MOOD India: When Love Crosses Boundaries—Inter-Caste & Inter-Faith Marriage Today

In every generation, parents shake their heads and sigh: Kids today just don’t listen. When it comes to love and marriage, that age-old lament echoes louder than ever in India, where young people are pushing back against caste and religious divides in their search for partners. But what does India really think about inter-caste and inter-faith love in 2024?

In this episode of MOOD India, we went to the streets to ask people of all backgrounds—students, elders, shopkeepers, professionals—what they think about relationships that challenge traditional boundaries. And the responses? A complicated, sometimes contradictory portrait of a country in flux.

Love Across Generations

For some, inter-caste and inter-faith marriages represent a hopeful step toward a more inclusive India. Younger voices often express a desire to move beyond rigid categories, seeing love as something that transcends labels. Many urban youth, especially, see such relationships as an assertion of personal freedom, a right to choose beyond family or community expectations.

But not all shifts move in one direction. Some older generations express deep discomfort, viewing such marriages as a threat to cultural identity or social harmony. And it's not just an age divide—conservative views persist even among some young people, especially in regions where caste and religion remain deeply embedded in social life.

Urban vs. Rural Realities

While metropolitan areas show growing acceptance, rural communities often remain resistant. Honor killings, family ostracization, and social backlash continue to be real threats in many parts of the country. At the same time, stories of young couples defying the odds—and even receiving family support—are becoming more common. The landscape is shifting, but it remains uneven.

The Future of Love in India

As we spoke with people across different age groups and backgrounds, one thing became clear: India’s relationship with inter-caste and inter-faith love is neither fully progressive nor entirely regressive. It is, instead, a battleground of ideas—where love meets resistance, and where tradition and modernity wrestle for space in family homes, city streets, and village squares.

But in this push and pull, one question lingers: If every generation fights for more freedom in love, will today’s resistance eventually become tomorrow’s acceptance?