Gift of a daughter, change and continuity in marriage patterns among two generations of North Indians in Toronto and Delhi

grantor: University of TorontoIndian marriage has maintained a traditional form over a course of centuries. Studies have shown that most Indian marriages at the close of the 20 th century continue to be arranged within traditional structural boundaries defined by family characteristics. The present study for the first time makes an attempt to study changes and continuities in marriage patterns among two generations of North Indians living in two diverse geographical locations, namely Toronto and Delhi. Besides relying on the ideal marriage system and its rituals as given in the epics, the study uses various studies and indigenous theories relating to issues like 'kanyadan' (gift of a virgin), hypergamy, and dowry, peculiar to the North Indian marriage system. The study also uses McCall's (1966) Exchange and Bargaining perspective and the Choice and Exchange theory of Nye (1979) to examine trends in the marital behavior. A total of 56 families (28 each in Toronto and Delhi) were screened. From each family one informant each from the first and the second-generation were interviewed making a total of 56 respondents. The present analyses show that although arranged marriage is still a way of life, certain modifications have been introduced in the process of marriage of the younger generation. Movement in the direction of giving freedom to the young in the selection of their spouse was found in both Toronto and Delhi samples, and among both males and females. It is argued that the reason for the slow change could be due to the high costs associated with not conforming to the group's expectations and since the alternatives also seemed to carry heavy costs most respondents were found to have generally followed the existing norms and values of the East Indian society. Generational differences in behavior are interpreted here as a process of secular change over time and across generation. In general while the first-generation data indicate towards the adherence to a more traditional pattern of marriage; the behavior of the second-generation suggests a weakening of some traditional norms. Also while the young seem to be experimenting with the Canadian culture (in Toronto) and Westernization (in Delhi), high premiums continue to be placed on traditional norms associated with marriage.Ph.D