http://203.99.65.121/section/1501119/story.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10427911
In the article by a reporter of Reuters called Jonathan Allen, which has explored the reactions to the residents of Jodhpur to Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar’s wedding, has uncovered some rather harsh, and at times bordering on the inaccurate faucets of Indian society. However, I read a rather strange reply on the CNN IBN Site in their blog section, where the writer in her own myopic vision, creates an western stereotype and publishes it. At times you wonder why does the one working with a known form of journalism resort to such a low form of retort. Read it here.
Jonathan Allen’s article does give background to the reactions expressed during the interviewing of residents of Jodhpur. Excerpt “Indian women are commonly married off in their teens to a man of their parents’ choosing, and are a cause of despair if they are still a spinster at 30.“
This was a reaction as Liz is 41. Yes, many a times, in our society we do wonder why a person has been unmarried for so long. Even though I do not subscribe to the fact that arranged marriages are the way forward, I have to believe that tradition has played a significant role in the shaping our culture. I can also assume that this tradition, of getting a bride married early can be traced back to a lot of cultures. In india, there might have been the creation of a formal process, which we follow today, but the term arranged can also be substituted by “Engineered”.
In an agrarian society, there opportunity to meet and mingle with other communities had been considerably restricted. With village gatherings and other weddings, families come together. This could have been the platform, where parents introduced their children to each other, and the courtship started. However, this could have then evolved, to the current day tradition.
As a society, we do favor the male child, but as a developing economy, I think we really must grow more tolerant to criticism and help educate the western mindset to indian ethos and values. Engaging in mud slinging would not help in solving the primary problem of education.
It just gets readers more annoyed, and “patriotic” to the wrong things.
Look at bollywood. is that India?