How is caste and Dalit status inherited?
The child of Dalit parents is invariably a Dalit. Inter-caste marriages are rare, and the caste consequences for children are complex. If the father has the higher caste, children often acquire the father’s caste. However, if the father has the lower caste, the marriage may be considered to be against the scriptures and any children may have a lower status even than the father. Some Hindus consider that children of mixed-caste parents belong to the higher-caste parent.
