GOI Marriage Reformers

The common understanding of “Marriage” is that it’s a social union between two persons (so far man and woman in India). This is a union recognised by society and law. Marriage entails living a life together, procreation and economic continuity and progress. There are legal aspects that are determined by a marriage such as descendants, inheritance, divorce etc. In his I-Day speech in 2020, PM Narendra Modi talked about marriage age with the statement: "This government is constantly concerned about the health of daughters and sisters. To save the daughters from malnutrition, it is necessary that they're married at the right age."

Consequent to Modi’s declaration a Task Force (TF) was set up headed by Jaya Jaitly to decide the “right age” for marriage. When the PM had already decided the govt planned to raise the marriage for women from 18 to 21 there was no need for a bogus Task Force which was meant to echo his views and carry out his agenda. I have read reports on Jaya Jaitly’s comments on the Task Force’s work and findings but nowhere does it define what the “right age” is. I have also not read why 21 becomes the “right age” instead of 18.

There is some logic in the argument that very young marriages tend to fail as the partners may lack the maturity for a responsible married life. There’s no better example than Modi’s marriage itself. However, Indian marriages have lasted better than Western marriages as marriage is also seen as integration of families rather than just two individuals. Modi’s logic of saving girls from malnutrition is also empty blabber. There is no reason to believe girls will not suffer malnutrition after 21. The only argument for fixing an age for marriage can be biological and mental maturity. That would have to be backed by scientific and psychological evidence but I doubt the TF relied on any such evidence. But the TF claims “Gender Parity” as the main reason for raising the age to 21:

The TF claims to have taken feedback from 16 universities on raising the girl’s age for marriage. Therefore, I don’t think there is any “scientific investment” by the TF for increasing the age. Let me state clearly, I do not have any objection to raising the age. In fact, most modern-day marriages of educated persons happen around age 25-28. So, the mere law doesn’t make much of a difference to anyone EXCEPT those who still practice child-marriage. Most of the child marriages happen among Muslims and in Hindus among the SC/ST and OBC/Dalit groups. The question, therefore, is not a law but education that is most required to change marriage patterns. Child marriages have steadily come down in India over decades and is now around 27% and most of it happens in the Tribal, Dalit and Muslim communities:

The argument of “gender parity” for raising the girl’s age to 21 is nothing but total nonsense. Girls are legally allowed to be employed at age 14 (just like boys), except for certain work of hazardous nature. Women get rebates in Income Tax so gender parity as an argument is foolish. In the Railways, male senior citizens have to be age 60 but women are treated as senior citizens at age 45. So, where the hell does gender parity go in all these situations? Mind you, I am in favour of all these benefits to women but the argument of “Gender Parity” cannot be selectively used for marriage. Why not lower the age of males to marry at 18? That too would bring gender parity for argument’s sake.

Age is not the biggest problem in Indian marriages. It is the interpretation of laws, personal laws, social situations that defeats the purpose of any uniform law. Although there is a Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, courts have frequently ruled that child marriages are not automatically void. That a partner should seek to void the marriage on reaching age 18 and nor is child marriage treated as a serious offence:

The matter becomes even more complex when Muslims refuse to accept Indian laws on marriage but prefer to stick to their Sharia or Personal Laws. Many courts have repeatedly ruled in favour of Muslim marriages at 15 and legitimized such marriages. So, there is no reason to believe that a new law will change anything. Although the law is yet to be made and come into force, one has to wait and see if the law makes it mandatory for all and courts too accept that has the final say on marriage age. Given the objections it is fair to assume there may be some PILs challenging the law and ModiSarkar is on “Withdrawal Symptoms” mode. In cases of Tribal marriages, the courts have refused to administer Hindu Marriage Act but cited Constitutional provisions and have legalized Muslim marriages at age 15:

Last year, Tribal groups in Karnataka demanded that their marriage age be reduced to 16 for girls and 18 for boys. Regardless of any laws, child marriages continue and will continue among many communities. Modi’s idea of saving women from “malnutrition” and hence raising the marriage age is illogical. Equally illogical is the TF argument of “gender parity” because gender disparity is now deep-rooted in politics and laws. Ask political parties to give equal number of tickets to men and women for elections they will turn a deaf ear. In other words, what is good for you to practice is evil for political parties to practice.

Another dumb argument put forth by the TF and the usual coolies of Modi and BJP is that raising the girl’s age to 21 will enable her to continue studies and seek a professional career. How stupid can they get? Most education drop-out happens in schools much before the age of 16 due to multiple reasons – lack of academic interest, exam failure, economic condition of the family needing the youngster to work or no further opportunities in the area. There is absolutely no logic in assuming that all women get married when they get to 18. That child marriage is reducing but continues in some communities is a SPECIFIC problem. Instead of addressing the specific problem the GOI wants to treat marriage age as a “pandemic” affecting all communities. This is the fallacy that embellishes the proposed new law.

To a majority of Indians, the new law will not make any difference as most girls today are not getting married at 18. Some marriages also become inevitable due to pregnancy. If a girl gets pregnant at 16 or 17, it makes sense for the biological father to marry her and accept responsibility. Sex with minors is a crime in India but folks don’t read the law to get into a relationship or have sex. Crimes do happen and, often, out of mutual consent in a young relationship.

The biggest problem with the proposed law is not the age itself. It is that it lacks any scientific or psychological evidence or backup to determine what is a “right age” to get married. The Task Force is not entirely a scientific body nor does it rely on scientific research to establish its findings. All it does to execute Modi’s already made public declaration and back it by some feedback and opinions. No one can really determine what is a “right age” for marriage. Only data of failed and successful marriages can establish a pattern.

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Coffins In The Skies

Aircraft crashes happen for multiple reasons – pilot error, ATC error, manufacturing/mechanical failure, bad weather and sabotage. Of these, pilot error (or human error) is the single biggest cause accounting for 80% of air crashes. Human error can happen in the air by pilots, by the ATC and also by the maintenance personnel. On December 8, the most tragic military chopper crash happened at Coonoor in Tamil Nadu killing 12 Jawans and the wife of CDS Bipin Rawat. Group Captain Varun Singh is the sole survivor and is currently critical after being shifted to a Bangalore hospital.

CDS Bipin Rawat was India’s first Chief of Defence Staff and is reported to have initiated significant advances in the strategies of defence and offence by an integrated approach by all three arms of our Defence. In recent times, many responses to terror attacks by Pakistan and the handling of Kashmir post-370 are credited to him. He is the highest Defence Officer killed in an accident. We are yet to learn much about this incident and probably never will. India has a poor record of air crash investigations and public reporting. Gen Rawat’s wife Madhulika was also killed in the crash. Their two daughters suffered a deadly blow, losing both parents at the same time. The other Jawans who lost their lives, some in their prime youth are listed below:

India is a country with the greatest number of internal enemies, traitors and hate-mongers. These treacherous groups come from Commies, Kashmiri Separatists, politics, foreign-driven NGOs, some Sikhs (particularly Khalistanis), Muslim groups sympathizing with Pakistan and even ex-Servicemen. Their contempt for our Army and its officers is a chronic disease that has been left unattended. There are many who rejoiced over the death of Gen Rawat and others. Some were openly rejoicing and some did so with veiled references. This ex-Serviceman is a sample of the worst lot of the treacherous lot in India:

Over the last 2 years, the country has been besieged with riots, protests, agitations, blockades for different reasons – from 370 to CAA to farm laws. PM Narendra Modi has failed miserably in tackling these rioters. The farm laws were finally withdrawn along with all criminal cases against the protesters. Whatever good Modi and his govt started out doing in the first term has been destroyed by inaction, incompetence and a sense of false glory.

Modi likes to holiday with the Army. Like Raja Babu, he likes to dress up in Army fatigues, have meals with the Jawans and ride Tanks – all for photo ops and polishing his own image with the popularity of Jawans in India. However, Modi has failed miserably in attending to the frequent air crashes of military aircraft. Some of these crashes have caused deaths. These are the 7 most deadly crashes of military aircraft since 2015 (apart from an airshow accident) leading up to the one on December 8 that killed Gen Rawat:

There have been dozens of crashes through the last few decades. In recent times, India has lost more Jawans in non-combat flights than in a battle. Not in one single case has an investigation report been made public along with action on remedial measures. I am unaware of any report or action plan being discussed in the Parliament either. Typically, whenever a crash happens, whether civilian or military, an inquiry is set up (often headed by some judge) and then nobody hears of it again. The GOI moves on merrily till another crash happens. In the case of the latest crash the aircraft involved is a Russian Mi-17V5 helicopter that is supposed to be a sturdy machine capable of withstanding adversities. It has to be even more shocking that the CDS of the country was on such a flight without an accompanying aircraft. The investigation is being conducted by an Air Marshall and the TN police have also registered an FIR.

Modern aircrafts are marvels of engineering and can withstand a lot of troubles. We have known a passenger plan to land on the Hudson river in January 2009. The chopper flying Gen Rawat was not very old either. As we grow in military might, more aircraft, more airports and civilian flights, India does not have an equivalent of the US NTSB (National Transport Safety Board). The NTSB investigates every civilian air crash in the US and often military air crash with the participation of their military. This body is made of specialist aviation and transport engineer-investigators with years of training and experience. Air crash investigation is a specialized job and cannot be done by ad-hoc inquiry committees anymore. This is the biggest realization that must dawn on Modi and his govt.

Following many natural calamities and mass deaths, India formed the NDRF in 2006. Consequently, the trained and disciplined personnel of the NDRF have attended to many disasters, with timely warnings and the deaths due to natural calamities have reduced. As India grows in aviation an NTSB type organisation must be immediately created for aviation alone. The aviation investigators of the US NTSB know the nuts and bolts of aviation and aircraft disasters. The specialisation becomes all the more important when explosions and fires damage a lot of evidence and investigators have to depend on simulated sequences based on forensic and other evidences. Calling for a CCS meet after such a national disaster as the one involving Gen Rawat & co is necessary. However, posing for Cameraman Raju just to show case his forlorn face is the lipstick Modi indulges in. Why is there a need for this stupid pic to be taken and published in media?

The problem India faces now is having a PM who is too much into style rather than substance. All cases of disasters, riots and agitations are used by him to gain sympathy and votes. The fanatic supporters of Modi are fed a WA-diet of idiotic glorification of his persona each time a disaster happens. Of course, the feeder is none other than Modi himself along with the BJP IT Cell. If there’s a flood, Modi still goes on aerial surveys in this day and age with Cameraman Raju in tow. The BJP and its goons paint all agitators as anti-national, anti-Modi, anti-India not to handle them but to create sympathy for Modi in elections. How Modi sits, how Modi stares, how Modi looks sad, how Modi looks angry, his laser gaze – all such stupid messages are circulated even in a tragedy to glorify him and make him a bigger martyr than the Jawans that we lost. This is the singular biggest tragedy of India under Modi.

This latest air crash and the loss of the highest Defence Officer and others is a National Tragedy and not an incident to glorify Modi’s stare into emptiness. The citizens near the Wellington base in TN lined up spontaneously to bid a tearful farewell to the Jawans. Indians have always held their Jawans in high esteem and awe. This is how we should remember the incident while calling upon the GOI for remedial actions:

Such is the shock over this recent crash that it brought condolences from leaders and diplomats across the world. Conspiracy theories will naturally be spun and sabotage will naturally be suspected. The GOI must investigate all personnel involved in the maintenance of this chopper at the airbase in TN and conclusively exonerate or incriminate anyone involved in its maintenance. There has to be a special focus on fanatics of certain religions in the armed forces too. If there is sabotage, it must be brought to public light. We have too many traitors in the civilian domain, we simply cannot afford even one traitor in the armed forces. Such a comprehensive investigation and establishment of a specialized aviation investigation board is the only way forward.

In Remembrance of the martyrs.

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