Most of the people in countries like India still believe that marriages are settled in heaven. Though it is very funny in itself and one can ask who settles. Bur here too have an answer of the same spirit that God settles the marriages. If this important social task is decided by the God and he is the power who selects the couple then why so many marriages do not succeed and end in separation after a few months or years despite being solemnized with all religious rituals as per the instructions and guidance of ‘Pandit’ji. Whatever may be the reason but failure of any kind raises questions over the selection of couples. Secondly there are marriages which have been solemnized without any religious rituals are an example of successful marriage. These are the reasons that the faith of people in the old saying that marriages are settled in heaven is disappearing rapidly. However there are many people who still have faith in that old saying, even after the unsuccessful marriage of their own or of any close relative. With the onset of the twentieth century the concept and definition of marriage is being redefined, and the mindset of people in majority of the countries except the countries of Indian subcontinent and gulf countries is now under transformation in this regard. The system of child marriage in India which was being followed since centuries was declared illegal long ago during the rule of British but however till the mid of twentieth century many girls and boys were married before they reach the age of twenty years. On the other hand, the age to be married in the western countries along with the developed countries like Japan and Korea increased from late twenties to late thirties. During this era of transformation with regard to marriage the concept of one or two children in many countries no children developed on its own. Only in China one child rule was enforced while in western countries it was self accepted by the couples. As the marriage failure rate increased with the massive urbanization, industrialization and further corporatization and consumerism, new concept of two persons of different sex living together without marriage emerged from within the society itself. That was called a live-in relationship. This system in the beginning came under heavy criticism, particularly from the religious leaders and organizations but soon young men and women both started accepting this system and started living in relationships. Gradually this was adopted across the world despite the criticism of religious bodies. Soon it got legal protection and was declared legal by the judiciary. Why this system emerged and why this is being adopted by the youth of almost all the countries is a big question to be debated? Now there is no opposition to the ‘Live in relationship system’, rather many people including the elders have given their consent silently.
