Youth and Caste System in India

Marriages are synonymous to lifetime commitments and eternal bonding in India. But, it all seems to be much ado about nothing with so many obstacles being created by family folks and peers around marriages. Even after 63 years of independence, an individual cannot exercise the right to choose his/ her life partner.

Why do we keep reading about something or the other bothering our community elders every other day? An unnecessary fuss is always created over things like caste, religion, sect or sub-caste (gotra) and what not! How is it that parents and brothers prefer killing their daughters and sisters in the name of ‘honor’ than let them spend their lives with persons of their choice. It is very disheartening to see young couples dying for being in love across rural and urban areas in India.

Why is such injustice and brutality earmarking the concept of acceptable marriage? Rather than reinforcing the already weak institution of marriage, the so-called moral police of the society are further deteriorating it. Marriages make for celebrated occasions but are now continually associated with violence, murder, un-acceptance and betrayal that too not between the spouses but their relatives.

It is alarming to see that in a country where same-sex marriages are legal, a person is disowned if he chooses a life partner even of opposite sex. It spells extremes of death and doom on the couple daring to select a partner of his/ her choice. When we have progressed so much on all fronts and claim to have made women achieve empowerment why is it that we are still caught in trivial issues like caste, religion, gotra, etc. Let us open our minds and let everyone live their lives as they wish without dictating and dominating them. Our elders need to understand and live and let live.

Marriages Should be based on Love Not Caste or Religion

Indian culture is very diverse and houses various castes, communities and religions. It is always preferred in Indian marriages that the couple belongs not only to the same religion but to the same caste and community as well.

The Indian society even after evolving for years has not been able to get rid of caste system especially in wedding affairs. Till today, young couples who belong to different castes and religions find it very difficult to marry each other due to the protests from their families. Inter caste marriages are apparently seen as a blemish for the family and both the girl and the boy are treated as rebels. It is highly questionable how a couple can be united on the basis of their religion and not emotions.

Inter-religious marriages are not very frequent in our country even though it proudly boasts of hundreds of castes and religions. With education and exposure to other cultures of the world, the concept of inter caste marriages is slowly being accepted by people at least in the urban cities.

It is quite amazing to see a country flaunting its variegated cultural outlook but not accepting marriage of two individuals from different religions. One should lay importance to the emotions of the couple and not focus on their religious backgrounds. They are just two beings who wish to spend their lives together irrespective of the caste and religion. Our society needs to realize that a successful marriage is not dependent on these factors but on the aspects of mutual understanding and compatibility.

Inter caste and inter religion marriages in India serve as a beacon light for social equality. It is crucial to break the perils of caste-system as marriage is only dependent on true love and feelings while caste and religion are all secondary issues.