”How do the cultural clashes between the traditional Indian culture and the emergence of technology such as text messaging and internet dating effect romantic relationships in India?”
Hindu marriages are often arranged even if the legal marriage age in India is 18. But as the IT boom in the 1990’ts there has been some important influences on the romantic part. Today they are using e.g. Media such as newspapers and Internet for advertising if the match is not found in the every day life. But still if advertising we can see the religion and tradition influencing, for instance an important part is the horoscope that should be agreed before the two parts meet. Also the call-center operator in India is now contributing to the growing economy. As a man told me today, “everyone uses their mobile phones boys and girls from age 7. That is also a sign of status. A new world opens for them when it comes to relationships and we parents don’t know what their doing anymore”. Personally I think the technology is a good and easy way for young Indians to be a part of the modern world. It opens some new doors. Let’s pretend if everyone is dating via the internet, in the end they have to find a modern solution to the arranged marriages if they still want to keep on to some traditions. But also I think it collides with the old generations traditions witch means India is in a new phase. On the train last week I talked to an older man that said that there are so many new things happening with the young people that can be hard for the older generation to understand. But that comment I have heard before, I believe it’s a worldwide phrase. If you don’t understand, you get skeptic. If your skeptic, you get scared. If you’re scared, you don’t want to understand.
