THE three pillars of a successful marriage are love, understanding, and respect, says retired civil servant Pradeep Chand. Mr Chand officiated at numerous marriages throughout his career before retiring. He is currently a pastor at the Hope Church in Lautoka.
“A house is not a home until there is God there, and if God is there, then you will have love. Understanding your spouse is important,” he said.
Prior to this, Mr Chand worked as a chainman technician at the Public Works Department in 1986, later passing his civil service exams and advancing through the ranks and moving to the Department of National Roads
He dedicated 34 years to his career before retiring.
Mr Chand was raised in Wailevu in Macuata ,before being transferred to work in Sigatoka in 2000.
“I later moved to Lautoka in my 30s. It was a tremendous change because I was moving from rural to urban,” he said.
“I enjoyed my work, and I loved facing challenges which I always overcame.”
In 2016, he was seconded to the Commissioner Western’s office before he was redeployed to the Registrar General’s office.”
When the Fiji Roads Authority took over the Department of National Roads, Mr Chand said he was fortunate to get a job at the Registrar General’s office.
“I would have been laid off,” he said.
“I stayed at the Registrar General’s office until retirement.”
In 1985, Mr Chand settled down with his childhood sweetheart, and they had two sons and a daughter.
He said the most memorable marriage he performed was that of an elderly couple.
“The man was seventy-two, and the lady was sixty-eight. They were the oldest couple that stood in front of me, but the marriage chamber was full.
“After I got them legally married, I asked them why they wanted to get married so late in their lives. They told me that they wanted to go overseas to their children. I looked around the chambers and saw their children and grandchildren.”
Mr Chand said he considered that one of his most beautiful experiences.
“That marriage taught me to trust, bear with one another, love, and respect.”
“These traits are missing in today’s marriages. Now they get married, kiss the bride and tomorrow you find them in the family court.”
Mr Chand said moral decay was fast spreading, with children’s rights being weaponised against parents.
“That moral respect is fading away. What about the parents’ rights? There needs to be a law formulated on this.
“Otherwise, we will witness more marriages breaking up because these children grow up, get married, and do not respect their spouses.”
