Inter-caste marriage is old but currently a much-discussed topic in India. Many formal and informal laws are being introduced and operated to enhance as well as to curb the inter caste marriage. Inter caste marriage can be defined as a form of marriage between male and female from two different cultural and subcultural groups. Intermarriage in subcultural groups is broadly and popularly defined as inter caste marriage. Caste system is endogamous in nature. Marriage within the caste is a norm. So any form of marriage outside own caste has been considered as a social pariah. Still inter caste marriages are on the spree.
In fact it is spiking up. States like Bihar and Kerala where caste system plays a pivotal role, it is reported that the number of inter caste marriages have improved.
This improvement is the result of relaxation of the restrictions from social institutions. Education plays a major role but surprisingly a research shows that it is not the couple’s education but education of girl’s mother that plays a determinant role in inter caste marriage. Economic independence of women and occupational mobility are also helping to increase the intercaste marriage in India. Inter caste marriage is analysed on two parameters such as its causal factor and its consequences. There is always an apprehension towards couple’s married life adjustment ranging from personal to cultural.
But a study shows a kaleidoscopic opinion about inter caste marriage couple adjustment. Language, food habit, economic and religious practices are not serious obstacles as far as adjustment is concerned.
Generally inter caste marriage is of two types such as hypergamy where upper caste boy marries a lower caste girl and hypogamy which involves an upper caste girl with lower caste boy. Out of these two inter caste marriages, hypogamy has greater disapproval than hypergamy. Conservative nature of parents, caste and community response, peer group pressure are responsible for this. A survey shows apart from community response towards inter-caste marriage, in many cases selection of partner and his economic condition plays a key factor to create a sense of disapproval. For example, if selected partner is unemployed or low salaried then the chance of rejection is more.
This sense of disapproval and rejection is in covert as well as in open violent form. Honour killing, caste conflict, rejection of offspring out of this marriages, suicide by couples, ostracism and social outcaste are the few from many consequences.
The Government of Kerala has introduced Safe Homes for inter caste married couples. These safe homes are meant to provide accommodation for one year and to ensure security to the couples from society. A survey done by the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) reveals that from 1970 to 2012 the percentage of inter caste marriage has increased marginally from 5 per cent to 6 percent. It indicates that still caste has a strong hold on the mate selection in India.
The survey further shows that the Brahmins, who top in the caste hierarchy have the maximum percentage of inter caste marriage of 6.3 per cent whereas Scheduled Caste has only 4.7 percent and OBC with 4.8 percent.
It means the acceptance of inter caste marriage is more among the upper caste particularly in Brahmins. Interestingly, the other fact that comes out of the survey is that rural India is more favourable than urban India as far as inter caste marriage is concerned.Generally, it is assumed that the rural society is based on caste system and caste panchayat and urban society is modernised and open minded.
An IHDS survey shows that rural society in India has 5.29 percent of inter caste marriage vis a vis 4.99 percent inter caste marriage in urban area. In order to promote inter caste marriages in India, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment executes the inter caste marriage incentive scheme.
The objective is to promote inter caste marriages where one of the spouses is a Scheduled Caste and their marriage is based on Special Marriage Act 1954 and Hindu Marriage Act 1955.
This incentive to inter caste marriage is under Centrally Sponsored Scheme where Central assistance is released to the States and UTs by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It is reported that as many as 1.2 lakh inter caste married couples have benefitted from the scheme in the last seven years that is from 2013-14 to 2019-20 and 52 percent of them are from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
In addition to the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Dr Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter-Caste Marriages is another Central scheme for encouraging inter caste marriages supervised by the Dr Ambedkar Foundation under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
The Odisha Government has announced a portal named as Sumangal. The objective of this portal is to encourage inter caste marriage. A financial benefit of Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh is given to inter caste legally married couple. In Odisha , Dalits consist nearly 17 percent of total population. This scheme is aimed to bring social harmony, social integration and to help the newly married couples to settle down initially.
Of course Sumangal may help to eradicate the social problem like untouchability in Odisha. Caste is endogamous. Marrying within community or subculture is not bad or unethical. But a controversy arose when some scientists claimed that due to endogamy a limited pool of gene will be created and it may lead to certain genetic disease.
However these arguments and Government schemes can only encourage inter caste marriage. The success of inter caste marriage solely depends upon social situation, couple's personality traits and respect for individual freedom.
(Dr Parida is Assistant Professor, Sophitorium Group of Institutions, Khordha, Phone: 8456879522)
