LEGAL BUT NOT ETHICAL
Introduction
A casual glance at the twenty-first century would suggest that religion is a contentious issue not just in India but across the world. India, well-known for its unity and diversity is, however, yet trapped in the complexities of the word ‘religion’, leading to the emergence of hatred and conflicts. Interfaith marriage, a legal validation yet shaped as a societal curse, is one such outcome of the social stigmas to Hindu-Muslim unity or ‘’ekatvam’’.
The Tanishq interfaith ad outrage
Popular Indian jewelry brand ‘Tanishq’ led by Tata group has withdrawn an advertisement released on October 9. The ad displaying their latest ‘ekatvam’ jewelry line meant to portray interfaith acceptance and harmony. The heart-touching ad featured a baby shower organized by a Muslim in-laws family preparing for their pregnant Hindu daughter-in-law. The description of the video read, ‘’A beautiful confluence of two different religions, traditions, cultures”. It is a tribute to India’s wide secularism, multiculturalism, and diversification of faiths.
However, no sooner did the ad aired on YouTube and Twitter, the company received a backlash and a flood of trolls from Hindu nationalists and conservative social media users. A massive outrage broke over social-media platforms calling for a boycott of their latest advertisement. The company was alleged to promote ‘love jihad’. A section of people joined the abusive comments and trolls pushing it to the top of Twitter trends. The company later pulled down the video from all social media platforms and also stated that the decision was made viewing the “well-being” of its employees and partners.
What is love jihad?
Love jihad is an Islamophobic conspiracy phrase used by a section of people alleging that Muslim men target women belonging to other religions for the conversion of Islam by feigning love or marriage.
The number of cases underlying love jihad has been increasing which leads to the spread of such theory and the spread of hate among different communities.
Recently, the current news ongoing of the brutal murder of Nikita Tomar in Faridabad by her stalkers is now raging a debate on ‘’Love jihad” and fueling Hindu-Muslim divisions.
The Special Marriage Act,1954
The Special Marriage Act was enacted in 1954 by the Parliament of India. This law ensures the solemnization of marriages considering all religious customs and practices. It essentially suggests a form of marriage for Indians residing in the homeland or foreign countries, irrespective of religion or faith either party belongs. Hence, the Special Marriage Act was implemented to promote interfaith or inter-religion or inter-caste marriages.
A similar law had existed since the year 1872. However, it did not execute well as it included problematic elements.
History of Intercaste Marriages
The term Inter Caste marriages are mostly used in South Asia or Middle Eastern countries where the couple belongs to a different race, caste, or class background. From the time of kings and queens, endogamy and caste-system have been practiced. Endogamy refers to arranged and forced marriages. In earlier days, customs and practices were given utmost importance. It was mandatory to marry in the same castes. Any disobedience would lead to serious consequences including punishments and death threats.
The contemporary scenario of InterCaste Marriages
Arranged marriage is an Indian wedding tradition still followed. Marriage in India is considered more of a tie between two families. Most families still prefer arranged marriages within their religion and backgrounds. Weddings outside these boundaries set by society have often led to violent consequences- including men and women being punished and killed by their relatives.
However, with the changing times, people have begun accepting that this love and affection cannot be limited to such boundaries. Education has broadened the human mindset and stabilized their analytical thinking. Today, there are ample examples of two people sustaining a happy life together despite belonging to different lifestyles and backgrounds. Though most of the people have started accepting their identity as humans with the same blood rather than religions of different banners, oppositions still exist. Party and politics play an enormous role in extending discrimination or dominance of either religion or castes.
A 2016 survey performed by Social Attitudes Research for India (SARI) in the states of Delhi, Mumbai, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh found that the majority of the public were opposed to inter-caste and interfaith marriages.
Conclusion
Interfaith marriages are rejected in India for several factors including fear or societal norms and restrictions. Love marriages or interfaith marriages are considered as a stain to the family’s reputation and fame. The cultural and class differences stand as a big pillar of the excuse of misadjustment. Nevertheless, there is a need to encourage such intercaste marriages to break the narrow walls dividing Indians as a whole into different communities. Intercaste marriage promotes the binding of two different cultures, thoughts, and ideologies which is exactly known as India’s specialty-a secular democratic with the huge diversification of all varieties. The Government of India has made different laws encouraging interfaith marriages. However, more implementation and reforms could be expected. Social activist groups, books, movies, plays pay special mention to interfaith marriages. The youth of today are educated and broadminded in such aspects. With the changing times, a wider perception towards life aspects, Indians may realize the dignity vanishing by such brutal complexities they are mingling amongst themselves.
“Where the mind is led forward by thee Into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.” – ’Where The Mind Is Without Fear’ by Rabindranath Tagore.