Divorce in various cultures and tribes
Obtaining divorce varies from culture to culture. Among Muslims, divorce is only the husband’s privilege, and he can have it even without assigning a cause. Divorce can be obtained by merely repeating three times the formula of repudiation (Talaq) in the presence of at least two witnesses.
A husband has to pay ‘meher’, which is a settlement to the wife out of his property to compensate her in the event of divorce. Under certain circumstances, Islamic law does give a wife the permission of unilateral action.
In the case of Khasis, a tribe from Meghalaya, divorce is permitted for reasons of adultery, barrenness and incompatibility. The separation can take place only after mutual consent. There is no possibility of remarriage between two such people who have separated by divorce. The divorce is obtained in a public ceremony.
Among the Gonds (tribe), divorce can be obtained on grounds of marital infidelity; carelessness in household work, barrenness and quarrelsome disposition. The initiative may be taken either by a husband of wife.
The Khasis (tribe) allow divorce on grounds of marital infidelity, sterility, laziness, refusal of the wife of live with her husband and theft.
Among the Hindus, divorce can be obtained under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Among the Christians, there are two popularly known denominations, namely the Catholics, who owe allegiance to the Pope and Protestants. Catholics do not officially accept and possibility of divorce, though they accept the possibility of the declaring a marriage annulled.
This means that a marriage was right from the beginning null and void due to certain reasons like prior impotence, serious deception e Protestants are more lenient with regard to the question of divorce and remarriage.
