Abstract

Interfaith marriages in India occupy a contested and complex space within the social fabric of a country deeply embedded in religious identities. While much attention has been focused on the couples themselves and the societal reactions to such unions relatively little academic work has examined the identity formation of children born from these marriages. This paper explores the psychological cultural and social processes that shape the identity of children growing up in interfaith households. Based on qualitative interviews conducted in Delhi Mumbai Hyderabad and Lucknow along with media discourse and theoretical frameworks from social psychology and sociology this study investigates how these children navigate multiple religious heritages social stigma belonging and personal belief systems. The findings reveal that identity formation among children of interfaith marriages is marked by negotiation fluidity hybridity and at times conflict. These children often function as cultural bri