Cohabitation, in which a couple lives together in a sexual relationship without being married, is almost a norm in the Western societies these days. In Nepal too, more and more young couples are warming to the idea even as it remains an anathema for the older people. It is against our religion and tradition, they contend. But there is no law banning cohabitation in Nepal.

During the 1980s, the number of unmarried men and women sharing a household went up sharply in American and European countries. It was especially popular among college and university students. Indeed, according to a survey, even back then, one in five students cohabitated at some point in their college career. Now, even a Third World country like Nepal is host to many young, cohabitating couples.

In little over half a decade, the percentage of cohabiting couples in Nepal has increased by nearly 50 per cent. For the Nepali urban youth, cohabitation is a trial marriage: it gives a foretaste of married life and helps make the relationship stronger. On the other hand, ask most young, rural students their view on it and the answer invariably is... “terrible”, “against our religion” and “will ruin families’ reputation”.

Cohabitation comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. The couples do not have to wait for marriage to satiate their sexual urges. This also stops them from engaging in risky sexual activities outside their households. Moreover, it might even help control our burgeoning population as those who cohabitate tend to marry late. On the other hand, it pollutes local culture and religion. The most arduous task for the cohabiting couples in Nepal might be batting the social stereotypes and strong adherents to religious beliefs.

The celebration of Valentines Day was unheard of a decade ago. But now, there might hardly be a youth in the country who has not heard of the “lovers’ day”. Likewise, the practice of cohabitation is bound to increase as more and more people adapt to the modern needs. Cohabitation is a complex phenomenon. It is a sociological process of a society changing from its simple to more complex forms. It will be interesting to witness the increasing appeal of this process unfold on our youth.