India has a dynamic and complex family institution but it is fast undergoing various socio-economic changes. Where once divorce was anathema to most Indians, now an increasing number of divorce cases can be seen on the rise. Inter-generational conflicts, domestic violence, social problems of aged parents, dowry system, incompatibility, economic independence of women are some of the reasons being cited behind the increasing divorce and separation rates.
For Indians, marriage has long been considered sacrosanct and is seen as a permanent, lifelong and scared union which only gets broken at the time of a spouses demise. Divorce was a fairly rare phenomenon in Indian society but increasing education levels and awareness and exposure particularly amongst women has brought about social changes and its resultant ramifications include divorce.
Even in cases of divorce in Indian society, things have undergone tremendous transformation. Earlier, a divorced person carried a stigma around him or her and divorce matrimonial was simply unheard of. No one wanted to get hitched on to a divorcee particularly a female divorcee although males too were not totally exempted from the stigma. But, with increasing numbers of divorces, the legitimacy accorded to it by society is also growing.