I think you may want to know something about what I think about Cousin Marriage, and
what I found to be common in India. First of all I am not worried about cousin marriage.  I do not have any qualms about it in regard to my personal philosophy.  I am a 22 year old male.

I am of Asian Indian-Tamil descent.  My parents (who are not cousins) are immigrants to the US from India.  The topic has been mentioned in my family throughout India. Most of them who are of my parents' generation or my generation understand that this may have happened at times.  They understand if it happens again.  One of my Uncles  in India in fact even approached my father about perhaps me meeting some of my distant cousins as perhaps in hopes of an arranged marriage.  Thank goodness my father decided to back off at that time...I was too young to consider it.

I guess what I am saying it depends on the family and people involved.  In some Indian families, it is a definite NO. In others it may be a possibility.  I have seen this issue from both an Indian and an American perspective.  Marriages among certain relatives seems to be common. I know that in my genealogy it has occurred among various generations as I recently appointed myself as the historian of my family.  I know that I will not consider marrying any of my first cousins.  It is hard for me not to think of them as brothers or sisters.  That is just the way I was raised.  I think of my first cousins as brothers or isters.  That is how I know them.

Nevertheless, cousin marriage is common in India, perhaps more so then in the US. There is no real set rule.  It is more about who the people are and are they a match.

Dear Rahul,

Thank you very much for that informative and pertinent letter. I have been out of sorts lately and only getting to my correspondence late. I should have thanked you much sooner.

Kate