The definition of marriage varies around the world–not only between cultures and between religions but also throughout the history of any given culture and religion, evolving to both expand and constrict in who and what is encompassed, but typically it is principally an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually sexual, are acknowledged or sanctioned. In some cultures, marriage is recommended or considered to be compulsory pursuing any sexual activity. When defined broadly, marriage is considered universal.
Individuals may marry for several reasons, including legal, social, libidinal, emotional, financial, spiritual, and religious purposes. Whom they marry may be influenced by socially determined rules of incest, perspective marriage rules, parental choice and individual desire. While the perception of right time to get married is highly dependent on the age of an individual, the level of independence has also highly mattered to the people of the modern generation. Because, gone are the days when people thought they had to get married for sex or even continue their generation; at least in western societies.
As slowly people starting picking up their regular hustle life with the end of delightful Tihar when the cool breeze taps the face along with the ray of sunshine that falls upon, this is the time of Mangsir, the month when marriages happen. For Nepali people, sometimes things turn even harder to which wedding or wedding reception to attend, or keep attending numerous wedding functions the whole month.
But lately, this marriage thing has been doing rounds in my head. As the season has slowly got on everyone’s nerves, Terai is no exception. I wondered how many young girls are being forced into marriage in the name of culture and social norm.
Many of us might not be aware that child marriage still holds massively in Nepal. Nepal lies after India and Bangladesh with 37% of girls being married before the age of 18. (Source: girls not brides) while the age for both boys and girls is 20 and there is no provision of consent from parents in the latest amendment.
I am not very well aware of the hilly areas of Nepal but in Dhanusha, one of the districts in the southern belt of Nepal is very highly affected. Often poverty has been taken the answer to the causes of child marriage, analysis of how many generations are pushed towards another level of poverty is very serious one. Girls at an early age of 10 get married before their puberty too. Many of these stories go untold and unnoticed.
Once we came to hear about a girl studying at Grade 7 at the very rural part of the district was about to get married to a guy who was working abroad. We succeeded to report the case and the function couldn’t happen, but after a few days, the family set up the marriage in a different place and finally sent the poor girl off to her husband’s place. The law of the constitution of Nepal at that time read as someone was indulged or had forced to indulge underage child into marriage is liable for a punishment and in that case the attendees of the function were also bound a to certain level of punishment. But nothing worked and the case got dismissed even when locals who went against of the marriage demanded punishment to them. So, this draws the lesson that even the inherent capacity of some individual cannot stop from such rampant happening. It is equally essential for everyone to come forward to end this heinous act and someone with the legal power has to act officially.
Imagine the consequences. These young girls are obviously going to be dropped out from the school; apart they are equally prone to various forms of health problems basically on sex and reproduction and to various forms of violence too. It’s because school is the only place where the children get empowered and when these young boys and girls are abandoned from going to schools, they are unable to get the basic knowledge that could at least help them take sovereign over their bodies and lead their households properly.
Of the 18 Sustainable Development Goals proposed to be achieved by 2030, SDG 5 states Gender Equality and SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities This significant agenda is to be reached in every nook and corner of the world; not only parents and religious leaders where they are regarded to have played important role but to the young population to counter various obstacles and for them who choose to marry on their will. Engaging men and women to drop down their views on a related subject and offering life skill sessions to children can help end child marriage and empower a just society where people, irrespective of the ethnic group, sexual orientation or disabilities can lead their lives peacefully.
Vivek Gurung
