Muslims too against inter-caste marriages
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Mendhar (Poonch), September 29
Inter-caste marriage has always been hard to materialise among Hindus here in this border township, now among Muslims too it is facing stiff opposition.

According to Hindu religion, while Brahmans cannot marry Rajputs, Shatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras and can tie a knot with the Brahmans only.

Interestingly, the rigid caste system prevail in Muslims too and takes a notable stand against inter-caste marriages in this border township. The couple wishing to tie the knot has to face the music. Most of the times, many simply give up.

The inter-caste marriages among Chauhan, Manhas and Manyal to Qureshi, Teli and Khokhar Rajputs are not welcomed here. “It is not that the caste system is rigid among the Hindus, but even in our area, it is deep-rooted among us also,” said Tehseen Ahmed, a resident.

“Inter-caste marriages hardly materialise in our society because of social stigma associated with them. There have been cases where the couple has to take extreme steps on not being allowed to marry,” added Ahmed.

“Caste polarisation, which I find in Rajouri and Poonch, has rarely been seen elsewhere. Leave aside the inter-caste marriages, there are problems within the sub-castes of a particular caste among the Muslims,” said Zaffar Chowdhary, a resident and a journalist who has worked on the identities of Rajouri and Poonch.

It is not only that the rigid caste system affects marriages, but it influences the social relations between people belonging to different castes. “It is very unfortunate that even as our Prophet has clearly said that those who believed in caste system or propagated such things were not Muslims. People still believe in caste system and take it very seriously. It is we the priests as well as the politicians who are responsible for dividing people on caste lines for our own petty benefits”, said a local priest asking not to be named. “However, I do feel that education can enlighten the minds of people. The caste system will ultimately go away from our society with people getting educated,” added the priest.