Thread by @shrikanth_krish

Vasishta to Janaka in the Ramayana TV serial just before the Rama-Sita vivAha -

"mahArAj - vivAh ek vyaktigat kArya nahin. Ek sAmAjik sanskAr hai"

Honest question -

Do you still heartily agree with this in 2020?

The way I see it -

the reason marriage is a social concern and a sAmAjik sanskAr is because it produces kids.

Society takes an interest in unions which produce kids

As the centrality of kids reduces, and marriage becomes more about romance than raising kids, then the social interest in the institution diminishes

The increasing legitimacy of gay marriage (in the affluent parts of the world) is linked to this

Kids are not central anymore

Because of this marriage has taken a beating as a social institution, as a rite of passage.

The rise of social security has meant -

Kids don't have to take care of parents

Govt can

This reduces incentive for strong familial bonds. Makes marriage a romantic liaison

As a society we have to think hard about this

How do we retain the centrality of marriage as a religious institution in a secular world that -

Focuses on the present
Enlarges the role of the state
Downplays the importance of kids
Overplays the importance of romance