Together for 87 years ...

[Hum]

In an age where few marriages endure the test of time, 107-year-old Karam and his wife Katari Chand, 100, are proof that happy ever after does exist.

The couple, who have eight children and twenty eight grandchildren together, have lived in wedded bliss for 87 years making them the world's longest married couple.

The pair say that the key to success is looking after each other in every way possible: ?My trick is to make Katari laugh. I like to tell jokes and make her smile. Being funny is my way of being romantic.' says Karam.

?I have been told laughing makes you live longer... my wife is still alive so it must have worked! I love her so much and I want to spend another 80 years by her side,? said Karam.

From romantic meals to sharing jokes, the couple, who hail from Punjab, India and now live in Bradford ensure that they do little things for each other to keep the romance alive.

Their marriage has lasted nearly five years longer than that of the current Guinness World Record holders and the couple are in the process of getting confirmation from the company that they will be named as the new record holders.

Secrets for a long romance:

Always be faithful: always be faithful to one another. When you get married you commit to devoting your life to that person and even when the times are tough, don?t believe that the grass is greener...because it isn?t.

Look after each other as best you can: if you want to grow old with your partner you have to make sure you always look after each other in every shape and form. Whether it is making a meal, holding your partners hand when crossing the road or being a shoulder to cry on when something goes wrong.

Be tolerant of each other: everyone has bad habits or annoying traits. Whether it is leaving a towel on the floor or listening to the radio too loudly, you have to tolerate each other and realise that no one is perfect. Of course we irritate each other occasionally, but if you want to last nearly 90 years, learn to love bad habits or it won?t work.

Listen to each other: the most important thing in a relationship is to listen. People don?t listen anymore because they are too busy with work and TV. Listen to your loved ones? problems and concerns every day, because then you can help them overcome them and be happier. Also, it brings you closer together because you are the first port of call for each other when there is an issue in your life.

Follow social and religious values: always make sure you follow social or religious values. Respect, care, cherish, love and value your partner ? always treat them how you would want to be treated yourself.

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[Japlabot]

He was a Pedo... he was 20 when he married a 13 year old. Secret to a long marriage is get them while they are young, train them to do what you say.

[javagreen]

He was a Pedo... he was 20 when he married a 13 year old. Secret to a long marriage is get them while they are young, train them to do what you say.

Way to read selectively, I'm proud of you.

He's from India, over there it's a part of some sects to marry people off at an early age. what's more important, is that they stick to the marriage and make it work, like this guy did.

In your hurry to brand him a "pedo" you obviously chose to ignore *everything* he said above. Take another look, there's a lot of sensible things he said.

[Max Norris]

That's impressive. The wife and I made it to 20 without anybody hiring a hitman and I thought that was good, well until now.

[Twiddle]

Reminds me of this :D :

[Ice_Blue]

My parents were married for 67 years (until my mother died).

[McCordRm]

It's amazing how quickly people forget that "Legal Age" is a

relatively new concept in human history.

P.S.

Good for the couple.

[_neutrino Veteran]

Today (November 1st) is my 4th Anniversary to my Wife I know it is not a long time however, still longer than a lot of marriages these days.

[Original Poster]

Way to read selectively, I'm proud of you.

He's from India, over there it's a part of some sects to marry people off at an early age. what's more important, is that they stick to the marriage and make it work, like this guy did.

In your hurry to brand him a "pedo" you obviously chose to ignore *everything* he said above. Take another look, there's a lot of sensible things he said.

I read everything .... but how is being together after an arranged marriage a good thing? fine you might grow to "love" each other but ye.... I dont think this thing is that great

[Mando]

the fact that it started as an arranged marriage actually makes this even more impressive tbh.

Out of all my friends (western, Asian), the parents of Asian Indian friends are the most welcoming and most family orientated as a culture, mock their traditions all you like, the Hindus, Seihks, Bhuddists and Muslims from India have life sussed and can teach the western world a thing or two about how society should work and something called...tolerance,

Im envious of them and their way of life,beliefs and behavoir in society, it works and has done for centuries while we were still in caves/straw huts. Do they have family issues with out of marriage births, young kids running wild doing allsorts underage and illegal?

Parents of the west could learn how a family unit SHOULD be in society from all of them.

Also , if your gonna call him that offensive remark, at least get it right, its Paedophilia thus Paedo. <shakes head>

[Duffydemon]

I read everything .... but how is being together after an arranged marriage a good thing? fine you might grow to "love" each other but ye.... I dont think this thing is that great

Nothing wrong with arrange marriage. I dont get people's reactions to arrange marriages. They act like its somekind of wrong or forced thing.

[KSib]

Nothing wrong with arrange marriage. I dont get people's reactions to arrange marriages. They act like its somekind of wrong or forced thing.

No, the fact that you don't understand people's reactions shows how disconnected you are with other people's feelings. How do you NOT understand how someone might not be okay with being married to someone they might not want to be with.

[marty999]

I read everything .... but how is being together after an arranged marriage a good thing? fine you might grow to "love" each other but ye.... I dont think this thing is that great

I didn't see anywhere the mention of an arranged marriage - not saying that it wasn't, but it didn't say -, so why jump to conclusions.

And my wife and I will be married 42 years next May

[Richteralan]

I read everything .... but how is being together after an arranged marriage a good thing? fine you might grow to "love" each other but ye.... I dont think this thing is that great

Right...something you don't know must be wrong...

[javagreen]

I read everything .... but how is being together after an arranged marriage a good thing? fine you might grow to "love" each other but ye.... I dont think this thing is that great

Huh?

Marriage is marriage, arranged or otherwise. You marry to be together with someone. Sure, you may not appreciate the idea of an arranged marriage, but that doesn't mean there's anything inherently wrong with it.

Your comment makes no sense.

[Richteralan]

No, the fact that you don't understand people's reactions shows how disconnected you are with other people's feelings. How do you NOT understand how someone might not be okay with being married to someone they might not want to be with.

No, the fact that you don't understand people's reactions shows how disconnected you are with other people's feelings. How do you NOT understand how someone might be okay with being married to someone they might want to be with.

Great post and great template!

[javagreen]

No, the fact that you don't understand people's reactions shows how disconnected you are with other people's feelings. How do you NOT understand how someone might not be okay with being married to someone they might not want to be with.

A forced marriage sure as hell doesn't work for 87 years, and counting.

His did. Your point is moot.

[Duffydemon]

No, the fact that you don't understand people's reactions shows how disconnected you are with other people's feelings. How do you NOT understand how someone might not be okay with being married to someone they might not want to be with.

Coming from a guy who have never lived in India, and only saw arrange marriage happening in TV and media. I feel sad for you guys who havent seen something in real life and lump arrange marriage into force marriage category. Over half of my family and relatives had arrange marriage, and i have yet to see a single forced or unhappy couple. But whatever makes you happy, live in your ignorant bubble. Not everyone fall in love before marriage.

[Original Poster]

Huh?

Marriage is marriage, arranged or otherwise. You marry to be together with someone. Sure, you may not appreciate the idea of an arranged marriage, but that doesn't mean there's anything inherently wrong with it.

Your comment makes no sense.

my post makes perfect sense I didn't say there was anything wrong with it ... just saying that I don't find it that interesting because it was most likely arranged and divorce was a massive no... so the only thing here is that they managed to out live alot of people... I was simply giving my opinion in regards to what you said

Coming from a guy who have never lived in India, and only saw arrange marriage happening in TV and media. I feel sad for you guys who havent seen something in real life and lump arrange marriage into force marriage category. Over half of my family and relatives had arrange marriage, and i have yet to see a single forced or unhappy couple. But whatever makes you happy, live in your ignorant bubble. Not everyone fall in love before marriage.

so you are implying that not one arrange marriage is forced? ... I have tons of friends from Bangladesh(yes i know you said india) one who is I am very close to, and I know that the marriages are forced especially on the women, if they marry a white man or go against the families wishes of whom they marry they are shunned from the family... I may not be from side of the world but I still have close ties to those who are..

[Original Poster]

Right...something you don't know must be wrong...

pot calling the kettle black at the moment, you ASSUME i don't know anything about arranged marriages or how it effects people

I didn't see anywhere the mention of an arranged marriage - not saying that it wasn't, but it didn't say -, so why jump to conclusions.

And my wife and I will be married 42 years next May

does anyone read anything? I was responding to a post that was responding to a post someone view him as a "pedo" and someone else mentioned a set up I was simply giving my opinion on that side of things ...

and well done on the 42 years

[AsherGZ]

so you are implying that not one arrange marriage is forced? ... I have tons of friends from Bangladesh(yes i know you said india) one who is I am very close to, and I know that the marriages are forced especially on the women, if they marry a white man or go against the families wishes of whom they marry they are shunned from the family... I may not be from side of the world but I still have close ties to those who are..

So based on the claims of this one friend, you've concluded that all women here are forced to marry the guy their parents choose for them? Well I have lots of friends from the States and they've got some great tales to tell about rape, incest, drug abuse and whatnot happening to them or someone they know. So let's just not go there.

Sure it may have happened back in the day, maybe still among the uneducated class but we're not unevolved savages like most of the western world thinks. Being from 'that side of the world', I can assure you it's nothing like that and girls have complete right to marry whoever they like. Just last year, two of my classmates got married. They started seeing each other and once they decided they wanted to get married, they went to their parents who met each others family and sealed the deal. Also, unlike the west, our women have the right to divorce. But again divorces hardly happen because matches are not made by kids for whom falling in and out of love and leaving as soon as it gets tough is as common as drinking coffee. Parents here are extremely protective of their daughters. They won't give them away to someone who they don't think would make her happy. And forcing her to spend her life with someone is the last thing they'll do.

[Original Poster]

So based on the claims of this one friend,

learn to read...... I am not even going to humor the rest of your post but the block of text you put suggest you are trying to defend your culture or what ever but I dont care... I really dont I was simply pointing out that it happens not that it always does...

[Richteralan]

pot calling the kettle black at the moment, you ASSUME i don't know anything about arranged marriages or how it effects people

Right, you also ASSUME I don't know anything about it. I wasn't defending arranged marriage in any way. But your blanket statement is....hyperbolic.

[Elliot B.]

"...from Punjab, India and now live in Bradford..."

Shocker :laugh:

[Growled Member]

Ah, how sweet. Good for them.