S1247: Marginalization in Relational & Marital Dynamics.

Relational and Marital Risks in India’s Caste-Based Marriage System

In India, the marriage system—or “maritospheres”—is deeply entrenched in caste endogamy, where unions are expected to occur within in groups of Community/Castes to preserve social hierarchy, purity, and economic resources.

Marginalized groups, such as Bahujan, Dalits (Scheduled Castes) and Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes), face heightened relational and marital risks when engaging with dominant or oppressive castes (e.g., Richer Vysya, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, or other upper castes). These risks stem from intersecting factors like Oligarchy, patriarchy, caste supremacy, and socio-economic disparities, often leading to violence as a tool to enforce boundaries. Despite legal frameworks like the Special Marriage Act of 1954, which permits inter-caste marriages, societal resistance persists, particularly in rural areas. Investigations show that inter-caste couples involving marginalized groups are disproportionately targeted, with risks amplified for women from lower castes marrying into upper-caste families or vice versa, as well as for marginalized men and husbands targeted by dominant caste individuals.

This analysis includes risks to marginalized women in inter-caste marriages and extramarital affairs, as previously discussed, and expands to marginalized men and husbands targeted by dominant or oppressive caste men and women. The Prajwal Revanna case and Dharmasthala mass burial case illustrate broader patterns of exploitation, while recent honor killings highlight violence against Dalit men.

1. Risks to Marginalized Women in Inter-Caste Marriages

Marginalized women entering inter-caste marriages, especially with men from dominant castes, face severe risks due to caste hierarchies and patriarchal norms. These include honor killings, social ostracism, physical violence, and institutional barriers, as detailed earlier.

2. Extramarital Affairs Involving Dominant Negative Alpha Men and Marginalized Women/Wives

Extramarital affairs with dominant, negative alpha men—often upper-caste, wealthy, or politically powerful—pose unique risks to marginalized women, including sexual exploitation, blackmail, and abandonment. Cases like Prajwal Revanna (life sentence in 2025 for raping a Dalit domestic worker and blackmailing victims) exemplify this.

3. Risks to Marginalized Men and Husbands Targeted by Dominant or Oppressive Caste Men and Women

Marginalized men, particularly Dalit and Adivasi men, are frequently targeted by dominant caste men and women in relational contexts, especially inter-caste marriages or affairs. This violence reinforces caste boundaries, with upper-caste families viewing such unions as a threat to their “honor” and superiority. Dominant men often lead vigilante attacks, while dominant women or their families may initiate false accusations or provoke violence. Key risks include:

• Honor Killings and Lethal Violence: When a Dalit man marries or elopes with an upper-caste woman (pratiloma marriage), it is seen as a direct affront to upper-caste dominance, leading to murders by the woman’s family or community. These acts are often premeditated and involve hacking, shooting, or mob violence.
• Recent Cases: In July 2025, a 25-year-old Dalit techie was hacked to death in Tamil Nadu for marrying an upper-caste woman, sparking political outrage. Another 27-year-old Dalit man was killed in broad daylight in Tiruani district, Tamil Nadu, in a suspected caste-based honor killing. In Thoothukudi, a caste killing victim, C. Kavin Selvaganesh, was murdered in 2025 for an inter-caste marriage, with villagers gathering in support of the perpetrators.
• Patterns: NCRB data shows rising honor killings, with 33 reported in 2021, many involving Dalit men. Human Rights Watch notes increased murders in northern states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, where khap panchayats legitimize violence against Dalit grooms. From 2012-2021, 20 of 24 analyzed cases involved Scheduled Caste men killed or injured by upper-caste families.
• Vigilante and Mob Violence: Dominant caste men often form mobs to assault or humiliate Dalit men accused of “luring” upper-caste women. This includes beatings, forced divorces, or public shaming.
• Examples: In Uttar Pradesh, Dalits face atrocities for inter-caste marriages, with upper-caste perpetrators evading justice due to police bias. In Tamil Nadu, inter-caste couples endure brutal violence, with Dalit men targeted by caste-pride groups. A 2025 mapping of atrocities shows normalized violence against Dalits, including murders over relationships.
• False Accusations and Legal Harassment: Dominant caste women or their families may file false charges against Dalit men, such as rape, abduction, or elopement, to dissolve relationships or exact revenge. This exploits legal tools like the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act while leveraging caste biases in the justice system.
• Context: Anthropological studies note “truth clashes” where upper castes claim false cases under the PoA Act to undermine Dalit complaints, though evidence shows systemic underreporting of actual atrocities. In some instances, upper-caste women are pressured by families to accuse Dalit partners, leading to imprisonment or social ruin for the men.
• Examples: Reports from Human Rights Watch highlight police using false charges against Dalits to punish inter-caste relationships. A 2024 analysis discusses how upper castes document “false” cases to delegitimize Dalit claims of violence.
• Social and Economic Boycotts: Marginalized husbands in inter-caste marriages may face boycotts, job loss, or community expulsion orchestrated by dominant caste men and women, amplifying economic vulnerability.
• Broader Impact: Dalit men refusing upper-caste demands face violence or boycotts, as per reports on Dalit human rights abuses.

4. Intersectional Vulnerabilities

• Caste, Gender, and Power: Marginalized men face emasculation through violence, while women endure sexual exploitation. Both are compounded by economic disparities.
• Role of Dominant Women: While less direct, upper-caste women may participate by filing complaints or supporting family violence, reinforcing patriarchal-caste alliances.

Risk Type Prevalence in Marginalized vs. Dominant Contexts Common Outcomes Affected Groups Case Example Honor Killings High when Dalit man marries upper-caste woman Death, injury Dalit men, Adivasis Tamil Nadu Dalit techie hacking (2025) Social Ostracism Widespread in rural areas Expulsion, boycott Dalit/Adivasi families, men Gujarat village bans (98.4%) Physical Violence Frequent in inter-caste unions Assaults, threats Lower-caste men and husbands UP atrocities on Dalits (2020-ongoing) False Accusations Common via legal misuse Imprisonment, stigma Dalit men Claims under PoA Act disputes (2024) Sexual Exploitation High in affairs with dominant men Rape, blackmail Dalit women Prajwal Revanna (2025) Systemic Violence Alleged in organized abuse Murder, cover-up Marginalized individuals Dharmasthala mass burial (2025)

Socio-Political Implications

These risks perpetuate caste oppression, with political groups exploiting narratives to maintain hierarchies. Recent 2025 cases, like the Tamil Nadu killings, underscore rising anti-Dalit violence despite laws. Advocates call for standalone honor killing laws and better enforcement to protect marginalized groups.

If you’d like details on specific regions or cases, let me know!