Advertised as a ‘series of 15 sessions, designed to help couples 'invest on their relationship and build a strong marriage’ the course is open to those who are married and those who are yet to tie the knot. The target age group is 18 to 65 years.
The course, among other issues, teaches the following: 'What is Marriage', 'Understanding Mantra', 'Why Marriage', 'Anger Management', 'Rules and Responsibilities', 'Mistakes by Husbands', 'Basic Needs of Wife', 'Dos and Don’ts by Husbands', 'How Can You be an Ideal Husband', 'Happiness Mantra, 'Foolish Expectations', 'How Can You be an Ideal Wife', How to Win Your Husband', and 'Home Management and Decisions Impact'.
Lessons will be delivered through video conferencing or as audio lessons, lasting 60 minutes each. These lessons are offered in Hindi and English. The Institute lists its aims as: 'Helping all to achieve healthy, fulfilling, loving long-term intimate relationships', 'Reducing the divorce rate India', 'Improving the emotional health of the families that children grow up in', and 'Unleash a wave of health in intimate relationships for future generations'.
It also has a focused list of those it would ideally like to help. These include singles who are having difficulty developing intimate relationships, couples currently in an intimate relationship which is characterised by ongoing conflict, distance and/or lack of satisfaction in relationship, and parents experiencing problems, difficulties and concerns raising children of any age.
Ilyas Shamsi, founder of the Institute told THE WEEK, "Our courses are based on the belief that prevention is better than cure. So we equip people with the skills to deal with marriage and family better. We do not believe in counselling or taking medication to control problems in and because of relationships"
Shamsi holds a bachelors degree in science, but believes that his two decades as a social activist have given him the requisite expertise to teach people how to navigate relationships better. He claims to have been closely associated with the demand for the abolition of Triple Talaq as well.
"These modules have been developed by me based on experience. We do not have the staff to conduct classroom based training, so it is over phones or video chats", he said.
The courses, he said, are open to people of all faiths and are based on a 'donation model'. "Even if you donate just one rupee to the course, you are eligible to take it", he said, and added that he is yet to come across a dissatisfied client.
However, Lucknow-based clinical psychologist Dr Krishna Dutt dismissed the advertised course as a money making gimmick.
“The advertisement uses superfluous words. For instance, how do you win your husband as marriage is not about winning or losing. What are the mantras which are being offered? It seems to be completely unscientific. There is use of some psychological jargon for a project management based approach to marriage and family life”.
Dutt likened the course to the numerous ‘personality development’ courses which are currently the rage. “Many of these courses are about teaching how to decorate homes or speak English, neither of which has any bearing on the development of an individual’s personality. This course too seems to be the work of amateurs”, he said.