Rapes: An Unpalatable View
More than half a century ago when I was in the school, some
of my class mates who either lived in nearby
villages or because of distance, in a hostel, were married. The
trademark was a shiny wrist watch. Sociologists agree that one of the reasons
for child marriage in India
is the lack of safety in the villages for young unmarried maidens, especially
during the time of morning outings. Biologists say that man’s libido is at its
peak at 18. In many gang rapes, the most violent acts have often been committed
by a juvenile.
So is the Sharda Act the real villain? Do we have to do a
rethink on the age of marriage which has now been increased?
In India
the minimum legal age at marriage is 18(F)/21(M). Age of consent is 18. Statutory
Rape is 15. The bill to reduce the age of consent to 16 has been vigorously
opposed. Compared to India ,
the legal minimum age for marriage in Indonesia
is 16/19, Iran 13/15, South Africa 12/14 and Turkey 14/15. For European countries, France
15/18, Germany 14/18, Russia 16/18, Spain 14. In the various states of
US age of consent is 14 to 18 and age at marriage 16 to 18 years. In Australia the
age of consent is 16, and age at marriage 18, although it can be reduced to 16
with one parent’s approval and a court order. In Britain age of consent is 16. No
minimum age has been prescribed for marriage (female), and married couple
allowed to have sex so long as female has reached puberty.
The average age of marriage in India
and Pakistan
where marriages are generally arranged by parents it 17 years, many brides are
married as early as 15. My mother was married at 16, and so was my uncle’s daughter.
Marriage for girls above 20 was looked at suspicion or was the result of loss
of breadwinner in the family.
In spite of the marriage age fixed at 18/21 in India , how many
parents or couples with ‘illegal’ marriages been actually prosecuted. News
comes of mass marriages of one community or the other, sometimes even
presided over by political dignitaries,
with charges of child marriages.
Looking to world figures, I think India has been a little hasty in
pegging the age at marriage at 18/21. When The age of majority is 18, and
voting age 16, are we justified in keeping marriage age to be 18/21.
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