Inter-caste marriages and social inequality

Inter-caste marriages, dictatorship of the Khap Panchayat, atrocities on couples, humiliation of the family and ultimately honour killings of the female are day-to-day headlines we come across in media. Going by the writings of Manu, the commentator of ancient Indian texts and abiding by the patriarchal society of the 21st century, a significant number of people in the country find it alright to subjugate women. People belonging to the so-called lower castes are targeted. This chapter examines the impact of inter-caste marriages in Indian society. The research is based on secondary data collected by various research papers. The method used for analysis is descriptive in nature. Those who uphold inter-caste marriages are in the minority. Such “love marriages” can perhaps reduce caste divisions and unify people, but such is definitely not the case in Haryana’s rural and semi-urban areas. Castes and community groups act through the traditional panchayat and exhibit their authority away from legal constraints and against state agencies.