Indian woman silently records relatives pressuring her to marry at 25, many relate
On Instagram, a young Indian woman shared a video in which she silently smiled at the camera while relatives seated around her spoke about marriage, age and appearance.
For many young Indians, turning 25 often comes with more than birthday wishes as it also brings a flood of questions about marriage. A video posted by a young Indian content creator has triggered a discussion after she captured the kind of pressure many women say they routinely face from relatives.
On Instagram, Rashmi shared a video in which she silently smiled at the camera while relatives seated around her spoke about marriage, age and appearance. “If you are 25 and unmarried with dreams....four people including my mom versus me,” read the text overlay on the clip.
“Umar ho gayi hai (You’ve reached that age now),” one person was heard saying in the background.
Another man said, “Umar agar 25-26 saal ho gayi hai toh physical glow khatam hone lagega. Aap kitna sajo, lekin dulhan jaise nahi lagoge. Ab hum 60 saal ke hogaye, toh humko dulha banaa doge (Once you turn 25 or 26, your physical glow starts fading. No matter how much you dress up, you won’t look like a bride any more. Now, I have turned 60. Will I become a groom)?”
He continued, “Nirnay lene mein samay lagta hai. Hume bhi dekhne mein samay lagega. Tumko bhi dekhne mein samay lagega (It takes time to make decisions. It will take us time to look for someone, and it will take time for you as well).”
Another relative added, "Tum 50 saal ki hogi, toh ek bachcha hoga. Woh 22 saal ka hoga, tum 70 saal ki ho jaaogi (If you have a child at 50, the child will be 22 when you turn 70).”
In the caption of the post, Rashmi wrote about how conversations around her future rarely focused on her ambitions or career.
“I’m 25 and this is my story. Every relative comes to our home to lecture me about getting married, but no one tells me to do something or become something in life. They are not worried about my career, but about my physical appearance. That I’m getting old, won’t be able to find a husband, and will face difficulty getting pregnant. They are my well-wishers,” she wrote.
Watch the video here:
The video resonated with many social media users, several of whom said they found the situation painfully relatable.
“There’s a reason they force marriage before 30, they know that afterward, you’re more confident, self-assured, and less tolerant of pressure. They want to rush you into a decision before you are fully independent. Don’t fall for the timeline. Your life, your decisions, your rules. Stay strong girl,” one user commented.
Another wrote, “Indian families and their obsession with shaadi is unreal.”
“25 is too young, girl. The older you get, the better. Don’t let society fool you. Be financially independent and live your life. Leave your home and stay alone if needed,” one of the comments read.
One user also linked the issue to changing economic realities, saying, “Earlier, people would marry at a socially accepted age. Then people started marrying at a socio-economically suitable age. Now, people marry at an economically feasible age. That’s it. Today, due to inflation and unemployment, young people are facing this problem even more.”
What is your take on this?