"When we choose a mobile network, do we check whether Airtel or Vodafone belong to a particular caste? No, we simply choose the provider based on the best value or service. Then why do we vote for somebody simply because he belongs to the same caste as us?" (Chetan Bhagat)
Hi Everyone,
I would like to dedicate this article Mr. Amit Madan (head of production team of current IPL). So here is the 3rd article in the series of 26 articles
Last time I wrote the article on caste it was taken down - reason given that it was too sensitive for people's mentalities. Hope I can be less blunt this time and still make my point.
In this article I am not going into any lengthy discussion but I will simply put out some general observations. No one with enough sense can argue against the fact that caste has become a menace in the society. For the purposes of debate and discussions everyone if fighting to come forward with points against caste but when it comes to oneself no one is willing to go against the society. Some observations which I have accumulated over years are so contradictory that I just wonder what role exactly does caste play in the society?
Still in many places in this country two people of different caste refuse to eat in the same plate. Many might wonder but in villages it’s still the trend. But if the same person of upper caste is ill he will not hesitate to take a pill or medicine from a doctor of lower caste. So my question is if you cannot eat food from the hands of that person how come you can take the medicine.. Of course they will take it’s the matter of life and death there and nothing is more important than life.
Another example - People from upper castes keep cribbing and complaining about the reservation policies in the name of caste and religion but what they fail to realize that their oppression of lower castes is what has created an opportunity for people with cunning to use it in form of politics and votes. The politicians are not to blame; we ourselves are the root cause of this problem.
These are two very general observations, sadly there so many more. I have been personally through a lot of trauma because of caste issues. And now I realize that caste is nothing but an excuse to do what you want to do and what you don’t want to do. Period. There used to be a rationale behind caste system but that rationale has been twisted over time and has become a cancerous cell now that eating the society from inside out.
We keep complaining that this country is not progressing, the politicians are after vote banks and what not but in reality we are the one who has created these niches and opportunities. So can this cancer be stopped? Obliviously. We are the medicine. We are the cure. We just fail to realize in fear of the society and reputation. This generation has a huge responsibility of erasing these boundaries created by caste, and kill this cancer once and for all.
I am leaving this topic open for debate. All views are welcome and appreciated.
Thanks,
Genie Signing off
email: arunesh.genie@gmail.com
P.S. - I don't believe in any kind of discrimination based on caste or in caste system. I have used the words upper and lower castes only to keep the writing simple and easy to read.
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