What do you think about inter-racial marriages and relationships?

Today, inter-racial marriages are not unusual. However, many people have conflicting view points about inter-racial relationships. Some people believe that being involved in these types of relationships is a good way for the partners to learn about a different culture. On the other hand, many others believe that an inter-racial relationships weakens a persons background and culture. What do you think?

Add Your Thought



I am an Irish Catholic from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Im currently dating a Sikh guy from the UK, we have been together for a while & he has met my family, who think alot of him, I know the whole culture issues regarding his religion, however we are both still together & have plans to build a future together. His mum & dad were an "arranged marriage", however his mum is far from happy, my boyfriend dad has in the past beaten her up, my boyfriend has refused to go to India & marry due to the fact he doesnt want to marry a Sikh girl, that doesnt mean at all he dis-respects his religion or beliefs or his family. His mum has accepted this probably deep down because she realises how unhappy she is & doesnt want the same for her son. My fathers sister are all white catholics who have married Sikh & Hindu men, they all have families and are extremley happy & their children to. I think this world is the way it is because of peoples opinion on religion, Im from a city where people get murdered because of religion, I just think its pointless. I respect everyone, their beliefs & religion, but everyone doesnt think like you, plz remember that before you judge each other.
-- Claire , claire.brennan@hotmail.com


I think interracial marriages are perfectly fine. I hate the fact that someone would choose something else over love. I`ve gone through relationships like that but i was strong enough to let the man leave me because of his family. That is love, but I`ve been heartbroken so many times and I learned that it isnt fair. I am only 20 and its not right for me to feel so heartbroken, it scars you. I am african american, but my father is from Jamaica and I have a pinch of indian blood...if u look at me then you`d know i had some sort of weird mix there and i act very different than one would expect. I am very into different cultures and I major in history so i learn so much about every culture. I have learned about my ancestors and I am proud of each and every little pinch i have. I am just as good as any other woman out there and I am educated and a very kind person. I do not fit any stereotypes either. I am currently dating a guy that is sikh punjabi, but he was born in California and is not completely traditional. I`ve been with him for a while now and hes treated me so well and i`ve dumped everyone else i was dating just for him. I would convert to be a sikh even if i am not recognized as one. Love is sacrafice, but you shouldnt always be the one that sacrafices. I date mostly guys out of my race and most of the time its an indian man. Its my own business if I want an interracial relationship or marriage and no culture clash will tear me away from who i love because differences are not such a big deal to ruin love.
-- mai , indiecat2@yahoo.com


I think inter racial marriages are not "bad" at all, because if god himself said through the gurus teaching everyone is equal and all are from the same god, it shoudn`t matter, for example the Golden temple has four doors, why? to welcome everyone from ALL 4 corners of the world . And I am sure if god welcomes everyone with open arms he is not going to judge on why you can marry someone as long as both of you have the same religious aspects and agree on them. And yes I am a punabi girl full blooded who is married to a hispanic and african american (mt Husband). People think its wrong or bad because not because they think god said its wrong but what each other will say (stupid gossip crew).
-- Jinder , Jina27HK@yahoo.com


Ok people heres the deal, I need anyones advice whos willing to give it. A few months ago I met this guy named Solomon. We had never met in person and had no idea what eachother looked like. We talked on the phone every hour of every day and fell madly in love. I know ya`ll are thinkin omg this has nothing to do with the meaning of the website but just wait. So anyway, we find that we have like everything in common and that we seem perfect for eachother. He proposed to me after the first month. I of course said yes so ever since we have been engaged. Well just last night I saw a picture of him for the first time. He`s black. I love him to death dont get me wrong but just seeing his picture changed everything. I am not racist I swear it`s just that my dad has always been totally against inter-racial realtionships. I dont know what to tell Solomon or if I should even bring it up! God anyone, anyone at all who reads this please email me with some advice! I`m begging you! Thanx for listening...or reading actually!
-- China , zacs_gurl@hotmail.com


i think merriege can be made by that person who is loved by our heart he can be from any relision any comunity.because all the people are same in all the thungs. all have hairs,legs,arms and all the things are same.then we should not have any problem with it. the world is very advance now. no body thinks about relision for merrieage.so we should also leave these old thoughts that sikh boy or girl cannot merry any other religious person. we must be advance.
-- jatana , jatt_boys134@yahoo.com


Just like to add that I am from an interracial family(Indian father and German mother) I have the best of both worlds and love everything about it!! Growing up in predominently "white" area, I have been able teach people about Indian culture and they have come to admire the beauty that was previously ignored.
-- Tracie , chahilt@students.udmercy.edu


Hi everyone, I`m Sharon, Indian Catholic, from Singapore. Inter-racial marriages today, is perfectly ok. It`s simply about compromise. God created us all the same. It is we who choose to call ourselves what we are today. Religion is simple, All God is one God. That`s what every religion teaches us. So what`s the problem in marrying any race or religion. We all believe in the same God. Well, some may be offended about this but this is the truth. Sharon - - - Sat Sri Akaal
-- Sharon , sharonj@singnet.com.sg


Hello everyone on this forum. I am a Christian Punjabi guy from Pakistan and I wish to congratulate all those couples making interracial marriages or engaged in similar relationships. In fact this forum is a great site to develop matrimonial relations to which I ever admire. I am also a victim of arranged marriage by our parents (as in vogue in our culture), we became un-happy couple after six years of our marriage and have separated now. I seek a suitable match, a lady from any european country for long term relations or marriage, interested ladies may please contact. Independent ladies are most welcome. Thank you for viewing my message. zafarmasih2001@yahoo.com
-- Zafar , zafarmasih2001@yahoo.com


Hi my name is Pinney, I am in a a relationship with a punjabi khatri boy.I myself am American and also christrian. I meet Rahul last year in a place where neither of us were suppose to be at a time when neither of us were looking for a relationship.The two of us fell hard for one another very quickly and it felt like we had been together before, like we were old friends.We live together now and even though our lives seem very different and in many ways are. We are also very similar. The one problem is his family. They want to arrange a marriage for him.They were not happy to find out he wanted to marry me.Since then I have become a secret. He lives here in America now and had to take many favors from his family to get here.Which ment no more Pinney and Rahul.They told him if he wanted to be here it was under there orders and that means they pick his wife.Being American I believe in love marriages.I have never before been involved with someone outside of my race.I have also never before been in love with someone the way I love this man.He loves me too and wants to be with me.The reality of this situation is he will probably leave me to marry a caste compatiable girl of his parents choice.I am saddened by this, the future of our relationship is not decided by us but by outside members.I don`t think people should make presumptious remarkes about the out come of interracial relationships when they have never dated out side there race, religon, or even caste for that matter.To say that children of non-pure blood act badly is ignorant!I only hope that Rahul has enough faith in our love to stand up for our love relationship.If god wanted us to stay to one religion or culture than why would he have created thousands of different beliefs?He made us all and loves us all.So my opiion on this subject is simply this......If you feel that you parents know best on who should be your mate for life than stick to just that.Don`t mix with us love believing folk!Don`t send your children to countries that don`t co-inside with your belifes and expect them not to adapt to some of their belifes.Keep them in India and shelter them to other ways of thinking.
-- Jennifer , poopookapur@yahoo.com


Hi my name is Gurjeet and i think that the religion do not matter at all in the case of marrige bcoz someone said that" Love is religion" . When v do friendship with someone then we dont ask him/her which religion u belong then y in marriges just to satisfy some relative or our parents well i think if i will marry then i will marry only that girl who luvs me truely from her heart then i dont care she is a gori, hindu, muslim,sikh or christan. i want love from my partner not religion. What religion gave you 84 roits, dead bodies plz guys grow up and start thinking posetive. anyone thinks i m wrong contact me at gurjeetsinghkang@yahoo.co.uk
-- Gurjeet , gurjeetsinghkang@yahoo.co.uk


Hi This is a totally personal issue...it is up to the person(s) involved. If someone is highly spiritual then the possibility is they will be against it...but that is up to them....telling people what they do and how is very wrong and it is TOTALLY disgusting and unacceptable to say `Goras and Karas` are badly behaved, etc as an excuse...let people marry there love! Richard
-- Richard , richardcregan@btinternet.com


I`m Chinese American and my ex-boyfriend is Indian. We were dating two years before he broke up with me two days before he was to met a girl his parents have selected for him. He has agreed to marry her and will marry her in 4 months. I`m really hurt that he is so ready to marry someone he has just met and forget everything we had together. I`m not sure how to get over this as I feel heartbroken. :( He told me that he still loves and cares for me but he can`t be with me simply because I`m not Indian. Any advice on how I can forget him? Ling
-- Ling , blah@yahoo.com


Even though many people might think that interacial marriages are wrong due to cultural values or religious beliefs, I feel that people whom choose to marry somebody from another nationality other than their own should not only be not criticized, they should also be respected for the strength which they portray by doing this. I mean yeah I`ll admitt it is much easier marrying someone from your own culture because you don`t have many communicational barriers due to the fact that your both from the same culture. Yet nobody ever said love was an easy thing to obtain, so in reality you should follow your heart, because if not your living your own judgment day, day after day and might regret loosing a special loved one meerly because they were either not fm your culture or your religion. However, I do strongly agree that if you know you are going to abide in the arranged marriage tradition dont waste peoples ti! me. Anoop "Matchless Beauty"
-- Echi , sexychic140@hotmail.com


Whas Happenin People! Well this discussion is pretty interesting. i had a view to air but i think ill keep it to my self now, the reason being quite simple - everyone has their own opinion and perspective on the topic of mixed-marriages. if you read thru the posted messages then u`ll get a collection of so many different views, whether it be for or against the cause. so what im trying to say is if ur for it ur for it, if ur not then ur not. dnt let other ppls opinions and judgements affect what you might have. after all the main difference between mixed marriages has to be culture. and if ur willing to over come that then go for it, if not then allow it.coz ppl often get confused between religon and culture,dnt put the two into the same genre. religon is what u believe in and what ur parents have told or preached you about. culture on the other hand involves the traditions and backgrounds of your race.i myself am a sikh (as u`ve probs gathered from the name,lol) but if i were to marry a hindu,gujerati,mixed hindu/punjabi, then it wud b fine...becoz that person wud still b indian. and thas all that matters. however if i were to marry sum1 of a completely diff religon then it wud affect me dramatically and then further complications and issues would follow in the future. any how my message to all those reading is that we`re all one, we r all part of the human race.god decided on wha religon we were put into, and then the human race has further divided people by stereotyping i.e. cast systems and/or culture. it is a very fragile subject but at the end of the day ur the one who has to make the decision which will affect your life and how you live it. peace.
-- Ranveer , rajaji_4life@hotmail.com


inter-racial marriages/relationships will always have its problems e.g.being involoved in an additional/new religion or culture,its alot 2 take on.if u truly love sum1 then religion n culture shud not b an issue and u shud not have to convert for them.however if culture n religion is still an issue, then if u truly love sum1 then u wud set them free as the saying goes,there is no point in u both being in a r/ship that has this sort of problem, it will only go on2 make u both unhappy.
-- Kay , khadizabegum@hotmail.com


I think it`s wrong. Maybe not to certain people, but it`s my opinion. We were born Punjabi, most of us are 100% Indian. I am. I`m 100% Chamar, Punjabi, and Indian. Mixed with nothing. We need to continue on or future generations won`t know what they are. Do we honestly want to end up like those goras or karas? Having our children misbehave like that? I think not! Be a pround Punjabi!
-- Sonia , xprecious_princess92x@yahoo.com


All of you people say that the only true thing is to find the one you love. This is more than love, this is our religion, our families, our country, unless you can understand this, you won`t be able to understand us at all. I`m Hindu, I will have a arranged marriage, it is the right thing. My religion is everything to me even though I may be an American. I need something to grasp onto that. Other religions aren`t as complex or spiritual as ours. Hindu, Sikh, and Islam make up the majority of the country. These religions are very spiritual. Christianity is a religion that one can basically escape to when you don`t know what you are such as your mixed with a whole bunch of nationalities. You have got to understand our beliefs, or you don`t understand us. I`m a proud desi, and always will be
-- Sonia , xprecious_princess92x@yahoo.com


Hi there, I think its really iggnorent of people to not know the difference between etnicity (culture and race, remeber these are 2 completly different groups. This in turn can and has caused alot of greif and confusion in the way people think especially in regards to mixed relations. First of all from years of invasions wars and history when you think about it there is no such think as ful blood anythings we are all made up of several different ethnic groups which over time has created different types of people so if you were to genuinley trace back your ancestory properly you may be suprised that your great great great great grandfather was not a race you may have expected. Technically everyone is of mixed race. I am what I call a licorice allsorts I have 7 different ethnic backgrounds flowing through my veins I am proud and I am very aware of who I am. I beleive religion is ones choice just bacause you are born a jewish doent mean you have to preactice the jewish faith and just bacause you are born from punjabi parents doesnt make you a sihk. Punjabi is the reac shiksm is the religion its your choice in the end. The good thing about christainity is that they know the difference between race and religion, thats why if you were to go to a church- any denomonation, you will find peopl from ALL racial backgrounds EVERYONE is welcome, thats what religion is about the union of humankind, peace love and giving. I have a punjabi boyfreind he knows who he is and where he stands, he knows I beleive in the christian faith though I dont attend church but that doesnt make me anyless of a christian. We both respect each ohters cultural and religious backgrounds. I went to his homeland India and stayed with his family and extended family for 4 months (thats along time) I got along with them just fine I ate everything mummyji cooked I attended temple services and went to many functions and weddings where I felt excepted and loved. Thank god for open minded people like my partners family. We are haveing a son anyday now andabe rest assured like me he will be aware of his background and have the choice to take on any religion and partner he pleases. We are definatly not forcing anything upon him. I beleive its up to the people mnot the race or religion to decide weather a realtionship will last or not. Stop all this iggnorent crap get with the real world. Blood is red and veins are blue get over urselves this is how world wars can start.
-- Jessica , Cleomj19@hotmail.com


I have read everythign on this page, it`s my turn now. Look at all the white and black people at school. Think about it, seriously. Look at their grades, behavior, etc. at school? Now compare that to Indians or 100% this or that people. Honestly, if you were to marry someone of another race, would you want them to turn out as those goras or karas? I don`t think so. We don`t want out children to end up like that! They won`t know who they are growing up or ever! Am I this or am I that? Your parents will suffer dramatically if you`re Indian. We`re very religious people. We have arranged marriages. You say it`s not right? Yes, it is. Do you truly understand our customs? No, you don`t. Unless you can understand our beliefs, customs, religion, country, and more, you won`t be able to understand us at all. Marry and Indian, it`s not going to work out, I promise you that.
-- Sonia , xprecious_princess92x@yahoo.com


I believe there should have no problem of marrige between Inter Racial. Inter Religious marrige is also possible , in that case Bride /Bride-groom should accept the same religion. That is Religious stand.
-- Syed , bd_syed@yahoo.com


I believe that there is one God who created the earth and everything on it. God created human beings and gave us the ability to love, animals do not have this ability. Love is a precious gift that we have been given and if you find love with somebody, you shouldn`t let it go. I think that we should love people no matter what race or religion or caste they are. If two people love eachother then nothing should stand in their way. You need to spend the rest of your life with someone who can make you happy, take care of you, make you laugh and smile, and love you as passionately and totally as you love them. Love is about acceptance, if you love someone you accept what they believe and they accept what you believe. Families are important, but you do not spend your life with your family, you spend it with your partner, your partner is who you spend your time with and share things with. I think if your family truly loves you they will want you to be happy, and if being happy means that you marry someone outside of your own race, religion, or caste, then so be it. You can`t help who you fall in love with. You can`t be truly happy unless you find that person to love, without them there would be a gap in your life, a constant feeling that something is missing. For everyone out there struggling, don`t give up. Sometimes the best things in life are worth fighting for. You are doing nothing wrong, God made us equal, God would approve of love between two people, any two people, no matter what the differences between the two people may be. Love is love at the end of the day, and people are people.
-- vicky , vicky_manifold@hotmail.com


Hi, I am American caucasian and engaged to A Punjabi Sikh. He lives here in the US. We met online and talked for 3 years before we met in person. After a few meetings we got to be dating then engaged. I am happy with him as a human being, also I accepted Sikhism before I loved him, so there is no problem with religions being different. I like indian food and culture. My Mom accepts him as does my brother, but his family knows nothing about me. I think this is wierd and maybe some surprise will be waiting for me in the future if they dont like me, butI will meet them eventually, and hope all goes well. Waheguru will be with me no matter what life`s challenges. But I never saw my guy as brown or white, or yellow or purple. He is a nice man. Last time I checked were both human beings!
-- Deborah , debbieinaz@yahoo.com


I`m Patrick from Switzerland, 39 years old, married to a Swiss lady and I have one 8-year old son. I was born as a roman-catholic, but I abandoned church because I don`t have any common with it or with the pope. Still I consider myself as a christian. I`m quite liberal, and I think inter-racial marriages are alright. If there is love, there won`t bi any problems. But the families must agree as well. It`s easy for me, as a Swiss, to say so. because we don`t have any ethnic unrests in our country. Even though we have racist differences. There are lots of Muslime people in my country, and some people start to worry about. I must admit, that I don`t have a great idea of Indian (or Punjabi) culture and tradition (yet). I`m still learning. And therfore I would love to get in contact with people and maybe nwe friends in India. And at last, let me mention, that the most lovely and pretty ladies are fom India... (e.g. the nice actress "Parminder Nagra" who emmigrated to the U.K.) Pat
-- patrick , pat_bs@yahoo.de


Inter racial relationships will work just fine if the 2 people love each other and give 100% to the relationship including compromise as with any relationship. But the most important thing in an inter racial relationship is RESPECT! If both dont have that respect, love or not, it wont work.
-- Shelly , cinderella25313@hotmail.com


hey punjab,m cherry from usa n m adding my thoughts well i personally am in the favour of inter caste marriages. i mean why people have hatred for those who do inter caste marriages. moreover m a sikh n i like a guy who is muslim. but what is the fuss all about? people think if cultures dont match there cant b a marriage. but i say culture is not required for a happy marriage but all we need is love for that person so that we can spend our lives happily ever after..hope circumstances may change n people may start thinking broadly..
-- cherry , chandan_swatch@yahoo.com


I tried to read all the thoughts left on this one question (and there are a lot). The culture between two individuals who are willing to take their relationship to the next step - marriage - will not be lost if there is already an understanding in the beginning that they will raise their kids "this" religion or do "that" once they are married. That being attending mass, or going to the Gurdwara and such. I would be willing to raise my kids Sikh, or the religion my husband believes in. A wise person once told me God is everywhere and people can believe in whatever they want to believe in, even a rock. In some religions, yes, they do pray over a rock. If it makes that person spiritually happy, than power and peace be with them. We are here to be happy. That theme of being happy, or finding your happiness is in most all major world religions. Who would want to suffer? Who is anybody to judge what God ordained or does? Who said that God never meant for a man and a woman of different cultures to be together? Let`s be simplisic, as much as possible. The woman carries the culture on and teaches it to her children and her children`s children (the grandkids). You have to realize what you are getting into when dating and before entering marriage, not after - that is why there is a high percentage of divorce rates every year. Research. Learn about the community, learn about the languages, the dances, the food, and have some idea in frame what it will be like for you to be in that other persons life. Yes, it is a change of lifestyle. You both will have to make an effort to make it work. If you know it is not going to work, walk away. No matter how much it hurts. However, if you are open-minded and willing to learn to adapt without physically or emotionally hurting yourself, than good. Have fun exploring life, be smart, in all meaning, and look after yourself. You can`t take care of others if you are not taking care of yourself spiritually, physically, and mentally. Peace be with you all.
-- Elizabeth , senseielizabeth@yahoo.com


Hi everyone, I read all of ur thoughts. I`m a Christian from (usa)and my boyfriend is Sikh(Punjab India)we are going out for 1 years now and now we decided to get married,my parents are wishing us great luck.And his parents know about us say to me please come soon. So all his family know we love eachother so much that we can do anything for eachother.So i think just have faith on God.So i think i am so lucky to have found my true love..
-- Sonia , sonia_307@msn.com


hi i am a girl from europe and went several times to india. yes you must be carefull but i didnt understand that all people are still talking about " interrace". when someone love its important to love and respect the person. love dont know races or border!!!!!!!!!we are all humanan and all this conflicts are made in the head of people!!
-- Janine , letafet@lycos.de


My one thought is PLEASE don`t be selfish - if you know that you`re parents or family are going to arrrage a marriage for you and you know there is nothing that you can do about it, don`t waste someone`s time and please spare them the heart ache. I`ve read some of the commentaries, and people are so hurt because people choose religion and culture over love (but what people cease to realize is that you don`t have to CHOOSE one or the other, they CAN co-exist - LOVE is about COMPROMISE and SACRAFICE - you learn about what each other has to offer and you TEACH each other about religion, culture and tradition, how to cook :) - you RESPECT and TRUST that one you love won`t lead you in the wrong direction) and if that is the case for you and you know it, just don`t be selfish - think of how much you are going to hurt the other person. I am an indo-guyanese and hindu, but I am a believer in `true love conquers all` and if two people are in love as much as they say they are then, it will work out, its like someone else said - God made you meet he will make it work - but we have to remember that God helps those who helps themselves, so if its WORTH it to you don`t give up -
-- bunita , blempress@yahoo.com


I am in favour of interracial marriages. If we wanna peace in this world, then we should promote this system. Marrying with a person from other race or religion help us to come close with others who are not of our religion or race. We have to try to be world citizen. We have to marry with that person whom we love, whom we know, whom we respect, doesn`t matter to which race or religion he or she belongs. That`s all
-- Gurpinder , chima_gurpinder@yahoo.co.in


It is really sad that Many indians are taking advantage of foreigners to get citizenship/legal status/residence of foreign countries. I am an indian and i heard many such stories which are real in which some sikh guys take advantage of marrying european women in germany, belgium,france etc and they get citizenship .As soon as their papers are ready , they dump their wives and start business in europe. It is really difficult to a european woman to adjust to these circumstances . She thinks that she would be spending the rest of her life together with the indian man and he would be "dream" person till the moment he gets his european passport after which he chooses to get a divorce. all europeans ! beware of marrying an indian spouse. Im really ashamed too speak of my fellow citizens . but it is true. take the case of COrnelia in the post below. she married a sikh guy and "helped" him more than he deserved but he is just a badass. It would be really bad experience if you opt to hurry things up with indian spouse.Just take your time to "judge" before leaping into marriage. This is my honest advice to you !!!!!!!!!!
-- jagjit , sonubal@hotmail.com


Im a 25 year old student in New York. I will always choose my religion (Sikhism) over love no matter what. I have to say, firstly, interacial marriages wont survive, cut the crap, life is strictly for your religion not for who you love. second, God put you in a certain relgion now live in it, and marry in it. To me, and to lots of other people religion matters more than love. it dont matter who you fall in love with stick to you own relgion because in the end, on judgement day, your lover will not be with u. Your religion is all you have.
-- Kin , anon@anon.com


Im a 25 year old student in New York. I will always choose my religion (Sikhism) over love no matter what. I have to say, firstly, interacial marriages wont survive, cut the crap, life is strictly for your religion not for who you love. second, God put you in a certain relgion now live in it, and marry in it. To me, and to lots of other people religion matters more than love. it dont matter who you fall in love with stick to you own relgion because in the end, on judgement day, your lover will not be with u. Your religion is all you have.
-- Kin , anon@anon.com


I think inter-racial relationships are fine. As long as you know u won`t get fed up and get divorced because of the differences! The only thing I hate is the fact that people that do not have inter-racial relationships have to point fingers and have to make a big deal out of it! Like come on it`s not your life leave them alone! I am 15 I know I`m going to marry a Sikh but that doesn`t mean I don`t believe in inter-racial relationships! So all u people out there that have a problem with inter-racial relationships get over it!
-- Sharn , sharndhaliwal999@hotmail.com


I do not think inter relationships work. Here I am cooking parathas while my german girlfriend rolls the atta. Does she not know the proper way of things and the differentiated roles for men and women? And she watches Goodness Gracious Me and says things like "kiss my chuddas" and refers to herself as "Ras-malai". My ex-wife, a good punjabi sikh, would never do this. She never ever made me parathas.
-- ravi , bindrar@tiscali.ch


I think they`re harder, but I`m not against them. As long as they realize their differences and are willing to comprimise and deal with things together it`s okay, and if both families are okay with it it`s all good. However I don`t think how so many people elope to be together, you should have more respect for your families.
-- Sona , laura4ever19@hotmail.com


i have nuthing againt inter-racial marriages. two of my aunts rn`t sikhs. one`s irish, nd the other`s italian. dey`ve both converted to sikhism. deir kids r actually very religious. even more than me, nd both of my parents are sikh. i think da newer da generation da more open minded. if i wanted to marry a gora my parents wud go crazy. but if it was my second cousin it wudn`t be a problem.
-- Preet , punjabbiprincess@hotmail.com


I think interacial marriges are fine. I am an Australian born white female and married to a sikh man who was born in new delhi , india. His parents still live there and at first were not comfortable with me at all , but once we actually married in India they really knew just how much i loved their only son! I am now pregnant with our first child and I am now a converted sikh. My children will also be raised that way. So as long as you love each other nothing else matters. Love conquers all in the end.
-- Peita , peita_81@hotmail.com


I believe inter racial relationships are fine as long as both partners are committed to their individual backgrounds. It only gets more complicated after you hace kids. If you don`t make a solid effort to pass on your background the cultures will eventually fet watered down and lost.
-- jasbir , itstrusidhu@hotmail.com


I am Asian and my wife is Sikh. We have been married for 2 years, but were together for 7 years before marrying. Understandably, there was some tension, at first, when I was introduced to the family. However, as they got to know me, I was welcomed into the family and I cannot think of a more loving family I would rather be married into. People got to see us as two people deeply in love with one another, not two individuals of differing cultures and once they realised how strong our love was for one another, nothing else mattered. I am not saying inter-racial marriages is for everyone, but it is a decision each person makes for themselves and just the same, it is a decision, once made, others must accept. As my wife always says, "You cannot dictate who your heart falls in love with."
-- bigB , bert_f@rocketmail.com


ok i read every single one of those questions, replys etc. and some of them are really touching, however i have a muslim boyfried and am a hindu but we been together for atleast 4 months and i love him and i know he loves me and we have planned to get married and stuff. now alot of you reading this might think wait she has only been with him for four months but our relationship is really different its very open and excitin. now all the inter-ratial experiences that other people have had is alot to think about because the hardest part is telling your family and thats a mission. but the way i see it is if you love ther person i don`t think anything can stop you apart from death. see your heart is yours and if u want a dream to come true you have to beleive in it, if you don`t then you wont get anywere and no one will listen to you. obviously your parents wont be happy with you and they wont agree but the worse they can do is throw you out but if they love you as much as you think they do they would not do that in the first place. i mean my mum know`s well has heard of my boyfriend but she doesn`t know who he is to me she knows i have a lot of boy mates but she thinks that they are just mates and some of them are. but there is only one man in my life and i will gain repect i need if i set everything out right and do it at the right time.. but the day i tell my mum and dad that i wantto marry a muslim is going ot be the worse day of my life because i know i have shattered their dreams but if i am happy then they should be able to respect that. running away is not the answer because it makes it worse it is the worst thing you can do and if your asian u know were am comin from. am so sorry there is so much to read but its jus my opinion and everyone is netitled to their opinion.
-- manisha , manisha_patel_2003@hotmail.com


Hi my name is courtney and i am 13 years old and i was looking for some advice on this subject thankz! Even though my parents really do not beleive in inter-ratial marrige i do! i really dont care. I actually end up going out with the exactly opposite race because i am white and im sure you can figure out wat im talkin bout. I alwayz try to get my parents to see it through my eyes but they wont listen if you have an more advice for me i would love it! Email me at arbourchick6@yahoo.com
-- Courtney , arbourchick6@yahoo.com


I am currently in a mixed relationship and have only found difficulties only with other Indian/Pakistani people. My partner and I live in a city with a high population of indians who have failed to move on in times since coming to UK. My family embrace their newest member openly, this is because I am happy. Not caring what AUNTIE next door thinks feels like being unshackled. The shackles of conformity and culture are very heavy for British Asians. Good luck to those who follow their own path.
-- Sanjeev , deb0501@hotmail.com


I think marriages should be allowed in all castes.. i don`t know in exact words but Im sure Guru Nanak Dev Ji said there are no castes and we are all one, so even the people who are amritsar still call themselves jatts or ramghariyans or wahtever they are? and yet they are considered the most knowledgable in religious practises, there is no caste, everyones the same.
-- sim , simghatrora@yahoo.com


I feel the inter racial marriage is not at all harmful.BUT as far as our parents` wishes are concerned the marriage should be made in the same caste.Though in this modern world,most of the parents go for this inter racial marriages as the basis for most of such marriages is only love marriage.Since we find that parents are happy when their child is married in the same caste, so it`s better to go for the same race only.Though we live in 21st century and everybody is equal before God, still some things are there which limit us.Inter racial marriages are not bad as they are one of the important ways to get mingeled with other races.
-- abhilasha , abhilasha20032004@yahoo.com


Culture is or was nerver a static entity. A river purifies itself by the very fact it flows. While a stagnant pool can`t rid itself of the waste accumulated by the slow passage of time. The river flows fast. On the way is joined not only by crystal clear water from mountain tops but also by muddy rain waters formed in the plains. But the river flows forward faster to become purer along its course.
-- srigirivas , srigirivas@yahoo.co.in


My thoughts on interracial marriages are that in the eyes of god we are all equal. Its stated that we are all from the same dirt so who is to say we are better than others. There is no shame when someone u know does this except in your eyes. I don`t understand how you can give up your child when they have decided to follow their heart. Parents/Family need to remember that they will only be ashamed if they let people do it .... y not say `we approve` as long as our children are happy...coz u know ur family will be old news the next day when they go onto someone else. Open your mind and heart world...life is too short...enjoy and cherish each day
-- bal , uffnah@hotmail.com


My name is Corinne, born in Holland but living many years in Belgium.Here I met my Sikh friend with whom I have a little daughter now and I have an 7 year old son from another relation.I want to tell my lifestory and experience with my Punjabi friend, which is terrible.I would like everyone to know that I know many very nice Indians and that I have the greatest respect for all those who have a good heart and keep their values, unfortunately the man I fell in love with doesn`t belong to them. About two and a half years ago I met my friend and it was my son who told me: mama take this man so I will have a little sister (which came true last year februari).In the first months my friend whas the best man I ever met (eventhough he drank a lot).Quite soon he told me he was illegal in the country and had no papers.He worked in agriculture with somebody else`s name.Of course I understood his situation and tried everything to help him and because we were good together we made weddingplans.In the meantime he also knew my financial situation (I don`t like secrets in a relationship)and after a while I found out he stole money from me and started to tell me lies.When I talked him about it he confessed and promised not to do it again and I forgave him because of the difficult situation he was in.He stopted drinking and then we decided to have a baby because I am a little older than him I couldn`t wait to long and I believed every promise he made me but none he kept.When I was pregnant he started to fysically attack me because "I talked to much".I always say what I think and I don`t like lies and he was most of the time busy helping friends and I stayed many times alone during my pregnancy.But all the time I helped him and his family in every way.His younger brother also came to Belgium and is now also illegal.Then afer my friend started threathening me with knifes, sticks, almost strangeld me once but I never went to the police.I tried to figure out what happened in his life to become like that.Then once I tried to prevent him from a criminal activity that a "friend" asked him to do and then he wanted to drink a chemical product to commit suicide; I took the bottle away from his mouth and put it in the kitchen upside down.He came after me and tried to put what was left on my head but nothing happened.The morning after when I prepared my daughter`s milk, she was playing on the kitchenfloor and there must have been fallen some drops of this product on the floor and she had to go to the hospital because her face was burnt and after a few years she`ll be needing plastic surgery.My friend felt very bad because he never wanted this to happen but 10 days later we had an argument again and while I was holding my daughter he started to fight again (when this happens, he`s going really out of his mind, he`s loosing complete controle).Then I phoned the police, they came but then he was perfectly friendly and they couldn`t do nothing. I told his brother I want their mother to come to see what kind of "child" she brought into this world.I also told him to go to a psychiatrist then I wouldn`t make a complaint.This is not my style but I had to think about my children`s safety.I`m a very strong and difficult person but always correct; I don`t lie, cheat or steel and I expect others to be the same with me, if not I tell them my thoughts fave to face-never behind someone`s back.In the meantime I lost already most of my money which was meant for my children`s future, but nobody seemed to care.Then after this the mother got very quickly a visa and was here about a month later.The few weeks before my friend changed a lot in the good sense.I thought all these problems came in the beginning when he didn`t have papers (which arranged after our daughter was born)and missing his family he hadn`t seen for about 5 years.So when mother came, she was extremely friendly in the beginning but after a while she started to insult me, my country and my social government money (from which they`ve all (my friend, brother and she)have eaten, sent money to India, her ticket to come for 3 months in Belgium.She asked her sons to keep things behind and tell lies to me, all for the money!I treated her better than the queen but that wasn`t good enough for her.I told her she came here on vacation so I didn`t want her to do much and I`m used to do everything alone all my life.She never did anything exept cooking when everything was cut.She said that the "ata" I make was to hard so next time I asked her politely if it was better and she said yes, but when my friend came home she took the "ata" out of the fridge and told him:"you see, it`s always too hard".I`ve made ata more than two years and nobody ever complained!Also she insulted friends of my friend telling lies about them to insult.People who have better life than she or her sons are "no good".I have never seen such a jealous and greedy person in my life, just like her sons.There is much more I can tell but then it`ll never stop.My friend and I broke up no because now I`m broke and he doesn`t want to pay half (which is normal here) and he has to give me back a great loan that he promised me to pay back.The loan I gave to his brother I had to STEAL back!Can you imagine.In India they`re reparing the house and have money for whatever; I put my children`s money for a good life and future in this family believing I found the man of my life who would respect me for helping so much-family and friends-and my children and I only got pain, no respect, torture and terror in our lives and nobody seems to care what happens now with us.I`m alone now and there`s nothing I can do.This all for the love of MONEY.But eventhough I have nothing left, I have the most wonderful children and my selfrespect, even with all the money in the world You can not buy that.My children give me the courage to maintain strong and I believe that GOD will help us because all I ever wanted was a normal and happy familylife, but that takes two. For all the people who have children in a foreign country: many are very nice and do it the right way and as a parent, be happy! And for all the people in India who don`t live in wealth: The greatest wealth is inside of you and if "sons" have to give this way a better life to you it`s better live with less but never loose the values and the heart.To ruin one family to help another for keeping up appearances is not the way!
-- cornelia , cornelia.van.noorloos@pandora.be


I am a sikh born and raised in canada bc. i read, write and speak punjabi, i go to the gurdwara, read the guru granth sahib twice a day, actually, i even did kirtan for a while. most people including my parents thought i would marry a punjabi jutt sikh male but, i married a wonderful white canadian male. my family has disowned me and society looks at me and my husband funny. why? because there are societal expectations that one expects. this bs with i won`t` marry you because of my family is pathetic. reality check? be strong and show HOW MUCH YOU LOVE that person. God made u meet, and if u beieve in Him, He will make it work!
-- bubbli , bubbli_boo@hotmail.com


Hi my name is Krystine and I am a cocassion female. See I agree more with love marriages because it doesnt matter what colour skin you are whether you are purple, blue or green it matters to the person that is marrying the other and what the heart feels because you dont want your son or dughter marrying someone that they dont love right? But i also do believe that if your son and daughter is marrying a different race whether she is white or an indian he/she should promise to keep the culture the way it was taught and keep it strong. My step-mom is hindu and she married my dad which is white. I have never met two people that are so inlove in my life. But she should still carry on with pooja and her religion which she does and if her and my dad ever decide to have children she should teach the offspring the same religion.
-- krystine , anglow_browngurl04@hotmail.com


I just want to add, that also in the past of india interracial marriages happened many times. I think more in northindia, when people from the western countries arrived there. Specially from england. So also the looking changed, many indians look i think similar to people from europe, not like people from other asian countries. Without interracial marriages in the past india would be very different i think! Second sometimes i don-- Bianca , b.hatzoglos@mail.com


i-- Bianca , b.hatzoglos@mail.com


What is wrong with people?? The only thing that should matter in life is finding your true love....not settling for someone just because your parents and community have expectations. To me that is the problem with organized religions, it is the basis of all confilicts concerning love, marriage, and togetherness. That is why I am an athiest, I believe in nothing and hate or resent nobody. I am in love with a sikh, and I would do absolutely anything for this guy. But his family has forbidden him to be with me just becuase I am white. I find this ridiculous, who are we living for...ourselves or other people?? You only get one chance at life.......so if you find your soul mate, regardless of race, religion, or creed..grab the chance with both hands and never let go.
-- adriane , adrianekathleen@hotmail.com


well scanning thru most of the comments..ive noticed a mixed feeling regarding inter racial or inter religious relationships. im 20 yrs old and am from goa meaning im also indian and catholic. ow our culture is very strong in its traditions, we are very open in regards to our culture. its not too restrictive. ive always had a very open relationship wit my folks, and ive seen alot of problms goin on with them eventho they are both catholic and goan it was always drummed in my head that i shuld always look for a guy who is christian and not only indian BUT GOAN...i did find someone perfect however as fate wuld have it, it dint work out....and as fate worked i ended up for a year n half with a sikh guy (my first non christian boyf)..he does cover his head so to me its a bit weird...but hez open when i have silly ques to ask/ hez not too traditional tho he does keep his traditions...and im very strong in my culture...but somehow we blend so well..like we complement each other....tho im 20 and hez 22 and we are both very young...i dunno how far this is goin to lead....surprisingly my folks are gonna be harder to accept the situation than his are. im the only daughter so if i end up with him im sacrificing everything for him...and he knows it...but we will keep our religions...but the worry is always when the kids come....however its fair that they learn about both the religions and when old enuf to understand choose which one they wish to follow...just im not sure bout my son ever covering his head,,,its only fair to him and me....and he agrees with me. i love him soo much but im also scared....its more of a struggle for him than me...cuz its sucha diff turn in how i expected things to be,,,,yet i surprisingly dont regret it....i do keep myself aware all the time that it may not work out.,,,.but atleast at the end we gave each other something special something to move along in life with,,,,something to always love about each other.....and i think thats more treasurable than worrying bout all the politics we put in our lives.
-- natasha , tishm0@hotmail.com


MY POINTS TO SAMRIAN: WHY WOULD YOU WANNA CONVERT?US SIKHS DONT ALLOW THAT ANYWAY. YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE. IN OUR FAITH AND BELIEFS WE DONT CONVERT ANYONE. EACH FAITH AND CULTURE IS UNQUE IN ITSELF. IF YOU LOVED YOUR MAN SO MUCH YOU`D LET HIM GO AND NOT MAKE HIM CHOOSE. IM A STRONG BELIVER IN STICKING TO YOUR OWN CULTURES AND CAST. AT THE END OF THE DAY EVRYONES JUST GOING TO BE A MIX OF LOADS OF DIFF CULTURES AND FAITHS AND THE CHILDREN YOU BRING UP INTO THAT FAITH ARE GOING TO BE THE ONE`S WHO SUFFER. DONT BE SELFSIH AND THINK OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT FAITH YOU BELONG TO AND STICK TO IT.DONT CONFUSE SOCIETY WITH A MIX OF DIFFERENT CULTURES,AT THE END OF THE DAY WHERE WILL THESE CHILDREN GO TO SHOW THERE LOVE FOR GOD?CHURCH?OR TO THE GURDWARA?YOUVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WILL BE FOR YOUR FAMILY LONGTERM. YOUR KIDS WONT KNOW YOUR BOYFRIENDS PARENTS AS THEY CANT APPROVE. ITS THE WAY IT IS. YOU COME FROM TO DIFF BACKGROUNDS YOU WONT UNDERSTAND HIS FAMILY AND HE CANT EVER ADPAT 2 YOURS. IM A SIKH JATTI-AND I WENT OUT IN2 THE WORLD TO FIND MY JATT BOYFRIEND,WEVE BIN TOGETHER FOR 2 YEARS. WEL HAVE FULL BRED KIDS,NON OF THIS HALF CAST ETC. ITS PATHETIC. AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU CHILDREN WILL GO TO SCHOOL AND MAYBE LAUGHED AT.DO YOU REALLY WANT THAT? IM SORRY TO BE SO HARSH BUT THAT ONLY MY VIEW MAYBE YOU`L UNDERSTAND WHERE IM COMMING FROM OR NOT.BUT THATS HOW I SEE IT. IT MAY SEEM NARROW MINDED BUT I PREFER TRADITIONS AND FAITH MYSELF.....
-- kiran , kiran77@punjabonline.com


Hi everyone, I read all of ur thoughts,u all right.=) I`m a Christian from middle east(Iran)and my boyfriend is Sikh(Punjab India)we are going out for 2 years now and now we decided to get married,my parents are ok with it but his parents always want him to marry in his own religion. We love eachother so much that we can do anything for eachother. His parents are very nice but they are not going to accept me. He loves his parents so much and in other hand he loves me too, but we don`t know what to do and we want to live the rest of our lives together. I`d love to convert to his religion, cause I love him so much and I do care about him, but the fact is that his parents are going to agree or not? Now we are just waiting to see what to be done to make them agree...I`d love to hear from u guys to give me any advice concerning this matter..samrian@hotmail.com
-- Samrian , Samrian@hotmail.com


When I hear the notion of mixed relationships a number of thoughts come to mind. Firstly, I am the result of a mixed marriage, my mother is from the Caribbean (Jamaican Indian) and my father is Irish English. Through my teenage years i struggled with my identity, was i black was I white? But by the same token I questioned whether I was pretty, or if I was clever, the questions i think relates to any teenage girl in discovery of where they fit in. Is being mixed race, troublesome for a child? Looking back at the age of twenty I dont think so, but i can almost certainly say that it made it more interesting.

But a mixed relationship means to me now,a relationship not between my parents but between my present boyfriend. He is a Pakistani muslim. My fathers reaction is okay, but if we he was being truthful he would spout of all the misinformation and propoganda the media is full of particularly in the recent revolt of September 11 and the present state of the British asylum situation. His family after 16 months of our relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend and best friends, they do not know. He is the first person i speak to in the morning, the last one at night and the fifty seventh call in the middle of the day!!! sdespite us living more than 120 miles apart. i respect and embrace his religion and culture, and have read the quran (I am a christian), and bought him one. If someone does have a mixed relationship it is imperative to understand the religious and cultural issues, and make it clear as to what the future may or may not hold.

I am mixed race, I am a Christian, he is a Pakistani Muslim. I would love to be able to tell you that everything will work out, but in loving him I understand the problems we will have to face. Mixed relationships can work, the risks are higher and the obstacles are greater, but if one truly loves the other I genuinely believe love conquers all.
-- Lindajit , lindajit_singh@hotmail.com


I am getting engaged,and am about to marry a hansome, elegant, moral sikh who has lots of character and integrity and self-respect. I am black. He is Canadian, but of Indian descent, his parents having been born in Punjab, India. He is well educated (which matters more to me that marrying a man with money) and can speak English, Punjabi and French (he is cultured, has excellent manners, is courteous and high-born).

He doesn`t care too much in regards to my religious preferences. He cares that we have THE SAME VALUES. This is good. In my decision to marry him, I have also chosen to study the Indian culture, as well as his Sikh beliefs, out of respect for him, and his culture, as well as my interest in a culture that produces some of the lowest divorce rates in the world, and consistently produces men that have such great qualities (I think it is the family values and strong family support).

I find it interesting that a lot of the personal beliefs I hold as an african-american woman in America can be found at the core of the Sikh belief system. I do not believe in placing material desires over that of spiritualism, knowledge and love of simple life and family, I cannot tolerate a liar and devote myself to truths, I do not believe in and cannot stand the hypocrisy and ritualism that you find in most other religions, and I believe that everybody should have some meditative time to his/herself every day to reflect on life, lessons learned and to appreciate the time you have on earth. I believe in Karma/Reap What You Sew, and I do not believe in much sexual promiscuity (it is dangerous, and counterproductive too). And, of course being a strong woman, I believe in equality of people and sexes, and all having consideration for one another. I also believe in avoiding and destroying all kinds of ignorance and try to learn everything I can about the world I am in.

Based on the above I suspect that the Sikh I am getting engaged with has decided to marry me based on the fact that we share the same BELIEF SYSTEM. Not based on who`s religion is what. I have also come to realize, based on the Sikh/Guru belief system that, unlike most ingorant bigoted religions, it is a BELIEF SYSTEM that all believers of god can participate in, regardless of religion. One can be a christian And still study the teaching of the Gurus/Granth Sahib - it is for EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN GOD - so that means Christians and actually Muslims, too..

So why are people so caught up in splitting hairs about who belongs to what religion? I just share most of the same beliefs as my fiancee.....Isn`t that the most important thing?
-- jill , jillk24@hotmail.com


I`m a Christian Asian girl who fall in love deeply with a Hindu Punjabi guy. He said he can`t marry me even though he loves me because I am not acceptable by his family, his religion nor his culture. We both are happy and we respect each other religion and culture, but now I feel that all the religion and culture are only the barrier for us to be united. I think they are just a matter of interpretation who says that Indian man never marry a married woman, that Indian can only marry Indian girl who is also younger than him in order to be blessed by the priest! If our love is so strong, then we can find a way to overcome the differences in religion and culture. There-- Francees , francees_lorenza@yahoo.com


I am currently in an interracial relationship, and I think that barriers of race, religion, etc. should be completely erradicated. I love my partner dearly, and when I`m with him, I`m happier than I ever imagined possible. Surely it`s the love that matters, not the colour? Unfortunately, his parents are very unhappy about our relationship, and have consequently arranged his marraige to someone else. Now he is torn between his love for me and his loyalty to his family. We are both heartbroken. It is other people that create the problems, not the difference in culture itself. And also, I would appreciate advice on the arranged marraige situation. If anyone has any thoughts, please feel free to email me.
-- Sheona , 0106762m@student.gla.ac.uk


This is a really conflicting topic. I think it is up to the person to choose who to be with or not. It should not matter the race, culture, religion of that person. It depends on the relationship and if that couple can make it work. Nobody ever said it was going to be easy. But thats a part of life, to open up to new experiences but to never forget your own. so i think, its fine as long as the couple and family can make it work and set aside all the differences.
-- Amanpreet , indianqueen84@yahoo.com


I think inter-racial marriages are very conflictable issue. as a youth raised up partly in India but mostly in Canada I have experienced both sides of the story and I think that inter-racial marriages really depend on what your family values and beliefs are.
-- Sandeep , sandeepb_100@hotmail.com


It`s inconceivable to me for anyone to suggest that our "founding" mothers/fathers, (of our species that is) had any intention to classify, categorize, or stratify us according to the avenue by which we choose to reach our higher power. In fact, the notion itself reeks entirely of the human imagination. The ability, rather I would say the privilege ordained to human beings, in that two people, thru love/marriage, have the ability to open their hearts to one another and become one is a sanctity I feel we shouldn`t so easily forget. To corrupt the mind with something as petty as inter-racial marriage only works to divide rather than bridge our ace, that is, the human race. Incidentally, I am an atheist, who is the product of two proud and loving Sikh parents, whom have always encouraged me to speak my mind and challenge convention.
-- B , rushpark@cosmo.com


I do not have a strong objection to inter-racial relationships. On the subject of marriage, I do believe that it is better to marry someone with similar background and culture. Marriage is difficult enough when between people of same background; inter-racial marriages add to the difficulties especially as it comes to children and how to raise them. I am personally involved in an inter-racial relationship however we are beyond having to worry about children and we are also living in an area where it is more acceptable since we have a very diverse population in this area. It does pose a problem occasionally as it pertains to the two families and how we go about doing every day things.
-- Irene , irene_cseh@yahoo.com


I was very intrigued by everyone`s opinions on inter-racial or inter-religion marriages. So I decided to throw my two cents in. I am an 18 yr. old Punjabi Christian girl(very rare indeed). I am seriously involved with a Punjabi Jatt. We`ve been together for almost 3 years now and we are deeply in love. We want to get married in the future. His parents know about me and do not object to our relationship or the fact that we one day want to raise a family together. My parents view is a totally different story. When they found out about us they automatically said "NO!" Without getting to know him or giving him a chance. He is a great guy, very culutred and hardworking. Most of all he is devoted to me. We both agree that if we did not have to deal with eachothers families we could live happily together. We have discussed how we`re going to make it work time after time and we always get stuck at the wedding. My parents want me to have a Christian wedding and his parents would never step in a church. His parents want to have a wedding in a gurudwara and my parents wont bow down(matha neh tekhna). So what are we to do? We thought of eloping and that would still cause the same amount of pain to our parents. All I know is that I love him more than anything else in this world and I can`t be w/anyone else. For all of you who immediately dismiss inter-racial or religion marriages please before expressing your thoughts think of people like me. People who made the so-called mistake to fall in love and to care for that person unconditionally. We`re not trying to ruin cultures or families. We`re just trying to live. SSA
-- Naina , PunjabdiShaan@aol.com


Well back up what is this? basically i think wat was said here is of nothing...i am a true polynesian girl whos married a punjabi man for about 5 years we have 5 kids are half punjabi and half polynesian so therefore they are a breed of PUNJABINESIAN and there is no problem with our marriage, our marriage was arranged i never knew i would love him as much as he did, and now today we are so much in love that we cannot be apart from each other for even a second our kids see love all around everywhere in our home, and as one says as long as you love each other dearly thats all that matters - i am a very very strong minded woman and a woman who is very hard to please if anyone gets in my way between my husband and i they ought to be careful because there will never be anyone that can tear us apart, i strongly believe too that it is love that keeps us going, till death should the only time one aparts..MARK MY WORDS FOR IT!!!!...
-- polynesian , sindel_feva4eva@msn.com


I think inter racial marriges are okay. What really matters is that you love someone and know that youcould stay happy with them for the rest of your life. Nobody should ba against another religion.
-- Richa , qtpunjaban69@yahoo.com


well i think itz all aight. i know it from da experience. my bhabi is christian and my bro is sikh they both are religious.they always think a way where both them are not gonna get offended.so it depends on da couple if they wanna give it everything they got that mean is that u gotta respect.
-- pRiNcEss , princessx420x@hotmail.com


the context i`m writing in is hindu-sikh. i don`t understand why if both ppl in a relationship can accept & respect each others religion and "be a part of it" without converting should they be a problem to the family memmbers? i understand that there was a bloody history and that hindus killed sikhs and vice versa. i`m born&bread in uk, yet remain very much a hindu. the brits killed many hindu`s. we forgave and moved on. hinduism and sikhism is very similar in both morals and principles is it not. can someone help clear the confussion, i don`t understand why me being hindu makes me a bad/evil person in the eyes of 1st generation sikh people. i did`n do anything wrong and the friction of our history was`nt my fault, so why must i be punished? jes ordang@yahoo.com
-- jesika , ordang@yahoo.com


I just joined this site to learn more about one side of me that I missed. My father is Sikh from Amritsar and my mother is multiracial US (Black, Irish, Native American) which makes me very much multiracial. Interracial/bi-cultural relationships should not be a problem yet human nature and pride creates a problem. Initially respect for both cultures should be displayed. Learning and supporting both cultures can be done if it is discussed or one might choose to embrass one culture. Why is it such a big issue in the world that ppl should limit themselves and their hearts to certain races/cultures/regions? It seem that spiritual and mental evolvement really has made much progress in the 21 century. Unfortunate..Hmmmmm From reading the comments on the board it seems the fear is that the culture will get watered down. Will it? If one is strong in their beliefs and cultural practices then your significant would appreciate, respect, and want to learn and support those beliefs.
-- T , sonicecho01@gmail.com


i am very in love with a punjabi guy and seeing as how im muslim and hes seikh im not sure if we;ll get to be together but i would cut my arms off if we could stay together forever! i think its sad that people argue so much and cant see passt al the stupid stuff down to the two souls that are in love, i know he loves me to death but because of societys pressure and his family when the time comes who can say if our love is strong enoughp? could i ask him to giver up his family 4 me?
-- fatimah , fatimahirani@yahoo.com


I think it is fine as long as you love the person you are going to marry or are married to dearly. After all marriage is an institution that binds two souls together, baser things like colour of skin does not matter at all. I am absolutely for it. And as for the people who say that interracial marriages could ruin one`s culture, I would like to ask them one question, what is more important in life, culture or happiness ?Culture is man made whereas marriages and the union of two souls are made in heaven.
-- Ronojoy , ronojoybasu@rediffmail.com


What century is this? The 21st I seem to recall - and yet some people still see a problem with interratial relationships?! What exactly is the problem? I have read on this forum that some see it as leading to a dilution of their cultures/religion. I`ve never heard such crap! It is up to you to decide whether you keep your culture/religion or not. If your wife/husband says that you are not allowed to follow your own religion then sorry chaps, but you married the wrong guy/girl! However, that doesn`t mean that arranged marriages produce better marriages. Some work, some don`t... that`s life! You may not hear of divorce as much, with arranged marriages, but maybe that has something to do with the fact that the women are forced to put up with unhappy (and sometimes very unpleasant) marriages. The woman`s own parents will stand by and let her husband beat her up, because they don`t want the family to be `shamed`!!! I ask again... what century are we living in?!? Shouldn`t religion teach wisdom? I believe Sikhism may say something about having to marry another Sikh.... but you can be white and still be a Sikh. I`ve seen many an Asian guy wearing a turban, down the pub drinking a pint and smoking fags! So is he still a Sikh, just because he calls himself a Sikh? I don`t follow any particular religion, but I`m sure I`m closer to being a Sikh than most people who claim to be! I`ve also noticed some people saying that interracial relationships are great - huh??! What... ALL of them? Every single one?! The fact is, ANY marriage can be good or bad, regardless of whether the marriage was arranged or not. Surely, the point is that people should have the choice of whether they WANT an arranged marriage or not? There`s nothing wrong with either way, but the individual actually getting married should be able to `genuinely` choose what they want. God gave us life to be together, not to isolate and divide each other.
-- CJ , cj.hazard@virgin.net


I believe our gurus were very practical while they created are religion. every guru has added one or the other logical thing in our religion. and i think if we had any of our gurus here live he would never deny a inter cast marriage. Our gurus never were against any religion. peace harmony help and LOVE are the pillars of our religion.
-- Preet Pann , preetpann@yahoo.com


Hi everyone. i`m a 19 year old student from trinidad and i found this site while researching for a assignment and i jus couldn`t leave without putting my say! this issue is prevalent but fastly going in my country. it isn`t of race but of religion and the struggle to let love conquer all! i personally believe that interracial/interreligious marriages should totally be continued; if u look at the trend set by our youths todayu will see that everyone is mixing i would liketo call that true unity. my final say is that objections to other persons because of their religion or race can only happen if it is instilled in our minds from a very early age.my personal creedo is that whereever there`s a will there`s a way and for every elimination there must be a substitution. ONE LUV
-- jenelle , shortifensom@hotmail.com


I am a caucasian Christian male who has fallen in love with an american desi. She loves me also. Her parents have now arranged a marriage to a sihk man and it is breaking my heart. Am I and are we, better off to just let it happen? Isn`t it true that all you need is love? Isn`t love strong enough to overcome the barriers of religion and culture, if you both respect the other persons culture and religion and we both do. danielmail@rogers.com
-- dan , danielmail@rogers.com


I feel that our culture is ignorant, narrow minded, and self centered. Yes, I am a product of an interracial relationship. I am Sikh (not really practicing)(University student) and my girlfriend who is my best friend, soul mate is Portuguese. My girlfriend (who is a grade 8 teacher) and I have been together for two years now and my parents don?t know that we are together (her parents know about our relationship, and love me unconditionally). I read the scriptures (Japji) of the instructions of how a person is to live on earth, the scriptures tell me to respect myself, my family, and the people around me. Live life to my fullest, be honest, be loyal, and be true to myself. Love yourself. God put me here on this earth for a reason. That no matter what happens God will always be with you, and lastly WE ARE ALL GODS CHILDREN. No where have I read in the scriptures that I should marry a person who does not practice the same religion as I do. It?s the culture that we live in, which defies who we should marry. I am sure that my parents would love her unconditionally, but I know that it is not what my mother feels about my girlfriend it is what my fucking aunty, or next door neighbor, the person who walks my dog, is going to think. Who the fuck cares, honestly. I have lived my life as if I am color blind and the only judgment I can make about another person is with my heart and not my eyes. If the person who walks my dog or the thousand of aunties that each desi person has can not accept that my love for my girlfriend is true and pure, SUCK IT UP. AND READ YOUR SCRIPTUES, NOT JUST TO READ THEM BUT TO PRACTICE THEM.
-- jesse , enigma_3k@hotmail.com


I am 22 year old South Indian Mulsim, and I am dating a Punjabi Hindu who I intend to marry. Many of you feel that interreligious and interracial marriages water down the culture. But my experience was different. I was looking for those characteristics in a man which Islam taught, and I never seemed to find that in the Muslim men I talked to. When I met Navtej, I was surprised to find that he had all of those characteristics. He was probably the first progressive Indian I had ever met. Since we have been together, I have encouraged Navtej to study hinduism and follow some of those teachings. He has never discouraged me from studying Islam either. Every religion teaches us to be good people. I do not really feel that is open to interpretation. We all know that gossiping and bigotry are bad. We can hide behind a veil of our religions, and pretend that just because we are on religion or another, we do not take part in these types of actions, but it wont make us good people, no matter how much money you contribute to your temple or mosque.
-- Ameera , rajkumari815@yahoo.com


I was born in 2 a Muslim family in Manchester,then London, then Bham.... and then my parents got divorced. Since then I have lived with my Mom who now has since found sumthing else 2 believe in,but currently liv with my Dad in London coz im studyin wer he livs.I personally dnt lead an Islamic way of life. And I wud like2 remind that interacial is different races and intereligion is different religions.i dnt have a problem with n e.I was linked 2 the most beautiful Jatt guy I`ve ever seen not 2 long ago.I dnt kno if ppl wil have somat2 say bout wot im gna say,but i really dnt have n e love for these pakistani/so-called Muslemaans around at the moment.Im a Pakistani(rajistani/bilauchistani/lahore/pathann-im a cocktail!!)I c them as narrow minded &r so quick2 judge sum1-maybe u shud do ur research once again PROPERLEY n c that YOU as a Muslim shudnt judge.Who r they @the end of the day?I`d prefere 2 b with an Indian guy than a Pakistani purley for the reason that they cnt judge me coz im not the same as them.Pakistanis wud judge me coz im Pakistani myself-I dnt stay behinde closed doors,cook(i can tho),clean(easy neway)-get trained 2 b a housewife.That jus nt me,so wen they c me goin out clubbin or wearin certain clothing or wot not im considered "a slag". WHY? Coz they have old fashioned views n have no mind of their own coz they follow the older generations way of life, which,lets face it, is dated. This Jatt i was linked 2 felt exactly the same towards Sikh guys tho-y judge, i dunno y. But I hope I`ll find sum 1 like him again sumday-I wud b more than happy 2 marry him.The way i c it is that marriage is UR decision and UR choice.My Dad will NOT have a say in who I marry. My Mom jus wants me 2 b happy, regardless of race/religion. Yeh so marryin sum 1 who is nt a Muslim (even tho I dnt follow Islamic requirments)or a Pakistani wudnt phase me at all. Jus b happy coz its UR life at the end of the day. Besides, if u have kids u`ll have a nice story 2 tell em!! Hopefully. mail me baby_d578@hotmail.com
-- dania , tamanna@hotmail.com


Hello everybody!! I live in Croatia, small European country and despite the fact that nationalism and religious intolerance were enormous during war time(1990-1993)i never felt like that. We all live on this beautifull planet and each person and each culture in this world is giving benefit and beauty to this life as a hole. All organized religions are taling the same truth and it can be pointed to only one word - LOVE. So how can i love somebody less because he(or she) is identified with some religion or country, we are all pure love. Few months ago i met very precious young man from Punjab and i dont think that the fact that he is punjabi could change may feelings. By the way, bhangra music is great, i play it some times on the radio station i work on. So Punjab sound is played "far away" in Europe. Thank you Jai Guru Dev
-- sanja , dream9dance@yahoo.com


Well being in an interracial relationship is fine because you do learn about a different culture. I am currently dating a Punjabi guy for a year and a half now and I`m Cambodian. I am deeply in love with this guy, he treat me with respect and i do the opposite. But our relationship is a secret. He know his family wont accept me now, until i finish college and have a nice job. Even though interracial relationship could be a real pain in the a--, i think its worth it, if u love a person deeply, then go for it, because i will.
-- Vannee , vmak@ucdavis.edu


I think if you love somebody it should not matter the race, religion, or culture. I am currently with a wonderful man from Punjab. We have been together for 2 years and I have excepted his way of life and he has excepted mine. I have two kids that he has also excepted and has taken care of them since we have been together. Love knows no boundries. I say go for it. His family is so nice to me and mine to him. For anyone who disagrees than you don`t know what you are missing. ME
-- brenda , gurnamsingh@prodigy.net


hi i m 15 and Ithink taht marriges should be arranged in a way u see ur parents should ask u about ur life partner or what is ur ideal and make a dession on that base they should tell u tahat ur being married to that person etc and ask ur opinion and u should meet that person before making any dession.AND understanding would be developed side by side.and believe me it would be a good adventure type of thing! any ways its ur own dession.any ways ur life partner is made in heaven when ur born.any way its a good effort by Jasjeet to get all of opinions togather and share thoughts.thanx zahra Ali
-- zahra , hussain_syed86@hotmail.com


Wow...interesting topic, especially considering the events of the world. I just came across this page, I have no idea how old the topic is, but it`s just after Sept. 11, 2002 now. I`m a white American, for the record. And with myself and my family, there hasn`t been much of a distinction with an interracial relationship. Not because it hasn`t happened, but that my family and I have just not batted an eye at it.

About three years ago, I dated an Arabic girl. Not Arabic American, but a citizen from the UAE. We met on the net, and when she went to college, she came to the San Francisco Bay Area. We met, and started going out, and had a very fruitful, rewarding relationship for almost a year. There wasn`t much of a culture clash there, though it was entertaining to be there when she found out one of her new best friends in SF was a lesbian. But she was open minded about things, and I`d like to think I was as well. The differences in upbringings never came up with us, because we were both rooted in the present. My family didn`t bat an eye when I brought her home the first time, and when I got a chance to meet her family, they did nothing but welcome me with open arms.

Even aside from that, I`ve desired or had relationships with girls of all cultural backgrounds, from Africa and Europe to India, Japan and the Phillipines. As long as the people involved have something in common, and something special, inter-racial relationships can work. And, on a side note, Glad to see you survived Hillsdale, Jasjeet. Nice Website.
-- Kevin , kevin@ugcfilms.com


I think every one of you who is racist and claims to be a muslim is a liar. I am an American woman who married a man from Pakistan. He is Punjabi. He is also a Muslim. I recently converted to Islam. I keep my husband happy and he keeps me happy. His whole family loves me and has no problem with the fact that my skin is white and not copper. For all of you F-A-K-E- Muslims out there, if you really read the Quran Majid, you would have read that racism is not permitted. If a person is going to convert, it is not a problem. You are all a bunch of uneducated idiots whom Allah has chosen to mislead. Allah is the one who makes people fall in love with their predetermined mate. If anyone had any intelligence here, they would have realized that interracial/religious marriage is nothing to Allah. It is just 2 people who happen to fall in love and get married. It is none of anyone else`s business. That is one major problem with the world today. Everyone thinks that everyone else`s business is their business. Go back and read the Quran Majid, you liars.
-- Shannon , daysleepernightcreeper@yahoo.com


As I read all of the thoughts and comment written here, I can see everyones point of view and in some ways I agree with you all. Yes, inter-racial relationships change alot of things in a person, whether its considered good or bad changes, are left completely to the couple`s descretion. However, for those who have been raised to arranged marriages and certain religions, are also right in their own way. There really is no "color" issue here, just religions and customs. What one must remember is that your faith is your own, you have no right to force it onto others, especially those you love. I am a Puerto Rican woman and I`m deeply in love with a young man who is Hindu/Punjabi and do not see anything wrong with the both of us being together. For those of you who have found love outside of your race, I`m very happy for you. I believe you should respect your differences and try to understand each other`s culture and find a common thread among you that in time will become a strong rope and anchor for your relationship. For those of you who do not believe in relationships outside of your religion/race, I ask you to be more understanding of those of us who are in these relationships, after all, we may one day become family.
-- Yvonne , qteehoney@hotmail.com


I really don`t understand why some people speak of a culture as if it were some sort of static entity. Certainly, cultures do change, as Hinduism has changed since its "birth" (if that can even be defined), or Sikhism was born, it may have influenced the Punjabi culture (which one came first?). My point is that if one moves to a country where one`s culture is not the predominate one, one has to expect young minds to be open to the culture and therefore become assimilated. It is only natural for people to want to be like those around them. Those of you who complain that our culture is dying need to reexamine what your are saying: basically you are opposing human nature itself and it is completely foolish to even make such an attempt because you can never stop it. It will happen -- maybe not to you because you are against it, but at least some percentage of punjabi`s will. Whether you marry a Punjabi or not, you still are exposed, and so are your children and your children will want to be like those around them and will be drawn to other cultures.

I am Punjabi/Sikh (not practising), and married to a Canadian of European decent. I personally believe that nobody has the right to tell me whether my marriage to my husband is right or wrong -- because it really isn`t anyone`s choice but our own. Interracial marriages are only difficult if you make them difficult. If you make them easy, they can be easy. Sometimes families can make things difficult, and I feel that`s a shame. Really, the only thing that matters is the morals and values that the 2 people share and that they love and are good for each other. What more is there to ask for?

I know I`ll probably get slammed for this, but I personally did not want to marry a Punjabi/Sikh man. I dated a few, and found that they were far too focused on just being Punjabi and being "men", you know, like "machismo". I found that extremely irritating. And I don`t mean to throw a blanket onto every indian male, but most of the ones I`ve met were like that. Being an extremely independent woman who doesn`t like to be treated like a "humble subservient woman", I decided that the Indian thing was not for me. So what`s wrong with that? What would have been better? For me to force myself to marry a desi and be miserable for the rest of my life? Heck no! I`d be much better off marrying someone who treated me as an equal and with whom I could have a mutually respectful marriage... and that`s just my 2 cents` worth.
-- Neelam , apology000@yahoo.com


I am a 26 year old white American and I am recently engaged to an Indian/Hindu from Mumbai. I personally disagree with all the negative thoughts about interacial couples. Rohan and I are very much in love and throughout our courtship we have had a wonderful time learning each others cultures. I can now speak Hindi and can cook all his favorite Indian dishes. He has also adapted very well to my culture. We are both equally proud of where we come from and we now both have the education and respect for each others culture to extend that to our future children. I feel it is very important to understand and respect both cultures equally, but interracial relationships should not be condemned all together. When handled appropriately they can be a beautiful thing. Because we respect each other equally I feel that we will be extended while raising beautiful children that are proud to be both Indian and American.
-- Jessi , jessie_w@bellsouth.net


Well i think interracial is ok now.. is we are all living in the same community then we all go to school, work, live, party, ect.. with all races. so obviously there is going to be interracial marriage now. and if people cannot accept it then they should stay living where there is only 1 culture.
-- Brandi , brandi@kitti.cc


I found this site while surfing the internet looking for articles on interracial dating. I am Vietnamese & Chinese and am currently dating an Indian. We have been together for almost two years. He is Hindi and I am Buddhist. At the beginning of the relationship we had no problems with our different ethnic backgrounds and religion. However he has recently told me that both his intermediate and extended family are prejudice against Chinese and/or Vietnamese people. He has always told me that he loves me and wants to marry me until recently. Now he feels that he can not marry me because I am not Indian. He has never stood up for us (Chinese and Vietnamese people) because he believes it is not proper for him to correct elders. I understand his perspective because I was also taught to respect my elders. I do not want him to chose between his family and me. I believe in respecting your parents. Yet I am still deeply hurt. Instead of finding a way for both his intermediate and extended family to accept me, he wants to break up. My parents know I am dating him and do not have a problem. Just because I am not Indian does not mean I can not learn and like the culture. In the year 2002, we can still not look beyond the color of our skin and instead focus on who the person really is. I understand that many problems arise in an interracial relationship with culture and religion but all relationships have problems. It`s overcoming those problems that make us stronger. Being Southeast Asian does not define who I am. It is just a term to reference where my ancestors are from. I see no problem with interracial dating.
-- Linda


I just came across this site while surfing the web for some punjabi sites and found this quite interesting forum .I am a research scholar and I personally don`t beleive in races or cast or religion for recognising or rather differentiating people.If in this materialistic world you can find a person who really/truly loves you( whatever your defination of true love means) you are reallly one of the lucky few . What is the surity that the partner form the same religon can understand you any better than from a different religion? I feel its just a matter of "matching wavelengths" and "catching the similar frequencies "which makes the life better and ejoyable for a couple rather than similar religion or races!!!
-- Gunjeet , stary@rediffmail.com


I think arranged marriages are more successful. Only a person from Punjab, who has an arranged marriage can answer this clearly. Your posted answer shows ambiguity due to lack of knowledge, experience and scope of Punjabi culture. Now things are different but when I was in Punjab, I seldom heard of divorce. It was a news item. There are innumerable advantages of arranged marriage. More later I am a slow typist. thanks.
-- Jujhar , ajujharsingh@juno.com


I am an 18 yr old shia muslim girl. I believe that marriages innvoving two different religions or cultures is the first road to failure. Yeah ok, those two people might love each other and it may have no affect on them as a couple, but wat about their kids. I know loads of people whose mum is hindu, dad is muslim, or a christian man and a bengali girl and so on. And the kids are completely lost. They have no identity of their own. They dont know which path is the right path. Whether to follow islam or sikhism, or christianity or hinduism, to follow bengali ways or english ways etc etc.As a parent it would be very selfish of me to marry some one ofa different religion, as i would like my kids to follow what i believe , and my husband would probably want them to follow a different way. its a very hard and complicated issue to deal with. How are we supposed to preserve cultures, traditions and beliefs that our p! eople have protected for years if we begin to dilute them down. Then there would be nothing else. Religions will start to change slowly, people will start bending the truth. All you have to do is look how messed up our societies are todays, and look especially at the children of these people. Why create more problems. But this debate is a two way debate, it also depends upon the circumstances. If you would like to chat more about this,please e-mail ria at Rudegyal_ria@hotmail.com. Thanx. c ya!!
-- Ria , rudegyal_ria@hotmail.com


I am a white female from CT. I am dating an african-american man from Jamaica. He lives here now. We met at work and started dating. We fell in love with eachother. He is the most incredible man I`ve ever met and dated. He`s so beautiful inside and out. I always looked apon life as, what if I were born blind. One reason because I would not take site for granted. I would learn to love in words of the soul and action of the heart. I would not see color, ugliness, prettiness, or shape. I would only know to love for what my heart can feel. And even I havn`t fell in love with the another race, I would feel the same. We are all the same inside. I do not see any difference in the man I love, other than he is the opposite sex. But I do love him and I will let no one stand in the way of that, especially not something as simple as a color.
-- Jeanie , JAC6282@aol.com


I am curious what you guys think of this: I am a jatt Sikh, (Not practicing but I do recognise the main events and I have the utmost respect for the Guru Granth Sahib), born and raised in a western culture - What, if anything, is wrong with me marrying a Muslim girl? I know my father would do his best to avoid that, but what do you guys/girls in my generation think? Let me know. Please Email me at man_9u@yahoo.com.
-- Manny , man_9u@yahoo.com


I have never given the interracial marriage debate much thought untill I read all of the comments on this forum. I am in favor of interacial marriages even though I am not in one. However, I did marry a single white woman who had a son of mixed racial blood.(I love him dearly) So my step-son is half east indian and caucasian. One thought has been mentioned in this forum a number of times. The thought is this, that interracial marriages (if allowed to continue unchecked) will ultimately lead to the destruction of a culture. Forgive me if this seems a bit blunt, but that`s a weak excuse for a weak culture. Before you tar and feather me, hear me out. If interracial marriages are a threat to a culture then I wonder how strong that culture really is if it can`t survive interracial marriages. Every culture has it`s good and bad points. If a culture is going to die, it will happen from within, not from external forces. I think that the Jews are a very good example of a culture surviving because of it`s inner-strengths and not collapseing from external forces. How many times have they been subjected to genocide and survived. They are probably the most hated people group on the planet and yet the greatest surviving people group (in case if your asking... no I am not a Jew.) and you have to admire them for that. The intolorant view of those that are against interracial marriages is one of the contributing factors to the weakening of our human race. Intolorance is ultamately going to plunge this world into World War 3. I am not saying that we have to agree with each other but we do have to get along or we will all suffer the consequences. I do applaude those that have made the distinction between interracial and interreligious marriages. If you can`t tell the difference between those two then e-mail me because interreligious marriages are a another can of worms. Anyways, enough of my thoughts I hope they have been insightfull.
-- Anonymous , elffree@hotmail.com


Hi I am 17 years old and I am the product of an inter-racial marriage. My mom is Punjabi and my dad is african amercian. I choose to follow the religion of my mother so I am sikh. I have a problem with the people that look at my differently and treat me different. It;s not just people I don`t know it is also my family. It is very hard to be self confident when people don`t accept who you are. It has been very hard for me because they don`t just treat me bad they look down on my mom. I am a living example that you can overcome all the adversity because I am now the president of out International Club. And I am more indian then alot of my cousins and friend. So for everyone who doesn`t agree to this I don`t think it is fair. This is america and we are here to change. If we do`t want change than we should keep all indian in India. I love the Indian cultural and I just wish I could be accepted and looked at equally.
-- Sunita , mybabygirl23@aol.com


Actually, being of Punjabi-Sikh descent, it has been plastered into my mind that inter-religious marriages are not allowed, and will not be accepted. But, what is a person to do if they unknowingly fell in love with someone of different descent? I myself don`t know and I am in a really confused state right now. I didn`t mean to but I have fallen madly in love with a Tamil guy who I can`t live without(i think), and now as i turn 19, i have my parents bothering me about the fact that time is getting closer for them to find me a good husband. But my ultimate question is why can`t the guy i picked be good? Why do they assume him to be bad just cuz he`s a hindu? They will never allow me to marry him and knowing this i will never ask. I know that when an Indian couple gets married, the girl goes on and lives with her husbands family, so if I am not going to live with my family forevr then why not do what makes us both happy and marry out? If they truly loved me wouldm`t they eventually accept it? But, c`mon we all know Indian mentality. If society was ok with it then it wouldn`t matter who i marry, but since All Sikhs show that it is unacceptable, they won`t allow it, knowing that society will look down on them. Because they have their pride, which they won`t throw away for anyhting. But then why should I throw 3 years of hopes and dreams away for people who won`t even open their eyes to the new wave of life. As human beings we are suppose to be all equal. I am so confused. Please if someone knows what I should do, please e-mail me. But remember that I too love my mummy, and pappa. Thanx
-- Sonia , S1151A6@hotmail.com


This forum apparently revolves around sikhism/punjab. But after reading some interesting thought here, I was compelled to put in my 2 cents. I have known a hindu/jain girl for more a little more than 4 years and iam shiite muslim who comes from a fairly conservative background. I have gone back and forth about marrying this wonderful girl...I am 27 years old and I am realizing that you get one shot at life, you might as well make the most of it. All the talk about the culture religion is fairly irrelevant, because this world is coming together and just baecause you are born with a certain religion and culture does not or should not be the deciding factor in choosing the one you love, We all may perform different rituals but in the end all the religions and cultures tell teaches you the same goo deeds. Don`t miss the chance to grow old with the person you love just for the sake of any particular religion or culture...you will regret it for the rest of your life. Folks on this forum have been talking about preserving the religion and culture. If you really think about it...it all comes down to the fact that if you eat rice for 10 years then rice becomes your culture...:) Its the human within that matters not what you are used to growing up with....My intent here is not to offend anybody here, but it boils down to the fact what your priorities are in life..There is no right or wrong here...Its all subjective and perception. If any thoughts drop me an email...
-- Raza , razaali73@hotmail.com


I am doing a report on interracial marriages, although I already had feelings on this topic I have found more strength to my research. I do not believe that interracial relationships are bad. It is the couple`s own choice. I believe that they will go through hard times because it is an interracial relationship but that shouldn`t stop love. I admit I`ve never been in an interracial relationship but if I ever did get into a relationship that involved to races it wouldn`t bother me. People just need to look and see that we all bleed the same color of blood, we have feelings and that we are all human. People deserve to not be judged by the color of their skin. Skin doesn`t make someone a bad person, look to the heart and find the good in others.
-- Tianne , speedsitup@hotmail.com


Well personally (me being a white girl) why do people even judge people? Color is only somthing you see, you can`t see what is inside of them. I am very attracted to colored men. So if I was to be really tan and there was a fair skined person standing next to me dose that make them superior to me?....NO! People who are against colored people need to accept colored people because they will always be here and they are just like us and we are NOT superior to them! I know some really great white people, but guess what?...I also know some really great blacks!!!! And I think that interracial marriges are great! If you are in love anything can happen color should NOT stand in your way! So if a 42 year old man marrys a 22 year old woman that is a mixed marrige so we all should be against that to?....NO age and color makes no difference LOVE is LOVE. The deff. of love dose not have two deffinitons (one for colored and one for black, right?) we all use the same deffinition.
-- Nicole , Meg_Girl2001@Yahoo.com


Inter racial marriages aren`t as rosy as they appear to be especially if you come from conservative,reserved ethnic backgrounds.No doubts about the fact that you should marry someone you love and understand but then,you must be a very strong individual to take the criticism from your society.Most important of all,you never know how well the products of such a marriage are going to handle this double identity.Will they be as strong as you?
-- Amandeep , amandeep2029@yahoo.com


I am a frequent visitor of the discussion groups on this site. I have read almost every message on inter-racial marriages and for the exception of two messages no one is talking about inter-racial marriages. You are talking about inter-religious marriages. There is a great difference between inter-racial and inter-religious marriages. The Sikh religion teaches us that all people are equal and should be treated as such. It does not teach against inter-racial marriages. It does require, however, that if you are Sikh you must marry a Sikh. The Sikh religion is open to any race that wants to follow it. That was Guru Nanak`s primary quest. To bring all together under one belief. The belief in one God. I know many that have converted to Sikhism and are not of Indian origin. Granted those I know that have taken the Sikh religion also follow the Punjabi lifestyle. But not all. This world needs to come together under one God. We are different and we will stay different. That does not mean that our culture must die out. That is up to us and the grandparents and all others that are able to teach. As long as we have the desire to keep our culture alive we will, but it has nothing to do with race.
-- Arleen Scott , bobbiji@netzero.net


why can`t we love anyone we wish to love weither what culture or race you are what matter is that you love and care for the person,it`s ok to love with out for getting who you are and where you come from.God put all of us in this world to love one another not hate and fight.
-- Belinda Furnells , b4a1@aol.com


I am a product of an interacial relationship. And love knows no age, no color, and some people even belive that love knows no gender. Now a days I think nobody cares anymore you love who you love
-- Justin Jones , Aurbrey_Green@Yahoo.com


I am currently goin out with a 16 year old Muslim lad, I myself am 16 & white. Our relationship is totally secret & has been from the start, we have been together for 10 months now, our relationship has been kept secret because of the views of his family. I am very much in love with him, & he with me. But we both know & have all along that we will never be able to be together forever. It hurts so much to know this but it is something we both have to accept. He loves & respects his parents far too much to ever disobey their marriage rules, I don`t blame him for this. It just hurts me to know that he wants to be with me, & I want to be with him but we can`t be. I will love him forever & he knows this, & I will NEVER forget him. I believe in interracial relationships (obviously) but only if the 2 people in this relationship are prepared for the worst. Me & ***** have been all along, it doesn`t make it easier nothing ever could believe me it just prepares you. I would really like to speak to someone going through the same experience, as right now I feel alone & that no-one understands. My e-mail address is Mancunianbabe@hotmail.com
-- Rachel Lavin , Mancunianbabe@hotmail.com


I think interacial marriages are very wrong and should be stopped. Your kids need to know where they come from. Also racism is still an issue so your kid would get crap from both races
-- Amanda , 123@yahoo.com


One must not forget that although love is blindfull bliss external factors such as the rest of the universe can silently change our lives. Contouring our actions, thoughts and emotions with no regret, recourse or trace.
-- Kirani , jv@hotmail.com


I am a Sikh, but not a very practicing one. I have strong atheist views, however I respect entirely the doctrine of equality to mankind completely, this is what I like about Sikhism. When it comes to inter-racial marriages, there is somewhat of a problem. The cultural value does get somewhat `watered down`. It is impossible to retain a culture through mixing, a good example is of the Romani people who right now are desperately struggling to revive their lost culture, one could see that just in 900 years they don`t remember why they left India in the first place. This general fear is what poses on Sikhism, it seems like sikhism could never die and could remain intact completely, but we musn`t forget that time degrades everything, and only man helps this deteriorating process. To stop inter-racial marriages is an excellent way to preserve what could be lost. Such as how the Zoorastrians do, an ancient religion almost wiped out by genocide approximately 4,000 years ago is still intact due to this simple principle.You may all be thinking. Why am I considering inter-racial marriages such a threat. Well, in today`s society (western), we`ve been mixed in this social melting pot, and are accustomed and sometimes expected to live up to what others think and to sometimes forget what we are to `fit in`. ANd since most are going abroad from India, more of us are exposed to this, and generally all of us decide to stray in this direction. Remember, it`s only a matter of time. When it`s too late, we could never turn back. azrahel
-- Azrahel , azrael@maildistrict.com


Well if both agree to live together without forgeting their culture, religion, customs, tradation etc.. In Sikh religion i guess there is nothing mention against interacical marriage. There will be nothing wrong with the couple for interacical marriage, but the main problem is that their next generation. Their childrens, grandchildren will forgot everything and their will be less relatives which means than it will be danger for sikh religion. If both couple will devote to one side of culture, religion than it will be safe whether it goes dowwwwwnnn. Gurfateh,
-- Vicky Singh , vickysingh@sikhfoundation.com


I was reading a thought by sukh dhillon the inter-racial marriages are messed up but why ? He didn`t give any sulution if and if there is a problem of getting married in another religion or race.So always write a solution if there is a problem. personally I think even we as sikh`s has problems like jats, bhappa`s , lubana sikhs, mazhabi`s etc. Now let me ask Sukh Dhillon if he is practicing sikhism as being a jat will he marry his son or daughter to another lubana, mazhabi or bhappa? If not then i don`t think that we can comment on anybody.If our own house is not clean or secure. So first lets clean our house then think about our neigbhours.Mr thind Plz in your next thought ask about prcticing sikhism or politics in sikhism coz I want to know what we as a sikh think especially about langar maryada,AKAL TAKHAT SAHIB`s Hukumnama`s and Akali leadership.SSA
-- Gurmeet Singh , grewal67@hotmail.com


Being a Sikh, i`ll never understand how a fellow Sikh could marry out of his/her religion. In essence it waters down the religion. When people say kids get the best of both worlds, I really dont agree because sooner or later the child will grow and will have to choose.Personally being a Sikh, if my child chose to raise themself in a different religion and it didnt bother me, then I can honestly say I should question what Sikhism means to me... Sikhs are struggling right now with their identity staying in tact and I personally believe mixed marriages is doing much to help that. Would a product of a half-Sikh mixed marriage sacrifice themselves for Sikhi, I think not.
-- Jaspal Singh , jaspal_m@hotmail.com


Every person that I have spoken to, about this issue and even here in this discussion, stresses the point about losing the culture and not being able to stay in sync with each others cultural life. Not once do people think about Love and how it just overtakes everything in its way...no I`m not talking about the movies. Let me ask you guys something, when you see a girl or a guy do you ask them, "Excuse me but, what is your religion." Let me answer that question for you, no you do not. When an individual sees a person or meets a person, that individual is doing all that from her/his heart, where he/she feels something special for that person. I`m also aware of the fact that the elder people don`t want to hear that...but I just want to convey a simple message to them. When they watch movies (Hindi, and I know they all watch them) why do they cry when two people in love from different religion can`t be together because of the society and why do they come alive with pleasure when in the end they are together. If these individuals cannot accept the fact that their kids get involved with someone from a different religion, then simply stop watching the movies, stop crying, stop felling joyous. In the end, why don`t parents think that obviously there are these two human beings, and in the end that`s what they are, human beings, who are deeply in Love and feel that they can survive this entire emotional cultural roller coaster, then why not just let them be happy and let them be. I don`t think there is anything worse that could happen to a person then not being able to attain the person they Love, just because of the religious differences.
-- Sunny , puttjattande@hotmail.com


My husband is Sikh and I am Irish. It has been difficult for us my family was very excepting of my husband but his family was not. We have been married for almost two years and have a beautiful son. My mother inlaw hates me and blames me for her ruined life. I have met too many Indians that expect to live in America and expect everyone to conform to their beliefs and ways of life. When I was in India I wore the proper clothes and was respectful of their ways. I am tired of Indians who want me to dress Indian in America just because I have an Indian husband. I am not Indian and my son will be raised to know both of our cultures. Indians tell me all the time that when you marry into an Indain family that you most act like them. I am sick and tired of of all of it, I am an American and will not change for anyone, it is time for you to except your surroundings and blend or go back to India!
-- Raynor Mary Pat , mpatraynor@home.com


I think people should never forget their roots and should learn about their history but I think it`s time more Asians embraced interracial relationships. The basis of a marraige should be two people who care for each other and who would like to spend the rest of their lives together. If a person is decent and honourable it should not make any difference what race they are. If people are prepared to respect each other`s tradition and beliefs then there should be no problem with two different cultures uniting in marraige.
-- Adam Smith , mauc06@dial.pipex.com


I have a few things to add to inter-relationship marriages.It all the same you marry who you really love (that`s if you found the special person) or you find someone who you think is right for you. I am married traditionally but was able to meet and be engaged for 1 year and it like everything else you meet someone at a club you date and bang( no not that bang) you hit it off and all works out. It just easier to when you marry someone in your own culture because this brings value to the culture as well as it being passed on. When you mix culture there is this culture clash this mix of culture depending on how different it is one another can either rip apart a family or make it harder on the family to adopt to the change. Some accept it very well because they live in that culture / environment or some just want to wanne be`s . The next time you parents want to get you hooked up believe in them because they brought you up and want the best for you and will not just pick some 2 fingered half laid bitch to bring home now. take care and keep sikhism alive and kicking....
-- Jasvinder , Jasvinder.Jassal@Compaq.com


I am an African American female who believes that there is so much to learn from another culture. The black experience in the U.S. has contributed so many positive things to society and when I have been in association with people from other cultures we learn and grow from our backgrounds. So many people dwell on the negative aspects and they never even try to open their eyes to the great qualities that each partner brings. Relationships break up because of intolerance of the others beliefs or personal thoughts. That can happen in any union no matter what race or religion. Respect , understanding, communication and love are the basis of any great couple. Only these can lead to a happy and fruitful bond.
-- Yolanda , blackdove6@mindspring.com


I read all the comments and would say Inter-racial marriages are like any marriages they can last or the couple get a divorce. The biggest thing we all should remember is you both should respect one another and there beliefs prior to marriage and don`t make a big issue of it when you are married no one has priorty you are both equal. The person who said he knows that all Sikh girls from London are no longer virgins how would he know and if he want`s a virgin wife he too should be a virgin.
-- Lakhbinder Dosanjh , lkdosanjh@hotmail.com


We are a White-Asian couple and are very much in love. We are both enjoying learning about each others cultures and Adam has started learning Urdu. We both want to teach our children about all cultures and ideas including our own. RE: Comment by Balraj amar@cbn.net.id we are both virgins and intend to stay as such until we`re married. We think its unfair to comment on Asian girls like that and a bit hypocritical when u seen to be doing exactly what your critisizing, or is it ok for men?
-- Adam & Tania , adam_tania@hotmail.com


I don`t think interracial marriages are right cuz it hard to adjust ina different culture after marriage. I have personally never had a punjabi boyfriend because i live in a city where there are none but i know that i will marry a punjabi. I am dating a muslim right now and i already see the differences we have and we`ve only been together for a little bit.
-- Anonymous , defaultuser@default.com


Well...I am a Gujurati...I am a teenager and I was born and raised here in the US. Everyday I think about how is would be like to be like my friends, to expierence others. Not sexually but just to talk to them knowing my parents don`t mind. But things aren`t so smooth. If you think about it, it`s not that you want to talk to another person out of your race but it is the feeling that your parents trust you enough to let you be and have good friends of the opposite sex. When Indian parents come to America they think that their family will be based upon Indian beleifs. They can`t make the Hindu culture become the American culture for their kids. The both have to mix. They both have to merge and become one. Either the kid or the parents will be dissappointed. That`s just the way it goes...unless you parents become more on the American side rather than the Indian. email me if you have comments.
-- Anonymous , virality@ivprog.com


Since this is semi sikh site; i`d request not to confuse interracial marriages with interreligion marriages. Interracial marriages work equally fine as race is just a political fact, while inter religion marriages can end up in mess if both the partners are devout in their resp. religions as unlike race it is part of their daily life.
-- A. Singh , aparsingh@yahoo.com


since this is semi sikh site;i`d request not to confuse interracial marriages with interreligion marriages.interracial marriages work equally fine as race is just a political fact. while inter religion marriages can end up in mess if both the partners are devout in their resp.religions as unlike race it is part of their daily life. aparsingh@yahoo.com There is nothing wrong with inter-racial relationships,both my children are half indian. Their father is Punjabi and a very caring loving father. When they were small we took them to different Temples.As they grew they are Amercanized but have great respect towards the Sikh religion and what it stands for. My son who is 16 now shows a greater intrest in the customs and music now than before. I encourage my children to be proud of their heritage.
-- Sgil , sgil@pacbell.net


I`m an 18 year old product of this. I`m half irish/half moghul, and aside from the religious conflict that occured every so-often, it has been great. Many people who stick to their own race when marrying divorce, but my parents are content together.. I don`t believe they will ever divorce. As far as losing culture and religion, I believe I`ve gotten the best of both worlds. I can read Arabic, speak punjabi and urdu, and have all the culture any desi would have being brought up here as well as having my irish heritage too.. I believe it`s up to the parents... and punjabi`s are very competent, caring, and responsible parents.. I don`t think much culture will be lost in interracial marriages.
-- Dave


Well i do agreed with arvinder and jimmy. i`m a 24 year sikh. i`m dating with the non-sikh but one thing is true, i`ll marry a kaur, thats because i know that the sikh religion is a reall good religion. people need good religion. my kid have to be a singh not williams, shakers or something. my mother doenst mind for my indonesian girlfriend ( i`m living in Jakarta-Indonesia) but she hopes she`ll have a sikh nau. but i dont agree with the western thinking of sikhs, i know many 19 years sikh girls are not virgin anymore in london, is that a good culture? do they know about religion?
-- Balraj , amar@cbn.net.id


I am not a radical or an ultra-conservative, but whenever I look at today`s Punjabis (esp Sikhs) I see that there are so many who are losing their Kesh and Punjabiat after coming to Americas. I think, that amount of degeneration should be enough to stir our souls. We can`t afford to let our Dhiya te Put to marry non-Sikhs if we want Sikhism to stay alive and flourish in the 21st century. Hope that most of the Singhs and the Kaurs out there would agree.
-- Arvinder Singh , arvinder@ramail.angelo.edu


Inter racial marriges r messed up!
-- Sukh Dhillon , RHNS@email.msn.com


I think inter-racial marriages are a very big issue. Its very hard to adjust with someone who is non Punjabi and also religion is a very big thing when it comes to children. Before marriage everybody thinks they will be fine or they are "cool" but after a while they find out what went wrong.
-- Jimmy Singh , Majnu6@aol.com


I think inter-racial marriages is fine as long as both of them are happily living together... By the way I have 2 sis married to non-Punjabi`s and I am so close to both of my bro-in-law. It`s a free world and free-thinking society nowadays. Any offence...mailto me
-- Hemerjit , shjit@rhb.com.my


Of course anybody can marry anybody they wish but one culture will undoubtedly lose out. My wife is Australian and we live in her country. My children have no interest whatsoever in my culture or language. That`s life! But I would not change my wife for anything.
-- Rufus Uulf , rufus@ne.com.au


A person should marry whom they love. Race, Color, Creed, Class Nationality doesn`t mean anything. If you marry within your own culture but aren`t happy, it make for a lonely future. I don`t believe that a person loses their cultural and traditional roots just by marrying outside their culture. Any culture can only be enhanced. After all, why should we spend the rest of our lives existing in one culture. Why not live the best of both?
-- Lovely , raji@lightspeed.bc.ca


Hi everybody! I`m 18 years old Russian girl and I`m going to visit India next winter with my Indian boyfriend. I hope that everything will be fine and we`ll get married in the nearest future.
-- Xenia , arkie@mail.wplus.net


Inter racial marriages are ok. Its all a matter of personal likes and disllikes this is not even a debatable topic. One marries who one likes/loves no matter what race , color or religion he/she may belong to . No fuss yaar.
-- Boby , boby23@hotmail.com


I think that the culture one belongs to is very important. I believe that the culture of a person involved in an inter-racial relationship disitegrates. That person can not live according to his or her own culture, because he or she has to respect the culture of his or her partner. The person`s culture is not strong as it would be if he or she married his or her own kind! This is the problem today, that people are not as proud and strong about their own culture, and an inter-racial relationship does not help that fact.
-- Ravinder Arora


They are totally ok!!! Everyone should experience an inter-racial relationship! People will realize how good they are!
-- Marcos Relano , keet17@aol.com


I don`t know, an inter-racial marriage could be horrible at times, but also they can be great. I don`t think that the couple fits well in their in-laws family`s structure or culture as well if he or she was the same kind. So this is an issue that has to be considered before you get married to someone of another kind.
-- Jagjit Singh


I think they are fine, it all depends on the persons in the relationship.
-- Paramjeet Thind , pamtd@ucla.edu


They`re all right.
-- Clint Kelly , cwk5@cornell.edu