The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c7.s7.24

c7.s7.24

The introduction of divorce for reasons usually admitted as sufficient in the west would thus not be in the interest of women themselves. Experience in western countries shows that liberalisation of divorce laws usually leads to a slacker sex morality. In recent years in most of the western countries the rate of divorce has been increasing continuously like the velocity of a falling body, and the present tendency both in Russia and England is to restrict the facilities once granted. There is no doubt that the best interests of society require that the marriage tie should be normally regarded as permanent and indissoluble. This is possible only if the ideal of marriage is very high. Both the husband and the wife have to develop self control and a high sense of responsibility. They have to realise that human nature being what it is, temperamental differences are bound to arise now and then in daily life, and they cannot be got rid off by divorce and a second marriage. Happiness in family life is possible only if the husband and the wife are prepared to make great sacrifices in order to accommodate themselves to each other. Divorce should be the last remedy in very exceptional cases.