Live In Relationship: Are we ready for it?

Live in relationships in India have been for many years, only the focus has shifted to them recently. With the urban India becoming more open minded and the obvious western influence and students and young professionals moving out of their homes at early age, live in relationships have become even more prevalent. But is it really a good idea?

Well, there are many positives for sure. There are no complications compared to the kinds you have in a marriage, as it is not a marriage. You can be in the relationship for as long as you want, and this way you keep it fresh and happy. The bondage of being their with each other for the rest of your life might get heavy on your heart and the slightest provocation or disturbance can bring in that fear. This fear is not there in live in relationships. Less commitments, more comfort, more understanding..!!


 The primary reasons behind cohabitation between unmarried couples in India, is due to following reasons:
●     Young couples in love try it to know each other better.
●     Many try it to test their compatibility as a couple.
●     College students or young professionals also cohabit to limit their expenses (for example, house rent), this one is very rare.

The downside is that they are still not socially acceptable in most parts of India. You will be frowned upon in many social situations and that might take the toll, eventually. India is still not one of the most friendly places for singles and unmarried people, especially for women. Although in last few years, its same for both, men and women. And if you are living with a person of opposite sex outside of marriage, things are even more difficult.

In the Indian society which more often than not misinterprets its traditions and customs, there are several disadvantages of live in relationships such as:
●     It can be mistaken for a high tech adultery
●     Because of lesser commitment, women in such relationships are often vulnerable to future sufferings. Even men too.
●     A child resulting from such relationship may be subject to social stigma – especially if the father refuses to officially marry the mother.
●     There are no legal provision for securing the future of children born from live in relationships.
●     Rights, obligations and responsibilities of both parties are not clearly defined and this leads to various misunderstandings.
●     It is not clearly defined how long a live in couple must wait before being considered husband and wife.
●     Live in relationships are often based on short term objectives, and therefore can dissolve at any moment. Hence, it can prove to be a failure in building a safe and secure society.


It is a very personal and subjective matter which might or might not work for everyone. It can be a cause of concern for women more so who might suffer harassment or insecurity being in a relationship that guarantees very little in terms of security.But as per Delhi HC,  

“The need of the hour is that boys and more importantly girls have to be very careful and cautious before taking such an important decision concerning their lives before entering into the most sanctimonious relationship of marriage or even to have a live-in relationship. “One of the major reasons contributing to increase in the rape cases are failure of live-in relationships or any immature decision on the part of such young adults which more often end up in a broken relationship but sometimes after indulging into physical relationships”And this is one of the reason, in increasing rape cases , as well as false cases.

In India legal framework is not established yet very clearly for live in relationship. So once people get apart, there is no way to resolve financial issues. And as the relationship doesn’t have legal sanction, they need to be more careful. Most cases brought are “ Men lived with, refused to marry”, “rape case”, “false rape case”.

And under family pressure when couples fall apart, when the question of marriage come in front of them and leave one of them inconsolable.  Things fell apart when boy refuse to marry a girl.

I know, like any other relationship, it depends on the people involved in the relationship. But still, No doubt all cultures of the world are slowly decaying. And for me, Live in relationship is nothing but fashionable debauchery.