By P.T. Bopanna
Is an app on the lines of a dating app the solution to the problem of the growing inter-caste marriages among Kodava girls?
One of the reasons for the growing inter-caste marriages is the fact that there is hardly any bonding happening within the small Kodava community who belong to Kodagu (Coorg) district in Karnataka.
With most of the Kodavas (Coorgs) migrating to cities like Mysuru and Bengaluru, there is hardly any platform for young Kodavas to meet and socialise. Consequently, Kodava girls tend to date either their college mates or colleagues in the office.
In the circumstances, an exclusive dating app would go a long way in helping to bond within the Kodava community.
Essentially, dating is a stage of romantic relationships in which two individuals engage in an activity together, most often with the intention of evaluating each other’s suitability as a life partner in the long run.
A Kodava girl who did not wish to be identified, said: “It would be nice to have a dating app for Kodavas only. It gives a platform for finding more like minded people. Inter caste marriages have become common and one of the reasons could be that there aren’t enough Kodava people around our daily life that we meet outside of Coorg, unless in Kodava Sangha meetings (which is only an annual feature).”
The problem of inter-caste marriages in Kodava community is not just confined to Kodava girls, but also affects boys. But comparatively more girls are marrying outside the community.
In one of my previous articles, I had pointed out how Kodava girls going in for higher education in recent years and landing better paying jobs, the matrimonial market has tilted in favour of girls. Presently there is a mismatch between the Kodava boys and girls when it comes to their educational qualifications and job profiles. This has led to Kodava girls looking for a match outside the community.
Photograph is for representation purpose only
