Myth: I Converted by My Choice for Interfaith Marriage

Last updated on: July 5, 2025 at 5:47 pm By Dr. Dilip Amin

Religious conversion for interfaith marriage remains a common practice in Abrahamic traditions. Often, the individual converting is led to believe—or made to declare—that the decision was entirely by personal choice, without coercion. But is that truly the case? Conversion by Coercion, not Choice The author presents three real-life case studies to illustrate how religious conversions—though often presented as voluntary—may involve subtle or unrecognized coercion. He has also guided some 1300 youths in interfaith relationships and this is his general observation... Read more

Zohran Mamdani: NYC Mayor Hopeful with Interfaith Roots

Last updated on: June 30, 2025 at 8:06 am By Dr. Dilip Amin

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, is the son of Hindu mother Mira Nair and Muslim father Mahmood Mamdani. Mira is an acclaimed Indian-American filmmaker, and Mahmood is a Ugandan political scientist of Indian origin, with ancestral roots in Gujarat, India. In early 2025, Zohran had an Islamic nikah with Brooklyn-based Syrian-American artist Rama Duwaji. Zohran Mamdani Zohran Mamdani is a progressive American politician currently serving as a member of the New York State Assembly... Read more

Navigating Hindu‑Catholic Interfaith Marriage Challenges

Last updated on: June 25, 2025 at 12:09 pm By Dr. Dilip Amin

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Hindu-Catholic Marriages In the United States, about a quarter or more of both Hindus and Catholics marry outside their faith. While both traditions are deeply rooted and spiritually rich, Hindu-Catholic couples should be aware of potential theological and cultural conflicts that can arise in their married life. Understanding Hinduism and Catholicism Both Hinduism and Catholicism recognize a single Ultimate Reality and accept the idea of divine manifestations in human form. In Catholicism, this is expressed through the Holy Trinity: God... Read more

Hindu-phobia and Muslim-phobia in Intermarriage

Last updated on: May 5, 2025 at 1:44 pm By Dr. Dilip Amin

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Hindu-Muslim marriages can be especially challenging due to centuries of historical tension, cultural differences, and deeply held religious beliefs. Unfortunately, interfaith leaders often avoid discussing contentious issues for fear of offending either side. But now is the time for honest, respectful dialogue to help guide our communities. Are the Prejudices Real? In the play When Gandhi Meets Mohammed by SETU, both Hindu and Muslim stereotypes were portrayed openly—challenging the audience to confront uncomfortable realities. From the Muslim perspective, Hindus were... Read more

Hindu-Muslim Marriages: When Gandhi and Mohammed Meet

Last updated on: April 9, 2025 at 10:47 pm By Dr. Dilip Amin

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Hindu-Muslim dating and its associated societal challenges were powerfully depicted in the play “When Gandhi and Mohammed Meet” by SETU. This thought-provoking performance was staged in March 2025 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Boston with a double cast of over two dozen talented actors. The play follows two interfaith couples—Nadia Khan (Muslim) and Neel Gandhi (Hindu) in London, and Smita Yadav (Hindu) and Mohammed Aslam (Muslim) in Delhi—who fall in love without foreseeing the storm their relationships... Read more

There is No Caste, Only Hindus – A Call for Truth

Last updated on: March 2, 2025 at 4:04 pm By Dr. Dilip Amin

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I once asked my American-born son, an academician at Stanford University, “What is your caste?” He rolled his eyes, trying to guess based on what his sixth-grade teacher had taught him. I had to clarify, “What is your caste, not what it should be?” He had no answer. This anecdote underscores a larger issue: caste is often portrayed in American discourse as intrinsic to Hinduism, despite its complex and evolving history. Kumbh Mela 2025: There is No Caste, only Hindus... Read more

Indonesia’s Ban on Interfaith Marriages: A Blow to Religious Freedom

Last updated on: October 21, 2024 at 5:09 am By Dr. Dilip Amin

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Indonesia’s Ban on Interfaith Marriages: A Blow to Religious Freedom Interfaith marriages have become virtually impossible in the Republic of Indonesia. Recently, the Supreme Court issued a directive prohibiting court judges from approving applications for interfaith marriages. Under this ruling, one partner must convert to the religion of the other, effectively stripping citizens of their right to choose their partner without compromising their religious identity. To comply with the new law, Mahalini Raharja, a Hindu from Bali, was essentially required... Read more

JD Vance and Usha Chilukuri’s Marriage of Religious Equality

Last updated on: November 15, 2024 at 12:46 pm By Dr. Dilip Amin

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JD Vance, a Roman Catholic, and Usha Chilukuri, a practicing Hindu, unite in marriage to respect each other’s faith and culture. Usha has been guiding JD through significant personal and professional milestones, including the strengthening of his Catholic faith. This union is a great example of religious equality and pluralism in intermarriage. Donald Trump announced JD Vance as his Vice Presidential candidate in the 2024 US elections. Usha met JD at Yale Law School while they were both students. In... Read more

Intermarriage as a New Category of CASTE Systems

Last updated on: June 26, 2024 at 3:20 pm By Dr. Dilip Amin

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In her best-selling book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents (2020), Ms. Isabel Wilkerson introduced a new definition of caste, expanding its application beyond traditional contexts. Wilkerson identified three primary examples of caste systems: the Third Reich in Nazi Germany, the caste system in India, and racial dynamics in the United States. She also briefly mentioned a fourth system related to intermarriage, though she did not elaborate further on this point. This article seeks to address this gap by exploring... Read more

Caste Bills Could Hurt Interfaith Couples

Last updated on: April 9, 2024 at 6:38 am By Dr. Dilip Amin

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About 40% of Americans marry interfaith. Any future proposal of a caste bill like the vetoed California Senate Bill 403 (SB 403) could increase legal challenges to current, future (dating), and past (divorced) interfaith married couples. Senator Aisha Wahab or any other author of a similar future caste bill should consider these points for the benefit of interfaith couples. Vetoed SB 403 The California Senate Bill 403 was intended to prohibit discrimination based on caste explicitly, but after revisions merely made affecting discrimination... Read more