Caste-based Stratification in Kashmir: Reflections from Lived Experiences of Inter-caste Couples

Caste as a system of stratification plays an important role in Kashmiri society. Though many believe that there is no caste system, the reality is that caste is a working institution affecting many aspects of life in Kashmir. However, endogamy is the principal factor of this caste segregation in Kashmiri society, yet some people choose to marry outside their castes. In order to understand the essential nature of this caste system, the current study uses a phenomenological approach to construct a description of the lived experiences of inter-caste couples. Forty participants (20 couples) from five districts of Kashmir Valley were interviewed from December 2021 to December 2022. The study reported that inter-caste couples face many challenges during pre-and post-marriage. Such couples are stigmatized in society, and sometimes the stigma is passed on to their children as well. The study argues that there is a need for resilient targeted efforts to encourage inter-caste marriages so that the noose of the caste system can be loosened.