Andre Beteille, professor emeritus of sociology at the Delhi School of Economics, in The Telegraph:
“Politics in India is coming to be driven increasingly by the competition for backwardness. The principal contenders in this competition are not individuals, households, or even classes, but castes and tribes. Even the religious minorities, whose proud forbears once ruled much of the land, are learning to recognize the advantages to be gained from being designated as backward.
“Sociologists of an earlier generation had drawn attention to the wide prevalence of ‘Sanskritization’, whereby a caste of middle or inferior social rank claimed a higher status by adopting the habits, practices and rites of the twice-born castes and calling themselves Kshatriyas or even Brahmins. Today, such castes are less eager to represent themselves as Brahmins and Kshatriyas than to claim that they are backward….
Read the full article: Tribes and castes
Caste system is the curse upon us. We should discard it as soon as possible. The notion of differentiating men and women on the basis of their birth itself is disgusting.
“One God; one nation” should be our guiding principle. After all we are all offprings of a single parent. In that way every human being on this earth is blood related brothers.
The criteria to judge one’s worth should be piety. Nothing else.
The people who propagate against the caste system are themselves a big hypocrites.
Why should a caste system should be abolished.if it is abolished humans will find other ways of grouping themselves.This behavior will not change for ever.
Caste system is the wolfsbane of our nation. It is gradually getting disregarded for in urban India with scores of intercaste marriages heppening everyday. But Casteism continues to be a serious issue in rural India. The recent shocking event of two families from different castes killing and parading the bodies of their girl and boy for marrying each other in Harayana is testament to this.
Also the Central Government by installing OBC quota in colleges has stoked the fire. From yesterday’s report the government is now trying to install the quota policy in Private institutions. If the current crop of Politicians and Policy makers stay around for long we may see Quota system to private companies making India a country where Caste determines everything.
@T Azeez Luthfullah
>>“One God; one nation” should be our guiding principle.
Which God?
@Hiker
>> ‘ Which God? ‘
On a lighter note why not our own Yeddy..
@Hiker
>>’Which God?’
God is one.
Azeez I think for me it is ‘No God’. The guiding principle for me Humanistic rationalism. What you say.
Lot of people tend to believe caste system is bad. But there is another entity which divides people – it is called religion. If caste, which divides people is not ok, then why is religion , which also divides people ok?
I agree with Sumkirla
People always think of inventive ways to group themselves.
It is always Us Versus Them.
Aliens Vs. Earthlings
Americans Vs. Rest of the world.
Indians Vs. Pakistanis
Gujjars Vs Meenas
Upper castes Vs. Lower castes.
Upper classes Vs. Lower classes
Educated Vs Uneducated
Male Vs. Female
Well said. Azeez.
@T Azeez Luthfullah
You didn’t get me I guess. Since you said we should follow one god, naturally a question arises by what name will that god be worshiped since there are many gods.
@Hiker
You call it by whatever name you want. He is One. He is the one who created you, me and everything in this vast universe. He is the nourisher, cherisher of all. He is the one who provides sustenance. He is the one who saves you. He has created everything for you. His wisdom know no end. Just think it over. You eat a lot of fruits. Bananas. Apples. Grapes etc. etc. But it is God who has placed the taste buds in your tongue. Without the taste buds you cannot differentiate fruits. If the taste buds were not there, Apples, grapes and all kinds of fruits would taste the same.
He is the one who is with you. Always. Anytime. Anywhere.
Without His consent nothing happens.
If people realise Him, there would be peace. Only peace.
Hiker,
Ishwar Allah Tero Naam, Sabko Sanmati Dey Bhagwan.
How TRUE it is!
Some nuts say ‘There is only one God. If you say there’s more than one God,I will kill you’
“God is One” ” He is One”
If God is One and God is He, Why God is Not She? Is it because, ever since we understand about God..We thought of God as HE and no SHE. If so, are we not in to the Clause of V/s as mentioned by Nature above…
Just a thought….He He He…
;-)
I think we need not uproot the caste system or religions..but both should remain personal..
they should not be politicised..
caste system was built to segregate different types of workmanship..let it retain its original meaning…and all the problems would be solved..
@Nature, Suma
The difference in Colour, creed, community, colour is there since time immemorial. The purpose of these differences is to facilitate mutual interaction. So that it would be easy for everybody to know each other.
This is indeed a blessing from God.
Imagine we had each and every human being with the same colour, same shape…! Not a single one has a long nose. Everybody has the nose of same size…! Just IMAGINE! You will get bored!
Imagine a world where everybody is rich. Not a single soul who is not without food, clothing and shelter. THAT world would not be as attractive as the world with material disparities!
So the differences, disparities are all blessings of God!
They become a bane when you make these God made differences as the basis of segregation of classes. The problem arises when you start saying “We are white; so we are superior” or “We are rich; we are superior” or “we are of so and so caste; we are superior”and on and on.
Keep them as a mode of introduction. Make piety, character, fear of God as the criteria for selecting the best. This world will become paradise.
Long back a theory of God goes like this.
Aliens from other planets visited earth millions of years ago. As it is the earthlings were primitives then. When they saw aliens doing several “chamatkaras”, they started seeing them as GOD and started worshipping them.
Whatever it is true God is all powerful, and gives lot of inspiration during our life time.
God is money, rest everything is Maya…
Mayavathi cannot be that important.