Polygamy in India
Encyclopedia
Polygamy is illegal in India for Hindus and other religious groups under the Hindu marriage Act. It remains legal for Muslims under the terms of The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937, as interpreted by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board"
According to the 1961 census (the last census to record such data), polygamy was actually less prevalent among Indian Muslims (5.7%) than among several other religious groups. Incidence was highest among Adivasi
s (15.25%) and Buddhists (7.9%); Hindus, by comparison, had an incidence of 5.8%. Although there are movements to end polygamy, many seek to preserve the practice.
has been reported to have converted to Islam so that he could legally marry actress Hema Malini
as his second wife. In December 2008, a controversy arose when the then Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana
, Chander Mohan
, and Anuradha Bali, the former Assistant Advocate General of Haryana, converted to Islam adopting the names Chand Mohammad and Fiza, so that Mohan could marry Bali as his second wife.However he converted back to Hinduism
after a while. Such incidents have raised concerns over the use of Islam for polygamy.
According to the 1961 census (the last census to record such data), polygamy was actually less prevalent among Indian Muslims (5.7%) than among several other religious groups. Incidence was highest among Adivasi
Adivasi
Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
s (15.25%) and Buddhists (7.9%); Hindus, by comparison, had an incidence of 5.8%. Although there are movements to end polygamy, many seek to preserve the practice.
Conversion to Islam for polygamy
There have been many incidents of non-Muslim men converting to Islam solely with the purpose of practicing polygamy legally. For example, actor DharmendraDharmendra
Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...
has been reported to have converted to Islam so that he could legally marry actress Hema Malini
Hema Malini
Hema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...
as his second wife. In December 2008, a controversy arose when the then Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, Chander Mohan
Chander Mohan
Chander Mohan, is the former Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana State in India. He was dismissed from the State Cabinet for his prolonged absence from the office. Mohan is a former student of Lawrence School Sanawar. He resurfaced, after marrying Anuradha Bali alias Fiza and converting to Islam with...
, and Anuradha Bali, the former Assistant Advocate General of Haryana, converted to Islam adopting the names Chand Mohammad and Fiza, so that Mohan could marry Bali as his second wife.However he converted back to Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
after a while. Such incidents have raised concerns over the use of Islam for polygamy.