Bonded by love

Manpriya Singh

Mixed marriages make for interesting drawing-room conversations, stories that grown up grandchildren will love, tales that generations will be quoting to others. Hunky dory? On the flipside (and there always is), while such marriages are on the rise social stigmas sometimes persist and acclimatisation anyway never came easy!

“What’s beautiful about mixed marriages is that at the end of it all, couples say they came together because of the simple and powerful emotion called love,” shares Dr Rashmi Singla, author of Intermarriage and Mixed Parenting, Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being, a book presenting case studies and in-depth analysis of mixed marriages. “Given the global scenario, mixed marriages have increased exponentially, yet hardly any research-based studies exist on the social phenomenon,” she draws on the fact how the book will be of interest to academicians in anthropology, sociology, psychology and social work, as well as practitioners, including psychologists, counsellors, school advisors, and health workers.

The subject of the book gives way to obvious questions; perhaps it is something she experienced from close quarters. Shares the Denmark-based author of Indian origin, “I am not in a mixed marriage myself, but I have friends and colleagues who are. Moreover, while in Denmark I pursued research psychology and my PhD subject dealt with young immigrants.”

The testimonies in the book describe rich possibilities and bitter disappointments, offering lessons for services promoting mental health and well-being, and for improving psychosocial intervention. “The book deals with in-depth interviews with eight couples, apart from two case studies.” Mixed marriages are thus explored though intimate stories drawn from the real lives of visibly different couples.

Difficult zone

Perhaps, there are double the adjustment issues for such couples? “It is a very relevant question but not the one to which there is a clear answer. Divorces and inter-marriages are both on the rise clearly. It can’t be said clearly whether such marriages are more difficult.” Adds the 61-year-old, “The acceptance at the societal level depends on what family we are talking about.”

Parenting & all that

Likewise, it isn’t very easy for children either. “It is very important for parents to introduce the child to both cultures,” shares the author, all set for a much broader study in the field.

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