‘My daughter’s happiness matters’: Meerut family turns divorce into celebration

In a striking break from social norms, a family in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut chose celebration instead of silence after their daughter’s divorce. The unusual welcome, complete with drums, garlands and sweets , has sparked conversations about dignity, independence and the right to walk away from an unhappy marriage.

The celebration was led by retired judge Gyanendra Kumar Sharma , who welcomed his only daughter Pranita Vashistha home after a Meerut family court granted her divorce on Saturday.

As Pranita stepped out of the court premises, relatives danced to the beat of drums and accompanied her home in a festive procession. At the family house, Sharma greeted her with garlands and distributed sweets among friends and relatives. Several family members wore black T shirts printed with the message “I Love My Daughter.”

Pranita had married an Army Major from Shahjahanpur on December 19, 2018. However, according to her counsels Rajeev Giri and Naseeb Saifi , the marriage soon turned troubled with allegations of continued mental, physical and emotional distress .

Despite the birth of a son, the situation did not improve, prompting Pranita to approach the court. The divorce was granted by Principal Judge Shaktiputra Tomar .

“If my daughter is not happy in marriage, it is my duty to bring her out of that environment. We did not seek alimony , I simply brought my daughter back,” Sharma said.

Pranita, a postgraduate in psychology and finance director at Pranav Vashistha Judicial Academy , said the marriage had left her mentally fragile but credited her family’s support for helping her rebuild her life.

She urged women facing abuse to stand up for themselves, pursue education and become independent , rather than silently enduring suffering.