Intercaste marriages between castes which have socio-economic parity have increased, to some extent, but this is less true of interreligious marriages. Discuss.

Intercaste Marriages: Increasing Acceptance

The rise in intercaste marriages, particularly among those with socio-economic parity, can be attributed to several factors:

• Erosion of Traditional Hierarchies: Modernization, urbanization, and education have weakened the rigidities of the caste system, especially in urban settings.
• Socio-Economic Mobility: As individuals achieve upward mobility, the importance of maintaining caste boundaries diminishes. Marriages are increasingly seen as partnerships based on individual compatibility rather than caste status.
• Changing Attitudes: Younger generations are more likely to challenge traditional norms and embrace individual choice in marriage.
• Similar Cultural Practices: Intercaste marriages are more readily accepted when the castes involved share similar cultural practices, languages, or regional identities. For example, marriages between different sub-castes within the same linguistic group are more common.

Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) indicates a slight increase in intercaste marriages compared to previous surveys, though the numbers remain relatively low, particularly in rural areas. (Knowledge Cutoff: 2021)

Interreligious Marriages: Persistent Resistance

In contrast, interreligious marriages continue to be significantly less frequent and face greater opposition. This can be explained by:

• Stronger Religious Identities: Religion often forms a core part of individual and community identity in India, making conversions or compromises on religious practices more sensitive.
• Fear of Cultural Loss: Communities often perceive interreligious marriages as a threat to their cultural and religious traditions.
• Political Mobilization: Religious identities are often mobilized for political purposes, leading to increased polarization and resistance to interreligious relationships. The issue of ‘love jihad’ – a controversial term used to allege a conspiracy to convert Hindu women through marriage – exemplifies this.
• Familial Pressure: Families often exert strong pressure to maintain religious endogamy, fearing social ostracism or disruption of religious practices.
• Lack of Legal Framework: While the Special Marriage Act, 1954 allows for interreligious marriages, the process can be cumbersome and often involves public notice, which can lead to harassment.

The Pew Research Center’s 2021 report on religion in India highlights the strong adherence to religious identity and the limited social mixing between religious communities. (Knowledge Cutoff: 2021)

Comparative Analysis

Feature	Intercaste Marriage	Interreligious Marriage
Social Acceptance	Increasing, especially with socio-economic parity	Limited, often facing strong opposition
Identity Factor	Caste identity is weakening	Religious identity remains strong
Political Mobilization	Less politically charged	Often politicized and subject to controversy
Cultural Concerns	Cultural similarities can facilitate acceptance	Perceived threat to religious and cultural traditions

The difference in acceptance levels reflects the varying degrees of rigidity and politicization associated with caste and religion in India. While caste hierarchies are gradually eroding, religious identities remain deeply entrenched and often serve as markers of social and political belonging.