ALL our claims and hopes that human beings would become more civilised and that civilisation itself would become more refined with the passage of time are shot to pieces when faced with the poison of the caste system. It is a horrific and unrelenting nightmare that a large mass of humanity should still be driven by caste in a century characterised by the modern forces of science and technology. It may be that caste is not stamped on our forehead, but it is as blatant as that, and as indelible as a fiat cast in stone. There is no escaping caste; once ascribed at birth, it remains with us even after death.
The vile hierarchy based on caste has existed in the Hindu society of the subcontinent and in other religions influenced by Hinduism, namely Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism, since the Vedic period. Thanks to this system, priesthood remains the undemocratic patrimony of a particular caste, and members of this caste-rather than oppose their caste dominance-choose to enjoy its privileges. The castes at the other end, living under the influence of "destiny" and cultural traditions, do not come out against it in an organised manner either. Even a politician of Jagjivan Ram's stature was not immune to being humiliated by the arrogant Pandits of Kashi, simply because he was a Dalit. They publicly "purified" the statue of Swami Sampurnanand that was inaugurated by him. More recently, the priests of a temple dared to humiliate the Chief Minister of Bihar, Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is a Dalit. Our history tells the story of the mighty King Shivaji-who was born a Shudra-being coronated by a Brahmin's toe. Recently, in Gaya, during Pitru Paksha, five-year-old Brahmin children were seen blessing the elders.
ãã®èšäºã¯ Outlook ã® August 21, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ Outlook ã® August 21, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
The 'Invisible' Dalits
The debate over sub-categorisation of castes is likely to shape the political discourse in the upcoming state elections
Caste Census: To Conquer Or Conserve?
The caste census is generating heated debate, but even its most ardent proponents are not able to articulate a plan about how to use the resulting data
THE FATEFUL COMEDY
Actor-director Rajat Kapoor talks about adapting Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov into a Hindi play
Mad Hatter
When a leader takes off his topi and holds it in his hands while appealing for votes, it signals something extraordinary
Circle Within Circles
The caste question in Muslims.
Backward March
The Maratha reservation question may continue to mire the next government in the state
The 69% Exception
Quota within quota: lessons to be learned from Tamil Nadu
United Indifference
The perils of tweaking tribal identities
Two Nations, Two Destinies
The widely differing balance of power between the military and civilian leadership in India and Pakistan has significantly impacted democracy in the two countries
CrÚme de la CrÚme
The mainstream society thinks reservations are against right to equality. Itâs high time they are seen in the context of right to justice.