Legally, caste discrimination is abolished. Practically, caste still determines marriage (80% of marriages are intra-caste) and politics. However, the anonymity of the IT office and the metro train is slowly eroding the physical markers of caste (like specific last names or sacred threads).
Despite Bollywood movies, love marriages are still the minority. The arranged marriage system, mediated by families, remains the norm. It is not "forced marriage"; it is "assisted marriage." Families match horoscopes, caste, and economic status. The couple is given 30 minutes of chaperoned "talk time" before engagement. Surprisingly, these marriages have a lower divorce rate than love marriages in the West, because expectations are managed from day one. desi 52.com mms
The exuberant festival of colors marking the arrival of spring. Legally, caste discrimination is abolished