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A very simple wish of many Indians. When can we caste our prejudices and jaundiced perceptions about our
imperative dying act of attaching caste to every other death that plagues the
country? It is disgraceful to see, day in and day out, a person who is a somebody
or a nobody dying and we (includes the media, after all it all part of 'we')
proclaiming that these things happened because he belonged to a particular
caste.
Now, the simple wish is actually
very difficult to achieve, almost very utopian. The origins of caste are still
being debated upon - whether it was due to the professions of people or it was
used to demarcate people on the basis of social strata / power wielded by
different sets of people. Caste is in the blood of us Indians and one of the
retards to our progress.
It is very silly and shameful
that we still have caste as an issue to fight over. Governments are still built
on caste planks. One big exception of late was the Aam Aadmi party which came to
power in Delhi on a development platform - but we know now as to how it is
allowed to function.
Power seems to be the only
criterion for pushing the envelope as far as anything is concerned. Recently, a
community in Telangana / Andhra Pradesh burnt buses, trains, paralysed villages
and towns demanding inclusion in the list of backwards castes. Well the whole
thing makes me think. In life, as we move forward, will things get ameliorated
/ developed or shall we be backward - looking? Can a community become backward
or would it have been backward? A few months back, Gujarat was the cauldron of
another caste holding a similar cause. And Rajasthan a few years back.
Amidst all the murders, robberies
and other crimes that occupy the front pages of newspapers almost every other
day, caste issues also seem to be getting a permanent box. How can we shake this
ever coiling serpent off? Caste issues are like a tinderbox - a keg of gunpowder
which is waiting to explode anytime. Before one can even think of anything, the
emotional connect which people have with their castes makes them forget their
best friends, acquaintances and humanity as a whole and indulge in vandalism.
There are various unique
attributes / customs of multiple castes to be appreciated - yes, they must be
preserved. But should we still be fighting in the name of caste? It requires
the consolidated effort of communities (castes) to forgive, forget and move on.
One can identify with his or her caste for the special attributes / skills that
it has imparted over ages. But this should be a positive side of identification
- more like pride. We may not obliterate caste in the near future in India -
but we should understand that it is causing to be a huge boulder around our next.
We have a choice to march forward with or without the boulder around our necks.
The solution may appear simplistic, but it requires a lot of willpower and
shaking our heads off certain prejudices
Can we choose, for once, with
common sense?
6 comments:
Well written post. However, was just surprised to see you supporting AAP in Para 3.
Nope it is not support. It is just to highlight the fact that a democratically elected government, elected perhaps for the first time on a non-caste plank is not allowed to function as it can by the Central Government - the Governor's indulgence is a case in point. Everyone should be given a chance, isn't it?
As you've said, it is a curse that we have to carry all along, no saving us. So long as the Governments play with caste cards, they are safe and we- still divided. But what according to you can abolish this?
Will, what else
Dear Pradeep. Thanks for flagging some issues as well as puttin forth a call of action, individually as well as for a macro setting. I have read a story where Gautama Buddha admonishes a king for he misbehaved with a daughter in law from a low caste. So hisorical evidence shows that the system of caste is atleast 2500 years old if not more. Having said that India is not the only place where some sort of caste system prevails. Caste or allegience is about power, and weilding power is universal in nature. However, I must point out the experience of China, where historical evidence of caste runs farther in past than in India. However, in ten short years Mao broke down 3000 year old caste system, WHICH IS ACTUALLY UNBELIEVABLE UNLESS you hear it from someone who has seent the pre and post revolution reality of China. While Mao's methods were abhorent, net result is laudable.
Agree on the effect of Mao's efforts, but replicating them in a democracy is difficult. It takes a lot of will from politicians, caste leaders and people in toto. Very hazy
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