The Meaning of Mixed Marriages

The recently introduced “law” formulated and introduced by the Uttar Pradesh government particularly to stall inter-religious marriages does not stand on sound justifications. As the editorial in this issue suggests, this law not only lacks sensible and serious content, but is also against the multicultural spirit of the Indian Constitution. More importantly, such a “law” is fundamentally against the emancipatory interest of women. The intention behind such laws does not guarantee justice to women as it does not take into consideration a decision that is autonomously taken by a woman belonging particularly from a majority religion. The disclaimer offered by women clearly shows the autonomous nature of the decision to marry a person from another religion. The intention behind such a law is clear as much as the government in question wants to gain political mileage out of it. However, the words inter or mix in the context of marriages define marriages differently.

In any strong patriarchal context, any inter-caste, inter­religious or interregional marriage faces opposition from different sections of society. But there is a difference in the three categories.