Bharat SainiLast Updated on March 29, 2017 by Bharat Saini
Marriage, traditionally seen as a sacred union between a man and a woman, forms the foundation of a distinctive family structure in societies globally. This institution is often revered as a divine arrangement, with a strong belief that marriages are predestined.
Indian sociologist Mazumdar outlines marriage as a socially approved partnership between a male and female, aimed at establishing a household, engaging in sexual relations, procreation, and nurturing offspring.
In Hinduism, the sacredness of marriage is exemplified in the Rig Veda. Hindu society has historically placed great emphasis on the sanctity of marriage, more so than other cultures. The Manusmriti, a key Hindu text, lays down guidelines for household, social, and religious conduct, which continues to influence Indian life.
Hindu marriages aim to fulfill four main life objectives: Dharma (duty and spiritual freedom), Artha (prosperity and enjoyment of wealth), Kama (desire and pleasure), and Moksha (liberation). Life in Hinduism is segmented into four stages: Brahmacharya (student life), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (forest dweller), and Sannyasa (renunciation). The Grihastha stage, which encompasses marriage, focuses on fulfilling duties, procreation, and sexual desires. Hindu society is traditionally divided into four castes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
The caste system in India, a form of social stratification, is characterized by endogamy, hereditary transmission of occupation, and a hierarchy based on cultural norms of purity and pollution. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar described the Indian caste system as one of graded inequality.
Historically, numerous social reformers and personalities have strived to eradicate the caste system, untouchability, and racial discrimination in India. The introduction of British education and modern ideas like liberty, equality, fraternity, democracy, and justice brought significant social changes. Pioneers such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Mother Teresa, and others championed these modern concepts, including inter-caste marriages.
Inter-caste marriages, unions between partners of different castes or ethnicities, face resistance from traditional Indian families. Sociologists categorize inter-caste marriages into two types: Hypergamy (Anuloma) and Hypogamy (Pratiloma). Hypergamy allows men of higher castes to marry women of lower castes, a practice evidenced in ancient Indian epics and literature. Hypogamy, less common, permits men of lower castes to marry women of higher castes. Historical records show instances of both types of marriages, indicating their existence in ancient and modern Indian society.
In traditional Indian society, the concept of marrying within one’s caste was deeply ingrained, with severe consequences for those who defied this norm, including violence, social boycott, and even honor killings. Despite this, inter-caste marriages have gradually gained acceptance in modern India due to increased education, urbanization, and middle-class economic status. A 2014 survey revealed that about 5% of Indian marriages are inter-caste, signifying a shift in societal attitudes towards a more humanitarian perspective.
Inter-caste marriages are seen as a means to dismantle the caste system and promote social equality. The first recorded inter-caste marriage in modern India occurred on February 4, 1889. French author Andre Maurois aptly stated, “A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day.”
Advantages of inter-caste marriages include the potential to eradicate dowry, foster mutual understanding, strengthen couples to face challenges, promote better family planning, and encourage appreciation of diverse cultures and traditions. These unions can contribute to reducing caste prejudices and promoting values of liberty, equality, and fraternity in society.
Disadvantages include societal non-acceptance, financial burdens, potential for frustration and adjustment difficulties, inheritance issues, and challenges in cultural integration. However, these challenges can be overcome through evolving attitudes towards caste.
In India, inter-caste marriages occur more frequently in socio-economically developed states. Promoting such marriages through media exposure can help diminish caste barriers. The Indian Constitution upholds the rights of individuals in inter-caste marriages, and initiatives to promote these unions, especially in rural areas, are crucial for societal progress.
The author’s personal experience with an inter-caste marriage (Hypergamy), conducted with Hindu rituals and parental consent, highlights the positive societal reception of such unions, underlining their importance for social cohesion.
American poet Mattie Stepanek once said, “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”
Opposing Viewpoint:
“Life has always taken place in a tumult without apparent cohesion; but it only finds its grandeur and its reality in ecstasy and in ecstatic love.” — Georges Bataille
Social cohesion, the glue that holds a society together, is based on interdependence, shared loyalties, and solidarity among society members. Achieving social cohesion requires cultivating attitudes and norms of trust, belonging, and mutual assistance. However, the question arises: Can inter-caste marriage effectively foster social cohesion in India?
India’s vast size, ethnic and cultural diversity, and socio-economic disparities pose challenges to social cohesion. Political and social turmoil in some regions, often supported by less cohesive groups, further disrupts social harmony. Thus, achieving social cohesion in India requires comprehensive development across all societal groups, regardless of religion, caste, or gender.
The caste system in India remains a potent source of inequality and violence. Dalits, in particular, face widespread discrimination, not just in rural areas but among the urban elite. The pervasive nature of caste barriers makes it challenging to integrate all social classes.
While modern Indian youth are increasingly entering inter-caste marriages, such unions are still rare and often met with stern opposition, especially from lower and middle-class families. These marriages can lead to mental pressure, trauma, violence, and even honor killings, rendering them ineffective as a tool for creating social cohesion.
In Indian marriages, women typically adopt their in-laws’ customs and rituals, but this cultural exchange is not reciprocated by the grooms or their families, limiting the potential for mutual understanding and solidarity.
Inter-caste marriages, though they create bonds between families, do little to foster cohesion in a society where caste and creed heavily influence decisions. True social cohesion requires transcending these man-made divisions and seeing ourselves as a unified human community. This requires a transformation towards a more sensitive, compassionate, and rational outlook, where each individual is responsible for fostering cohesion.
Inter-caste marriages should not be seen as a necessity for social cohesion, as marriage is a personal choice. There are other ways to build friendships and solidarity across different groups, ethnicities, and castes. Respect, assistance, and trust do not require the framework of caste-based or inter-caste marriages.
Lack of inter-caste marriages does not necessarily lead to less cohesive societies. These unions can be an option, but they should not be mandatory for social cohesion.
“Social cohesion is a necessity, and mankind has never yet succeeded in enforcing cohesion by merely rational arguments.”
