04-30-2007, 03:25 AM
Inter-caste marriage is a product of Nationalism and modernization. I don't necessarily think it's good or bad, smaller tribal identities are changing into bigger tribal identities. The fundamental concept of tribalism will always be a part of humanity. Humans will always identify them self with a tribe, and they will always unite against something.
For example, in the west they sometimes talk about religious unity, but usually here they only include Islam, Christianity and Judaism. In other words, even the so called liberal people who want all religions to get along only consider Abrahamic religions as real religions. Therefore, they are effectively attempting to do the old "people of the book" racket, where they unite against non-Abhrahamic religions (or anything that isn't monotheistic). As a Hindu, I would naturally prefer to see such efforts fail.
Beware of people who talk about unity because people usually unite against something (and that might be you!).
In this case it's generally good if Hindu's unite because of inter-caste marriage. The so called caste system however is not necessarily a bad thing like Western media propaganda would have you believe. The bad part is when people get caught up in their micro identity and forget the big picture threats that affect Hinduism as a whole. The so called evil caste system also provided a strong tribal identity when Hindu civilization was under foreign rule and fragmented. Without a doubt, this played no small part in the survival of Hindu civilization through the last 1000 years of foreign rule.
BTW in Europe you will find people who identify themselves as Southern Catholic German or Tuscan or some kind of local identity. This demonstrates how smaller ethnic identities don't vanish under the modern nation state. Even in the U.S., you will find Amish, Quakers, snake worshiping sects in West Virginia etc..
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Apr 27 2007, 11:49 PM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Apr 27 2007, 11:49 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Majority of members here on this forum I am sure would agree with me when I say that inter-caste marriages is a good sign as it indicates majority of Hindus have started seeing themselves first and foremost as Hindus and do not see themselves still as a member of so and so caste or belonging to this or that region of India.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, lot of plus. Different gene pool is always good.
In my family we had marriages out of caste, state, country and religion. Every marriage brought good and bad experience. Marriage between Hindus whether it was out of caste or State worked very well. Even north and south India did well. Marriage between xitian and Hindu turned out to be bad because both were strong towards own faith. They are still married but girl/wife doesnât mix with Hindu Husband side of family. Out of country marriage ends up with tragedy. Among Hindus, in-laws stress was there but both families brought their own traditions and rituals, which itself became new tradition and healthy one.
I think till marriage day or before marriage caste may be a smaller issue but after marriage that evaporates and traditions and rituals take over. Both sides tries to be better than other in following RIGHT way of tradition and rituals.
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For example, in the west they sometimes talk about religious unity, but usually here they only include Islam, Christianity and Judaism. In other words, even the so called liberal people who want all religions to get along only consider Abrahamic religions as real religions. Therefore, they are effectively attempting to do the old "people of the book" racket, where they unite against non-Abhrahamic religions (or anything that isn't monotheistic). As a Hindu, I would naturally prefer to see such efforts fail.
Beware of people who talk about unity because people usually unite against something (and that might be you!).
In this case it's generally good if Hindu's unite because of inter-caste marriage. The so called caste system however is not necessarily a bad thing like Western media propaganda would have you believe. The bad part is when people get caught up in their micro identity and forget the big picture threats that affect Hinduism as a whole. The so called evil caste system also provided a strong tribal identity when Hindu civilization was under foreign rule and fragmented. Without a doubt, this played no small part in the survival of Hindu civilization through the last 1000 years of foreign rule.
BTW in Europe you will find people who identify themselves as Southern Catholic German or Tuscan or some kind of local identity. This demonstrates how smaller ethnic identities don't vanish under the modern nation state. Even in the U.S., you will find Amish, Quakers, snake worshiping sects in West Virginia etc..
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Apr 27 2007, 11:49 PM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Apr 27 2007, 11:49 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Majority of members here on this forum I am sure would agree with me when I say that inter-caste marriages is a good sign as it indicates majority of Hindus have started seeing themselves first and foremost as Hindus and do not see themselves still as a member of so and so caste or belonging to this or that region of India.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, lot of plus. Different gene pool is always good.
In my family we had marriages out of caste, state, country and religion. Every marriage brought good and bad experience. Marriage between Hindus whether it was out of caste or State worked very well. Even north and south India did well. Marriage between xitian and Hindu turned out to be bad because both were strong towards own faith. They are still married but girl/wife doesnât mix with Hindu Husband side of family. Out of country marriage ends up with tragedy. Among Hindus, in-laws stress was there but both families brought their own traditions and rituals, which itself became new tradition and healthy one.
I think till marriage day or before marriage caste may be a smaller issue but after marriage that evaporates and traditions and rituals take over. Both sides tries to be better than other in following RIGHT way of tradition and rituals.
[right][snapback]67965[/snapback][/right]
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