86 yr old Nepali weds 43 yr old for son

Desire for a son to carry the family name has made an 86-year-old Nepali man tie the nuptial knot for the fourth time. His latest bride is a 43-year old—half his age.

Updated on: Aug 20, 2010, 14:29:27 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Desire for a son to carry the family name has made an 86-year-old Nepali man tie the nuptial knot for the fourth time. His latest bride is a 43-year old—half his age.

Gopal Bahadur Malla, a resident of Dadeldhura district in far western Nepal bordering India, married Kalawati with permission from his third wife and support of fellow villagers.

“I got married at this old age only to have a son carry forward my family lineage. Now I am nervous due to our huge age difference,” The Kathmandu Post quoted the octogenarian.

Malla who is fast losing his eyesight took the step as all his children are dead and he was worried that his family name would end with him.

The villager from Chamsal had got married for the first time at the age of 20. All children including a son from his second wife have died and his third wife had not borne him any issue.

One of his wives has died, another has left him and the third stays with him.

“I had no support from anyone. This marriage is a compromise but I am happy for the social and financial security it has brought,” said the new bride.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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