Ideas of India Chetana Sabnis on The Intimacy Contract and the Indian State
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Oct 9, 2025 In this riveting discussion, Chetana Sabnis, a Yale doctoral candidate, explores how the Indian state regulates intimate relationships. She delves into the intricacies of the 'Intimacy Contract,' revealing how courts decide which relationships count as family. Chetana highlights the tension between customs and laws, gendered biases in welfare claims, and the complex recognition of polygamous and interfaith relationships. She also warns about the responsibilities that come with legal recognition, making this a compelling conversation on love, law, and identity.
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State Defines Family By Entitlements
- Courts treat family as relationships tied by state entitlements rather than pure kinship definitions.
- Recognition depends on which relationships fit the state's preferred ideology of marriage.
Legal Patchwork Shapes Recognition
- India's legal system mixes religious customs and codified law, producing uneven protections across communities.
- Polygamy was regionally permitted historically but post-1950 law criminalized or restricted it unevenly across religions.
Pension Denial Despite Social Recognition
- A woman sought the deceased man's pension but the court denied it because she was not the legal first wife.
- The judge nonetheless probed rituals, cohabitation, and children to assess recognition.
