Inter-Religion marriage still taboo among Indians? What is your take on it. #InterReligionMarriage ( This post is part of Indispire )
When I read Aamir Khan's ( who has had 2 hindu wives ) comments : "My wives may be Hindu but my kids will always follow only Islam."
or ShahRukh Khan's ( who has a hindu wife ) comments : that , "he'll go on haj only when he can get his daughter to accompany him" --- ( only muslims are allowed in haj btw )
I do feel its better ~ there be a taboo. Because, these people no matter how secular they behave, or open-minded by doing inter-religion marriage; somewhere deep down they are intolerant to other religions. They want to dump their religion forcibly on their children, though the child may have parents of both the faiths. Such stories are galore in inter-religion marriage, and these are only two examples.
I know a relative of mine who married a man of a different faith - they were madly in love. But the woman had to change her faith/name etc to marry the man she loved ( i.e her whole identity ). I ask why? Is that a condition to love? Later on, she had two sons - one, who grew to be an extreme believer of their father's faith ~ to the extent of really hating his mother's ex-faith ( including her khandaan ). The other son, though a bit liberal religion-wise - still, did the unthinkable. In their faith, marriage between first cousins is allowed - so, he thought he had a free way to lust after his cousins. But hey, he forgot - they were hindus. And in hindus - it is unimaginable. To cut a long story short - such inter-faith marriage did bring chaos in the extended family's lives. I know them, hence, I saw it for real. And its not a nice feeling. All the hindu female cousins were literally scared of these two cousin brothers of theirs ( who belonged to another faith - although not completely ). Hindus generally hold brother-sister ( even cousins ) relation in most hightest esteem - e.g Raksha-bandhan.
In such a scenario -- a taboo, it must be. Until, the cultural traditions, customs/
practices/beliefs are vastly different ( almost opposite ) from each other. If indeed two individuals from different faiths do marry - they must ensure not to force either of their faith on the other or on their children atleast. Bring the children up in a liberal atmosphere, where both values are taught equally - or better still - none taught at all. Atleast, the child wouldn't grow up as a confused individual.
That's my take, from the observation that I witnessed from inter-religion marriage. Note in advance: I've no intention of hurting anyone's feelings :-)
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Very true. Some years back I remember reading a blog on the topic, the blogger had made a list of celebrity inter-faith marriages. He had come to a conclusion that when the Man is muslim then he makes sure that woman converts to his faith. However when he is Hindu he wont force his faith. In the past there was a muslim woman colleague in our team she was rebellious enough to marry a Hindu Boy but she didn't want to adopt her new surname as she wanted to go on the Haj pilgrimage. Her new family had no objection what so ever.
ReplyDeleteyep...its what happens and its sad!
DeleteI think there is so much hue and cry over this whole religious and inter-state marriage,that reflects on our thinking and that we project on our children.That's really unfair,the people must and must be more open minded.
ReplyDeleteyes, open minded and tolerant :-)
DeleteI guess we as a society need an over haul of the faith thingy
ReplyDeletei'm more for freedom of choice for every individual :-)
Deleteyeah thats better
DeleteTrue...we as a society still have a long long way to go and accept these marriages!!
ReplyDeleteif we see more and more examples of successful ones without hindering freedom any one, i'm sure we'll reach there....until then we can only hope.
DeleteMy parents were Hindu and Christian and we were never told to follow either. Our home celebrated both the festivals of both the faiths. Today I am proud of my parents for the way we were raised, my sister and I both believe in the Humanity.
ReplyDeletethats great....however i, on the other hand, saw another bad example where the couple ultimately divorced, becos the husband wanted his child to follow hinduism, and the mother wanted to baptize him...but sadly the child died at very young age due to illness and after that the couple divorced...the husband later married hindu
DeleteTotally agree with whatever you said It's a taboo in Indian Society. No matter how open minded they are while making things happening at first but then they turn out to be as reluctant in accepting the things in future. In my views one should be free to carry, continue or follow faith in which one believes instead of being forced to do so!
ReplyDeleteyes and especially not forced on children!!!
DeleteI know what you mean and reading what you wrote does make sense that maybe the taboo is a good idea still ..
ReplyDeletewe call ourself educated but still look at us .. you given some good example of the so called learned educated people .. I am shocked AAMIR khan said that ..
Bikram's
Yes, he did. Read it in several places.
DeleteIt is sad that you targeted a particular religion in your article, you didn't tell that SRK do lakshmi puja in Diwali, you didn't tell that Nargis married Sunil Dutt and their children are Hindus, I haven't heard such statement from Aamir. Film Industry people are actually examples that inter-religion marriages could be successful.
ReplyDeleteHindi Hain Hum
I've not targetted anyone. Please read the ending note in my post. I can only write what I've seen very close. I wrote about my relatives who did inter-religion marriage, so I don't have to look far, do I? I think you missed that entirely. And little google helps if you haven't heard Aamir's statement which is quite a famous one -- or better still, ask him personally if you get the chance :-) Yea..Nargis/Sunil dutts children are hindus (?)_yet I wonder what led Sanjay to gang up with those paki-based terrorists if you know what I mean -- and my post wasn't about successful marriage - it was more about religion the children from such marriages end up following based on examples I saw close.
Delete