In a heart-wrenching verdict in retrospect of what constitutes the classic values of marriage, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has acclaimed a woman as an “ideal Indian wife based on dharma” for opting to reside with her in-laws for almost two decades after her husband deserted her.
The Division Bench of Justices Vivek Rusia and Binod Kumar Dwivedi, in dismissing the husband’s plea for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act, noted that the woman’s behavior reflected the Hindu concept of Shakti, strong, dignified, and firm in the face of adversity.
The husband had complained that ever since they got married in 1998, his wife hated him, blamed him for alcoholism and extramarital affairs, avoided domestic duties, and abstained from sexual intercourse. He alleged that they had lived separately since 2006.
The wife denied all accusations, presenting herself as being ready to perform her marital obligations. She emphasized that she had remained in the matrimonial home with her husband’s parents, keeping the marriage symbols and handling the relationship as a sacred Sanskara, not an agreement. She accused her husband of having a relationship with another woman and requesting a divorce only after being caught.
The court observed that the wife had never made criminal complaints, had never been vindictive, and had continued to discharge her duties toward her husband’s family with dignity and tolerance. This, it observed, demonstrated a “helpful and respectful attitude” of a “typical Indian woman/wife.”
Thwarting the husband’s objections to cruelty and abandonment, the judges ruled that it was he who had abandoned his wife. The court emphasized that marriage, as defined under Hindu law, is a holy and indissoluble bond, and the wife’s stamina was a testament to the religious strength of the relationship.
The ruling has induced debates regarding the balance between evolving societal standards and preserving tradition. While some have praised the woman’s strength, others have questioned if ideals such as these should still frame marital roles in contemporary India.
For the present, the judgment remains as much a testament to her inner strength as to the reassertion of the court’s vision of marriage as something greater than a legal contract but an act of dharma, dignity, and lifelong commitment.
