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Science has proven that consanguineous marriages could lead to severe congenital anomalies in the forthcoming child born to them.
Swati was a Keralite being born and brought up in Uttar Pradesh. In school and college, she would be mesmerized by the bonding her friends had with their cousins, both male and female. She was the only child so yearned for a brother. Uttar Pradesh has this culture of not only seeing cousins as their siblings but even distant acquaintances or even rakhi brothers were like their own. Swati loved this culture as she was an affectionate and loving soul.
“Tringggggg”…Her phone was ringing. It was her maternal uncle’s son on the other end.
“Hey, Unni!” She was chirpy.
Unni asked her intrusively, “Where are you? Who are you with? And who is this new Rajesh on your friend’s list?
Swati never liked his bossy behaviour. Who had given him the authority to question her decisions in her life?
“Amma!! Why is Unni Chetan so bothered about me?”
“Oh, dear!! You are his future bride…. his “mora ponnu” was her mom’s reply which she had been hearing since childhood, much to her chagrin!
Annoyed, she said in a firm voice, “Who decided this? Don’t you want to know whom I want to marry? Don’t I have my likes and dislikes? And…AM I AN OBJECT THAT HE HAS OWNERSHIP OF??
Consanguineous Marriages
The above is just one simple example of a norm in the South. A cousin with whom you should be growing, fighting loving and living as a sibling is your future spouse and this wrong feeling is engrained into you the day you are born. If there is more than one cousin, then there is an ugly fight for “their girl”. Not only cousins but there are also parts of Tamil Nadu where a girl could marry her mama! Ridiculous!!
Science has proven that consanguineous marriages i.e., marriages between the same family members could lead to severe congenital anomalies in the forthcoming child born to them. Also, children need to grow in an atmosphere of innocent, pure love amongst themselves rather than being exposed to a “love” which is inappropriate at this age.
Healthy relationships need to sprout between children in their formative years and for this, parents need to step in and encourage a sibling bond between cousins. Such practices are condemnable and unhealthy and should be done away with.
Image Credits: Baljith Johal on Pexels
Lalita Vaitheeswaran is a gynecologist having a passion for writing in both Hindi and English. She has authored 6 books of poetry, both in Hindi and English, and a book of short stories in English, read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Menopause is a reality in women's lives, so Indian workplaces need to gear up and address women's menopausal needs.
Picture this: A seasoned executive at the peak of her career suddenly grapples with hot flashes and sleep disturbances during important meetings. She also battles mood swings and cognitive changes, affecting her productivity and confidence. Eventually, she resigns from her job.
Fiction? Not really. The scenario above is a reality many women face as they navigate menopause while meeting their work responsibilities.
Menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating. This natural condition marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. The transition brings unique physical, emotional, and psychological changes for women.
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