is equally common in India now. But it would be interesting to do a comparison of what would work better. Marriage is hard work, and it is a gamble.
I don't think I will go for an arranged marriage, but I am not against arranged marriages.
The Hindu marriage may be described as the union of two families. In this union, there is no room for petty ambitions and personal ego-trips. What is involved is love for the entire family that one is marrying into.
It is most unwise for people in love to marry.
For my parents' generation, the idea was not that marriage was about some kind of idealized, romantic love; it was a partnership. It's about creating family; it's about creating offspring. Indian culture is essentially much more of a 'we' culture. It's a communal culture where you do what's best for the community - you procreate.
There is a big misconception about arranged marriage. Yes, it can mean that you meet someone and then have to marry them, but this was my mother saying, 'I'm going to introduce you to so-and-so - If you don't like them, fair enough.'
Of course, in India, I always said, 'Oh yes, I'm married.'
People marry for a variety of reasons and with varying results. But to marry for love is to invite inevitable tragedy.
Marrying for love may be a bit risky, but it is so honest that God can't help but smile on it.
I think I've become the brand ambassador of arranged marriages, especially for working Indian women.