Cohabitation means
an arrangement where people who are not married, maybe couples, live together.
The relationship, maybe on a long-term or permanent basis, is often involved in
romantic or intimate relations. In other words, it says ‘live-in’ relationship.
The term is most
frequently applied to those couples who are not married.
The live-inrelationship concept is legalized in some other countries but in India, the
Supreme Court has said that a live-in relationship without tying the knot is
not a criminal offence or illegal. Minor cannot be part of that.
As a layman, a
live-in relationship appears to be stress-free and without obligations and as
superficially seen, there are various complexities, responsibilities and legal
liabilities. Attempts have been made to bring it within the jurisdiction
of various laws. It is no longer a crime in India, and the Supreme Court has
issued multiple guidelines on child support, property, and legal status in
various circumstances.
Since the Vedic
era, marriage has been seen as a sacred tie in Indian culture. The concept of
marriage has progressed over time. The concept of marriage and partnership has
progressed in tandem with the advancement of society and human
psychology. Regarding the concept of cohabitation, maybe the current
generation is more generous and liberal.
Marriage as a
metaphor has developed over time. Marriage and relationships have evolved in
lockstep with the advancement of civilization and human psychology. It is
also observed that the sanctity of the holiness behind the idea of marriage has
also weakened in the younger generation.
A live-in
relationship is still not socially accepted in India, unlike in many other
countries. As per a survey conducted, in Indian societies, 80 % of
millennials still consider live-in relationships a taboo in society.
Problems and
difficulties in a live-in relationship Even though the live-in
relationship has been legalised and several courts have ruled in favour of it,
there are still numerous concerns that need to be addressed. The following are
some of the most difficult grey zones that still need to be resolved amicably:
Moral and societal acceptance:
Despite the fact
that live-in relationships are now legal, they are nevertheless frowned upon in
Indian society and are seen as morally and ethically unacceptable. Because
Indian society is sceptical about live-in relationships, couples frequently
encounter multiple issues such as rejection from family, difficulty in
obtaining a home for rent, social rejection, hostility at work, and so on.
Indian society is far from accepting the notion that two adults can live
together as a couple without marriage as in Indian culture, marriage was a
religious ceremony with
sanctity.
Governmental
documents
In India, there is
still no category for a live-in relationship on any official paperwork. The
couple is encountering issues with joint accounts, nominee names, insurance,
visas, and other issues. Also, a married couple is mandatorily required by law
to register their marriage and they get a certificate of marriage registration,
there is no such official status granted to live-in couples.
Cultural issues
India's changed
culture and religion are notable. Globalization exceptionally affects human
associations in our general public. Until now prevailing family bonds and
values are going through fast changes. Each religion has its own perspective on
a live-in relationship. Against religion, marriage is as yet an argumentative
issue, with just the Special Marriage Act of 1955 permitting it. The idea of a
live-in association is a stage forward, and it isn't acknowledged by Hinduism
or Islam, but it is acknowledged by Christianity. In India, individuals'
mentalities are impacted by their convictions, customs, uses, and culture
(Avantika Sarkar 2015).
Thus, instead of
any standard, acknowledgement of new standards depends on the unmistakable
quality of their viewpoint. The significance of tending to the intricacies of
strict live-in connections, which is as yet a sensitive issue, should be
accentuated.
LGBT Couple
By and large,
society is uninterested in aiding the LGBT people group and won't acknowledge
their association. Indeed, even in regulations and decisions relating to
live-in connections, there is no arrangement or conversation for LGBT couples.
Although it is true
that cohabitation in the shape of a live-in relationship is neither wrong nor
illegal, there is no specific law in India that governs this kind of
relationship. However, courts are always cautious, when making decisions in
cases, where marriage and a live-in partnership are in conflict. For
traditional Indian societal structures, live-in relationships have been seen as
a challenge. Understanding the reasons for choosing a live-in partnership over
marriage always causes confusion. The couples might want to do this in order to
gauge their compatibility before making a lifetime commitment.
The ‘Pulse of the
Nation’ is a survey that was conducted in May 2018 by Inshorts’ poll to get the
opinions of 1.4 lakh people in India, who live in both urban and rural areas,
with 80% of them being between the ages of 18 and 35. In the survey conducted by
the ‘Inshort’ in traditional Indian society, live-in relationships are still
frowned upon by more than 80% of the population.
Most of the latest
surveys have been focusing on what Indian youth thought about such sensitive
topics. In this regard, Inshorts argued that “Pulse of the Nation has been a
sincere effort over the years to bring to light the views of mainly urban
Indians, who are tech-savvy on
such important
issues of our nation”.
Looking at the
survey and data collected by a few organizations, it is evident that the
live-in relationship has become an actual practice in Indian society. The
layman’s thinking is that the ‘Live-in Relationship’ is an easy walk-in and
easy walk-out relationship.
It is always a
debated question why people chose ‘Live-in Relationship’ instead of ‘Marriage’.
On the question that “marriage’ comes with financial responsibilities that is
why people opt for
‘Live-in
Relationship’
“A live-in relationship is an arrangement where two unmarried people live together on a long-term basis in an emotionally or intimate relationship”. Live-in relationships have seen a remarkable rise in Indian society in the past decade. This rise can be attributed to the changing perception of youth towards live-in relationships, and the need to test compatibility before marriage or to establish financial security before marriage. This paper aims to study the current attitude of Indian youth towards heterosexual cohabitation, popularly known as live-in relationships. This paper has tried to understand whether gender-based differences play an important role in the formation of attitudes towards live-in relationships, whether live-in relationships have become a presumption for marriage and if it has taken precedence over the institution of marriage. I constructed a questionnaire to assess the current attitude of youth towards live-in relationships and used the survey method to collect data. According to the results, it can be said that gender-based differences play an important role in the formation of attitudes towards live-in relationships. Although live-in relationships help in assessing compatibility before marriage, it has not become a presumption for marriage, so it would be incorrect to say that live-in relationships have become a testing ground for marriage. The results also indicate that live-in relationships have not taken precedence over marriage.
India is gradually
opening its doors to Western cultures and lifestyles. Nowadays not everyone
wants to be entangled in the responsibilities of marriage, and as a result,
people are exploring alternatives to marriage. In recent times, live-in
relationships have emerged as substitutes for marriage as they avoid the
obligation of a traditional marriage. A live-in relationship is an arrangement
where an unmarried couple lives together for a long time which resembles a
marriage. In other words, it is cohabitation. “Cohabitation is defined as an
intimate union between two unmarried partners who share the same living quarter
for a sustained period”. The rise in cohabitation represents one of the most
significant changes in union formation patterns in India. “The increase in
cohabitation has occurred alongside other major demographic shifts, including
rising levels of divorce, delay in marriage and childbearing”.
The number of
people cohabiting together is increasing remarkably in the metro cities. This
change is evident from the various court verdicts which provide legal
recognition to these couples. In a society where relationships between
unmarried males and females are not easily acceptable, the Indian Evidence Act
states that long cohabitation is a presumption of marriage.
Despite such
progressive judgments, there is a polarization in our society regarding the
legitimacy of live-in relationships. In our society, marriage continues to be a
sacred concept.
Due to the social
importance of marriage, unmarried couples often lack the support of their
families. Live-in relationships directly affect the status of the wife,
children, and family. In a collectivist country like India, where non-marital
cohabitation is not popularly accepted, opting for a live-in relationship may
lead to the disintegration of familial ties in a young person’s family.
This may lead to a
decrease in life satisfaction and parent-child conflict may reduce the
well-being of parents and adult children. In societies where marriage is
recognized as the only moral way of family formation and live-in relationships
are considered prohibited, the non-marital cohabiting couple is most probably
despised for not following the traditional norms. However, the disparity
between the social expectations of parents and the relationship choices of
young adults does not automatically affect family attachment. In other words,
the choice of being in a live-in relationship may not itself result in a
decreased number of meetings or a lack of family support, even though it may
yield some hesitation in relationships. Being in a non-marital cohabitation may
adversely affect the amount of happiness and satisfaction which young couples
derive from their relationship with their parents and may harm their quality of
life.
According to
researchers, a couple in a live-in relationship is especially vulnerable as the
partners are under pressure to make the relationship work and also cope with an
unkind society and parental disapproval. Separation from one’s family, coupled
with the insecurity of the relationship, can harm a person’s psyche.
“Placing live-in
relationships into a single theoretical construct is difficult. Instead,
cohabitation is comprised of multiple institutions, serving different purposes
and taking on different meanings for different couples” [Knab & McLahanan,
2006, as cited in Saini, 2018].
Motives for
cohabiting may be emotional, economic, or pragmatic reasons, and the levels of
commitment and the expectations regarding permanence have been found to differ
among couples [Carmichael & Mason, 1998, as cited in Saini, 2018].
Do gender-based
differences exist between males and females towards live-in relationships in
India?
The objectives are:
- To explore whether live-in relationships have become a presumption for marriage.
- To understand the present social status of live-in relationships in India.
- To explore whether live-in relationships have taken precedence over the concept of marriage.
Case Study Analysis
- It has been observed by the above-conducted survey that the ‘Live-in relationship’ is a practice of choice between two adult and heterosexual persons. It has also been observed that the ‘Live-in couples’ have intended to test their compatibilities.
- It is observed carefully after studying the survey that a maximum of the couples have been opting for ‘Live-in Relationship’ as a precursor to marriage. However, their ultimate goal is to get married and to get settled down.
- It has been noted that people are unable to get married because of a variety of factors, including social, family, economic, religious, and differences in caste, so they are choosing ‘Live-in Relationship’.
- The most common reason for adopting ‘Live-in Relationship’ is the changing nature of ‘Metropolitan Cities’, and therefore it is popular mostly among the young generation.
- It has been observed that qualified, educated, financially independent, and independent individuals tend to opt for ‘Live-in Relationship’.
- It is also observed that most of the couples stay in urban areas rather than remote rural areas.
- Younger generations are more engaged in the corporate world than traditional practices.
- They now have the option of living independently rather than choosing a conventional marriage. People from this generation favour live-in relationships where easy entry and easy exit are possible.
- It is also observed that due to corporate and MNC culture young generation starts moulding themselves as an independent class. They get inspired by corporate culture to hear from the heart rather than traditional thought. In such cases, they always prefer individual satisfaction rather than social custom. And therefore, choose for ‘Live-in Relationship’.
- It has also been observed that many people find inspiration in Western society and lifestyle. Many people are inspired to date and settle down by observing and emulating as it happens in Western society.
- It has been noted that the internet is crucial in bringing together people from all over the globe. Social media platforms allow the younger population to connect and establish relationships quickly. Finding information and making connections with various individuals is simple. Due to various emotional and social problems, they do not want to end their relationship after it has begun. They quickly choose a live-in relationship at that moment.
- Additionally, it has been found that information, communication, and technology (ICT) strongly encourage people to interact and live together. The needy person can share their profile, preference, condition, etc. for a heterosexual companion on a variety of online platforms. On this basis, a person can find a companion with ease and fulfil their desires without encountering difficulties. From adult to elderly groups, there are many websites that can link to one another, which can provide a platform for opting for ‘Live in Relationship’.
- It has also been noted that the high expense of living in metropolitan areas encourages many couples to live together. For the average and low-earner group, it is challenging to maintain a decent lifestyle due to price increases and other factors. The idea of cost-sharing emerges as a way to cut costs, and many individuals form relationships with partners in order to share expenses in order to survive.
Sum-up
The views of young people on living in relationships in India
have been evolving in the context of rapid technological development and
increasing globalisation. Despite India’s deeply entrenched traditional values,
especially the sanctity of marriage, the younger generation is more open to new
models of relationships, such as live-in relationships This shift reflects
broader social changes and perspectives which differ from marriage and
cohabitation.
Legal and Social Contexts
In India, the Supreme Court has held that live-in relationships
are not illegal, even if they involve consenting adults. But public recognition
follows after legal recognition. Resident couples often face significant
challenges, including social exclusion, family rejection, and practical
challenges with documentation and legal rights
Cultural and social challenges
Moral and Social Recognition: Despite its legal recognition,
intimacy is still frowned upon in many areas of Indian society. Couples in
residential programs often face rejection from families, difficulties in
finding housing, and hostility in the workplace.
Official Documents
There is no official documentation of live-in relationships in
official documents, which can cause problems in areas such as joint accounts,
insurance and visas
Cultural context
Religions in India view lived relationships through different
lenses. While Christianity can be very receptive, Hinduism and Islam generally
do not recognize such relationships. These cultures complicate the social
acceptance of lived relationships.
LGBT couples
The social and legal system in India still struggles to
recognize and support LGBT couples in live-in relationships. Although Section
377 of the Indian Penal Code has been repealed, same-sex couples face
significant legal and social hurdles.
Conclusion
The perception of live-in relationships among Indian youth reflects a complex interplay of tradition, modernity, and individual aspirations. While societal acceptance remains a significant hurdle, legal recognition and changing attitudes indicate a gradual shift. The preference for live-in relationships over traditional marriage is influenced by practical considerations, cultural exposure, and the desire for compatibility testing. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing the legal, social, and cultural challenges associated with live-in relationships in India.
