A Qualitative Approach to Understand What Sustains Marriage

Abstract

“Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry” (Tom Mullen, 1957). Edward Westermarck defined “marriage as the more or less durable connection between male and female lasting beyond the mere act of propagation till after the birth of offspring”. Lowie defined marriage as a “relatively permanent bond between permissible mates. Malinowski defined marriage as a contract for the production and maintenance of children”. According to Lundberg,” Marriage consists of the rules and regulations that define the rights, duties and privileges of husband a According to Malinowski,” marriage is a contract for the production and maintenance of children”. Robert Lowie describes “marriage as a relatively permanent bond between permissible mates” and wife with respect to each other”. According to Horton and Hunt,” marriage is the approved social pattern whereby two or more persons establish a family”. Westermarck in ‘History of Human marriage’ defines marriage as the more or less durable connection between male and female lasting beyond the mere act of propagation till after the birth of offspring. Horton and Hunt defines ”marriage is the approved social pattern whereby two or more persons establish a family Marriage is deemed essential for virtually everyone in India. Marriage is deemed essential for virtually everyone in India. For the individual, marriage is the great watershed in life, marking the transition to adulthood. Generally, this transition, like everything else in India, depends little upon individual volition but instead occurs as a result of the efforts of many people.(chekki1996). In India, it is a special bond shared between two souls, who tie the wedding knot after promising to be companions for a life time. It is physical, mental and spiritual unison of two souls. Social conservatives tend to define the family in terms of structure with each family member filling a certain role (like father, mother, or child). After the bride and groom are united in sacred rites attented by colourful ceremony, the new bride may be carried away to her in-laws’s home.