Haryana: A 21-year-old man from Haryana stirred controversy after marrying his 65-year-old grandmother, sparking debates around family norms and societal boundaries.
Mohammad Irfan and Sultana Khatoon's marriage has left many questioning the emotional and ethical implications of such a relationship.
According to those familiar with the matter, Irfan and Sultana’s bond deepened in the aftermath of Sultana’s husband’s passing. Irfan, who reportedly began caring for his grandmother during her period of grief, formed a close emotional attachment to her. What started as a gesture of familial support appears to have taken a romantic turn, culminating in a marriage that few could have anticipated, or accepted.
Their union, described by many as shocking and “against the order of nature,” has become the centre of widespread public scrutiny in the region. Community members have expressed outrage, citing the violation of familial roles and traditional values. Still, the couple seem firm in their decision, having formalised their relationship despite the backlash.
Unconventional marriages have made headlines in the past too. In 2018, a 27-year-old man from Haryana married 65-year-old American citizen Karen Lilian Ebner after the two met on Facebook. Their story, like Irfan and Sultana’s, drew criticism but also curious fascination, with the couple insisting that love had no age, or nationality, barrier.
As debates rage on about such relationships, some argue these unions challenge outdated notions of love and agency, while others see them as deeply inappropriate and harmful to cultural structures.
For now, Mohammad Irfan and Sultana Khatoon remain at the centre of a story that’s part love affair, part social storm, and wholly difficult for their community to digest.
