in some states in india having a second wife is normal?

In my country it is normal to have four wives:))This is accepted socially and in religious respect..I even know many families around me..

I am also from india. i never knew about these customs. may be there may be some religion's beliefs. still where is it legal?

I think your very question is extremely naïve and puts India in a bad light. Polygamy is a medieval concept when most men would go to war and be killed and women were left unprotected. To give polygamy a legal and social acceptance, to protect the widows and give them new life and also to force many women to fight over one husband, religion, concocted by men themselves, gave polygamy a religious sanction. In India, polygamy was prevalent both among Hindus and Muslims. However, Hindus have shed their polygamous past and most Hindu men now have only one wife and as per Hindu Marriage Act and Indian Civil Law, one cannot have more than one wife legally. However with Muslims (as with their belief in everything else) polygamy is granted by their religion and hence accepted and practised even today. They are proud of having four wives and flaunt it as well. Like one Muslim friend here once said ‘statistics prove that women outnumber men in terms of world population, so what is wrong if one man has more than one wife? Women need protection, so is it better to be a second or third wife to a married man or roam around unattached and be a prey to a thousand men? Polygamy is sanctioned by Islam to protect women.” All Muslim nations have polygamy as a legal and acceptable social structure. However, in India there are unscrupulous men who have more than one wife in different parts of the country and one wife does not know about the other. This is absolutely illegal and such men can be taken to court if found out.

Here in Nepal, who is neighbor of India also have same traditions. But bigamy is against the policy and law of NEPAL. The recent hot discussion about charles shovraj marrying with Nepali girl who is just 20 has been a great issue of discussion here. Not only here but also may be in the world. Nepal's court is accusing them of bigamy and to take him inside the custody again. But there are lots of people in our country who have married more than one wife. It happens mostly in remote areas and villages. So Mr. Indian you are not alone we are also with you(but not me). heehe have a nice day.

Hello,knightrider! Are you in medieval India?In those days the kings and their courtiers were enjoying this benefit(?),but since independence this practice is abolished and no man is allowed to have second wife so long the first wife is alive..it has been made illegal.even the society does not permit this.I don't understand how you came to know this is being practiced in some parts of India.that's a misconception.thanx.

i think in singapore people are just allowed to have one wife... so i think it is not considered normal...

Here in China, it is not allowed to have one more wife. It's illegal and will be put into jail. I think this is a fair and good rule. It's so wrong to have one more wife. I love China