What do you think of love marriages?' one character asks another, in Manju Kapur's Home. 'They are very bad,' comes the reply. 'Require too much adjustment.'
Chill there, it is NOT the author's personal opinion but what ONE OF THE CHARACTERS says in her book to another. I am really shocked to read the outright sexist and prejudiced views against women, Brahmins, intercaste and inter-religious marriages. If this is what my educated, web-surfing countrymen think, then God help this country! No wonder we have dejected lovers who hurl acid at their former girlfriends or even girls that reject their advances..
As for love marriages, I personally had a love marriage with a wonderful, caring, intelligent man from another caste who is also educated and works in the same profession as I do. Here are some of the common myths:
Love marriage is all about lust but arranged marriages are all about commitment - Hey, why do people look at photos of prospective grooms/brides and why do parents place matrimonial advertisements such as "fair, homely, beautiful" ? Face it, physical attraction and intimacy are part of any marriage, whether love or arranged.
