Inter-Caste Marriages in Tamil Nadu before and after 69% Reservation Policy (1990).

All the caste-based discriminations in Indian society are mainly due to the practice of endogamy within the caste, which is an excellent blockage to social development as well as to establishing an egalitarian society. As in other states of South India, marriage within the caste is believed to be a sacred institution in Tamil Nadu, and hence, inter-caste marriages that can eradicate caste discrimination seem to be taboo in the view of many people. Incidence of such inter-caste marriages was very low before the enforcement of 69% reservation in this state, but it doubled within 33 years after that policy. The socio-economic and educational uplifts of deprived caste groups (BC, MBC/DNC, SC and ST) due to the implementation of this policy are behind this increase in the proportion of inter-caste marriages in recent years. The rate of inter-caste marriages has increased from 1.9% in 1990 to 3.8% in 2023, indicating society's upward mobility towards classlessness. Inter-caste marriages are more predominant among educated middle-class people in urban settlements than among poor people living in rural areas. Though the governmental schemes and legislations are in favour of out-caste marriages, in some cases, the boys and girls who attempt to follow inter-caste marriages are hacked to death by their parents or caste associations. This paper investigates the status of inter-caste marriages in Tamil Nadu before and after the 69% reservation policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]