The author shares their personal experience of being in a 12-year relationship, six years married and six years in a live-in relationship, and explains why they value the temporary nature of their relationship. They also talk about their upbringing in Delhi, where moral policing and societal expectations around relationships and public interaction with the opposite sex were prevalent. The author discusses the recent passing of the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, which allows the state to punish unmarried, consenting adults living together “in the nature of marriage”. They express concern about the implications of this law on the freedom to love and the ability to learn how to love through trial relationships. The author shares their experience of a previous live-in relationship and expresses relief at not having to go through the process of a divorce. They worry that the right to love freely and the opportunity to learn how to love will soon be taken away from many people due to the new law in Uttarakhand.
Government should respect individuals’ privacy in their personal lives
