“ If love is blind, marriage is an eye-opener”, very aptly said! And marriage then opens up one’s eyes to such an extent that this life-long bond, this utter union of so-called profound love ultimately shatters and terminates in divorce.

Statistics reveal a steep rise in marriages in India ending up in divorce in courts. Seventy per cent of these figures represent young people in the age group of 25 to 35. Amicable separation within the first year of marriage has increased by 30 per cent since 2000 while 85 per cent went in for a divorce within the first five years of marriage.

According to the last census of 2001, divorce rates have gone up sharply over recent years mainly in cities, from 4% in 1980s to 14% in 2001. In Mumbai alone, the percentage shot up by 56 percent between 1991 and 2001. According to Indian Statistical Institute figures, over 8000 divorce petitions were filed in 2001 and the figures have definitely gone up.

Whether it’s an arranged marriage or a love knot, in both the cases this word “love” lives up to its actual meaning only for a short span. After this flavour of lust and fondness vanish, then the other side of the coin turns up. Daily disputes, endless disagreements, incessant squabble, wagging of tongues, sometimes cold wars and sometimes actual physical combats, and consequently a legal piece of paper terminating the so-called sacred institution of marriage. And then also are you happy and content? What about the past memories that constantly keeps impinging on your present, distressing and upsetting you all the more?

Leela Kirloskar, a lawyer turned publisher in her new book, ‘Dealing with divorce made easy, The essential Handbook´ provides you with a hand-full of tips. “You are bound to come across many, many reminders of your marital life. This can be fairly distressing. Don’t hesitate to throw out photographs and letters if they upset you for holding on to your past is not going to help you make a clean break for the future.” The book attempts to explain the process of divorce in India and the legal provisions as simply as possible, the author says.

For a fruitful and a life-long relationship one needs to have a clear understanding of what love actually means. Does it signify passion, lust and romance? Or is love a small term expressing vast distinctive attributes like care, respect, patience, tolerance, devotion and trust? Or is it to keep up a proportionate balance between the two?

If my opinion is to be put up then certainly mutual compatibility and commitment are the key words for a prosperous marriage. And if it still doesnt work out then one must opt for divorce, otherwise “compromises” will become the second name for “marriages”.

Women and the India Army have been like chalk and cheese (with the medical corps being the only entry point) until things changed a decade ago. Finally, the ‘other sex’ began to be accepted in the male-dominated watertight fauji compartments. 

So now, one could see the feminine matching shoulders with their male counterparts in the non-combat arms like engineering, signals, ordnance, education and air traffic control. But it’s not exactly as it seems. So reflect the 5 suicides by lady officers in the last 2 and half years.

Brothers in the army, discourage the sisters from joining the forces because at the end of the day ‘you pay the price of being a woman’ exclaims an anguished army man. Apparently, a colleague of the late Capt Megha Razdan (who strangulated herself on 1 July due to pressures of army life), he goes on to say, ‘She paid the price of being fairly good looking. Women in the army do nothing but PLEASE the senior officers’.

With that scathing remark, I wonder what will happen to the young girls who have always dreamt of serving the nation? Is it fair to them?

Fiery, furious, ferocious king of the jungle is no more the king!! Can’t believe it? Meet Kevin Richardson, the King of the kings!!

Most brutal of all beasts, whose very sight horrifies us, doesn’t terrify him in the least. Cheetahs, leopards and even unpredictable hyenas hold no threats for him. So friendly is his fellowship with these beasts, that mother hyenas even allow him to hold their newborn cubs without pouncing to the rescue.

But lions are his most beloved beings and his most intimate chums. He cuddles and caresses them as little children, and even communicates with them. Lions to him seem to be the substitutes of pet dogs. Not only his unconditional love, but also his dignity and respect towards these animals leaves us dumbfound.

Richardson, 32, who is based in a wildlife conservation area near Johannesburg in South Africa, says, “I don’t use sticks, whips or chains, just patience. It may be dangerous, but this is a passion for me, not a job.”

Imagine a person’s patience over-powering the wrath of the most petrifying beings! Hats off to you Sir!!

via spluch

“Love is a wonderful inconsistency into which the nicest and wisest of men fall every day”, said Charles Dickens. Being in love implies all sorts of instabilities and fluctuations, but the crux of this whole drama of emotions lies in the question: for how long all the lovey-dovey couples find it “wonderful”! The moment the smooth sailing of love is struck by an unfortunate storm, the entire sugary love-story turns sour. And the onus of the tragedy lies mainly with the female species.

Journalist and Story Writer Kamala Sarup, specializing in in-depth reporting and writing on Peace, Anti War, Women, Terrorism, Democracy, and Development came up with such a tragic story. Kumari, daughter of wealthy village leader, lovely, beautiful and attractive young girl, suffered this kind of misfortune. From living in comfortable luxurious home to accommodating herself in rented room, from being a Barbie doll playing with flowers to working as a laborer…what not she did for her love…

But destiny had something else in store for her. She fell from the roof and all her charming beauty collapsed along. This unbelievable incident brought eclipse in her life.
Bahadur, her husband indulged in all sorts of whims and fancies of the youth to attain his love. But now after fifteen years he has no place for her, neither in his heart nor in his home. He is happy with his step-wife.

Kumari, who was once promised by Bahadur to be kept as a queen, is now treated as a beggar; who once eloped from her home is again rendered homeless. Basundhara a neighbor and aunt in relation remarked in fury, “Men are too selfish. They love the women until they are young to satisfy them”.

If even a fifteen years relationship can terminate so easily, then where should one search for the meaning of commitment? If accidental physical distortions disrupts love, should one conclude that love is only physical? If even the lover-husbands cant be trusted, is it just for the fair sex to sacrifice their homes, families, kiths and kins for the sake of love? If the ultimate consequences of love are so disastrous, should the females fall in love?

via mediaforfreedom