Caste discrimination is one amongst the most prevailing
means of discrimination existent in the society. Initially, we people started
settling down from wandering tribes to civilized settlers, the wanted a means
of practice to follow, as well as a means to differentiate from each other.
This gave rise to various religions, and sub-categories known as caste and
creed. Thence, caste wasn't formed as a means for discrimination, but instead
to lead a much more organized and civilized life.
Being part of the effluent class, we often have the
notion that there is no caste system being exercised today. This is a complete
false notion. The aggression and depth of the same has multiplied to varied
levels instead. Its just that we are ignorant of what's happening around the
world, and even within the walls we are confined in.
People often senselessly argue that caste system has been
eradicated from our society and to view such practices even today, we would
have to travel to far off remote villages where technology hasn't touched. This
in fact is the biggest wrong notion. Caste system is not as much prevailing in
other societies as it is in urbanized communities where we live in. The
question of which caste we belong to is raised from every nook and corner, be
it our classroom or office or in common neighborhood. The trend of people
belonging to a particular linguistic, caste or cultural background, seated
together in a classroom is one of the commonest sights.
As per Indian constitution, it is illegal to enquire
about or say out the caste. Ironically, India is a country that still continues
to follow the custom of using the caste title along with our names, as a
tagline that says out what caste we belong to. In such a society, however
strongly we argue the eradication of caste system, the person belonging to the
upper caste still enjoys their superiority with the 'Adiga' or 'Brahmin' or
such tags attached to them. Unless and until the upper caste gives away such
name tags, they continue to be the upper caste and the rest continues to be the
lower caste. Due to the same reason, we also tend to ask a person's second name,
while being introduced to them, to get an idea
of the caste they belong to. India is not just a country where we quote
tags that speak out our caste, but also a country where tags often denoting the
lower caste are also used as words of abuse. The word 'Brahmin' is never an
abuse, but those relative to lower castes are often used by people while
abusing each other.
Reservations given in educational field is another strong
aspect spoken against caste system. This is a result of the ignorance we
blindness we have. As mentioned earlier, being part of the effluent class, who
has got the ability in terms of facilities and monetary basis, we have the feeling
that reservation need not be given to the deserving lower caste marginalized
section of the society. Conditions are not as happening as we see. Caste system
was earlier formulated on the basis on the profession followed by a community.
This forced the people belonging to a particular caste follow the same caste as
that descended from the ancestors or the preceding generation. The force later began to get stricter where the
farmers son, however talented he was in the field of arts had to stick on to
his inherited profession rather than his own interests or aptitudes.
Reservation was introduced as an attempt to break this system. Even today, in
the so-called progressive society, there are places where until the reservation
system exists, the farmers son would still have to continue a farmer. It is
often critiqued that these reservations strikes off the chances of a 'general'
student who has acquired good marks in the same competitive exam. This again is
false. Even when we say 20% reservation is offered to OBC students, there
exists a wide category within this and isn't as big as the number 20 by itself.
The reservation system is also not a blind means for giving chance to students
for being born in castes that the government has listed as deserving, but instead
it only offers few grants to them acknowledging the backgrounds from which they
come from.
My personal opinion is that there should be justice
provided to the marginalized who had been side lined even when India attained
independence. A country where no caste is said with pride or curse can be
regarded one where caste system has been completely eradicated, and not where
people continue with their taglines and fight for it's eradication while having
the feeling that they are not getting what another set is getting, forgetting
all oppressions and brutalities that were open out in near past.
To end this note, I would say that my article by itself is politically wrong by calling and differentiating people as lower and higher caste in a democratic republic like India, we all are equal, no no one is more equal than another.