Noted sociologist Dr Bashir A Dabla (Sociology Department, University of Kashmir) lead a study to understand the transformations that the traditional practices of marriage have undergone in Kashmir. Shifts dictated by the global processes of change and development continue to play a specific role for the basis, maintenance and continuity of the institution of marriage. Carried out by the second year students pursuing their MA (Sociology), the investigators interviewed 2500 individuals, 250 from every district, (giving due representation to age, gender, level of education, income and the places they live in) for identifying the ‘changes’, the causes and consequences of it and tried to determine the direction of the change.
The survey found the polygamy nose-diving and monogamy increasing. It saw patri-matri local marriages being replaced by neo-local marriages as the traditional systems were paving way for non-traditional-/modern type of marriages. Findings are very interesting.
Polygamy V/S Monogamy
The survey revealed 83.90 percent had monogamous marriages and only 8.20 percent were polygamous matrimonies. At the time of survey, 15.56% had second wife, 6.59% third wife and 4.70% fourth wife. Dominant percentage (83.81%) of the second wives lived with their spouses in joint families but in 17% cases they lived separately in nuclear families. In over 31% cases, the wives (not the first one) are from within the clan, followed by around 29% which are from the same caste, over 20% from the same group and over 15% from the same occupation. Death of previous wife is responsible for remarriage in 37% of cases followed by 28% whose first wife did not bear a child and in 27% cases whose earlier wife has health problem. There were desire driven remarriages in 16% cases and in 15% economic considerations were the main factor. Over seven percent were actually driven by love.
Absolute satisfaction, universal practice, full care of the children, family stability and economic considerations were the main factors that respondents said in justification of the monogamy. Majority of the monogamous marriages took place within the same class, caste, occupation or a group.
Endogamy V/S Exogamy
Marrying within the family, clan, caste or a group is an endogamous marriage and anything opposite to it is exogamy. The survey revealed that 45.35 % respondents practiced endogamy as 54.80 % marriages were exogamous. In 26.54% it was marriages with cousins and in 24.56% it was a cross cousin marriage as 35% marriages took place with other relatives.
In exogamous matrimonies 53% married outside the caste they belonged to and over seven percent outside the area they belonged to. Over 41% respondents said they had (bitter) experience of marrying within the relation and in 26.78% cases the individuals were against the caste they belonged to. Education and other factors were responsible for the balance part of the numbers.
Hypergamy V/S Hypogamy
Males being upper castes and females lower castes makes a hypergamous marriages and a situation opposite to it is hypogamous. Kashmir lacks a well defined caste system but somehow it exists. The survey suggested there were 22.76 % hypergamous marriages as 14.15 % were hypogamous practice. For the remaining numbers, it did not apply. Respondents have given diverse justifications for the trend with destiny and love marriage making a good portion in both the cases. In 61% cases, those in hypogamous marriages said it is prescribed by faith.
Address Post Marriage
Traditionally Kashmir has Patrilocal marriages, a practice in which the bride settles at groom’s household. But there are instances of Matrilocal marriages in which groom settle down in brides’ home. Cases in which the couples establish nuclear households separate of both the two options they are called Neo-local marriages. The survey found 64.21% were patrilocal, 28.50% were neolocal and 7.31% were matrilocal marriages. Patrilocal being traditional system so justifications are known to all. For the cases of grooms going and settling at brides homes the factors responsible are varied – 24.70% poverty, 23.14% lone daughter, 2.30% death of parents and 2.03% love marriages. In such cases 71% get inheritances, over 57% get more respect and families stabilize. Family dis-organization is responsible in around 42% of the cases for forcing neolocal residences. The other factors include consensual separation (13.40%), jobs (6.81%), death of parents (6.52%), love marriages (2.35%) and education of children (5.16%).
