Indian Caste System Outcast

This is a tender and brutally honest assessment of your life in the human condition, Katha.

I thank you for sharing your experiences with us here and it is especially pleasing to see how a discussion in comments from another post can help inspire a whole new article that can boldly stand on its own.

I look forward to more insightful writing from you and I thank you!

Hi Katha --

It is always my pleasure to celebrate and honor talent!

Self-inspection of our values and beliefs pressed against those of the greater world around us is a task we must all perform and the job can get ugly and produce unwelcome results.

When you are able to look around you and find value and thanks in the gifts before you and then realize on some level the only reason you have access to those glories of living is because of the luck of your birth -- then one finds humbleness and nobility in serving a generous life that must not just belong to you alone.

We must belong to each other and suffer together the earned joys and the unwanted warts of being human in a natural world.

Thank you for your encouragement and support David!

And thanks for making me think this way. I remember reading a book (White Like Me by Tim Wise) and recently attended a conference in our University where I heard him speaking. I thoroughly enjoyed it and today I realize that triggered my thinking too. Moreover, thank you for generosity. Sometimes it becomes hard to relate with something of which we don't have any personal experience.

I agree with you David, And I know its hard doing the right thing always.

I am with you Katha. Doing the right thing is never easy but together we can get it done.

Hi Katha

I sometimes forget that the caste system exists. That's strange, because it's such a harsh reality for people today, living not only in India but also in the Indian diaspora.

I had some good Indian friends in England, and sometimes we had strange relationships because the caste system had been "imported" in the local Indian community and while exceptions were made for school friends, sometimes grandparents with babies would look nervous when they were touched by Christians.

My mother once took exception to this, and it was quietly explained that she was not part of the caste system and they didn't know how this would affect the baby's status (I don't remember too well, perhaps even they suggested she might be unclean).

She understood, but found it silly that her good friend could go out with her, and know her children - even look after us - but that a baby in their family could arouse such ingrained feelings of doubt and fear.

Being away from your own culture and living with a different culture - as happened to me in Morocco - is nonetheless the most valuable experience a person can have of "other" in the philosophical sense. I'm sure you're feeling the same in the US, it's both a frightening and exhilerating thing.

-Fruey

I can't imagine living in a society with a caste system. Living with such a concept in today's modern equalitarian society is unthinkable.

But we as Americans are capable of embracing a caste system, even if we don't call it that.

Look at the country before the civil rights revolution in the 1960s. A defacto caste systems existed in the pre-civil rights era in many places in the United States.

Back in the "good ole days" many people were considered "untouchable" even if the term wasn't used then.

Hi Katha,

Segregation was America's caste system.

Some suggest that the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education was the end of America's caste system.

Fruey,

Thanks for sharing your experience, though I feel sad about it.

Fortunately, (or unfortunately?) I grew up in a residential boarding school back home and mingled with all kind of people from different strata of the society regardless of caste, creed and religion. My parents never encouraged any kind of discrimination about this and I found this bias/ prejudice silly. But, it is there, and which hurts me most that educated, enlightened (I assume that your friends are educated) people are being influenced by this belief, still in 2006. I don't know what to do with this, I am embarrassed and I appreciate your kindness that you are still calling them friends; it speaks about your tolerance.

I was raised with a cosmopolitan outlook -- knew what is happening in the world and where, so coming out of my country was something like putting my thoughts into action -- and the experience is great. I had to accommodate and adjust a lot -- but I won't trade it!

Chris,

Thanks for your unique insight -- I didn't know caste system happened to be here in US too and that too 60s!

It is said that caste system was prevalent from several thousand years (I am pathetic with History, never got anything better than B in my life -- but I think it is 1500 BC) and at first it used to be decided according to your work, gradually the status by birth became sacrosanct. And which is more dangerous that it became a habit. Kind of racist mentality -- some people hate others without any logic -- just because they have seen people doing that in their life, and they are blind followers. There is a different social dynamics too, the priest the uppermost class fear to lose respect and power in absence of caste system.

And which is most hideous (and dangerous too), my last name speaks about my caste -- I can't hide -- even if I want to.

We, Indians are proud of our 5000 years old civilization but at times fail to recognize the inertia caused by the system. Tragic!

Katha --

Can you explain this in more detail:

my last name speaks about my caste -- I can't hide -- even if I want to.

What does your last name represent?

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the link -

It was always there - in different shape and form.....call it segregation or caste system.

I think the genesis and the burden and the honor of your last name could make a fascinating article, Katha!

David, my last name is Chatterjee. And any Indian, Hindu, especially someone from the eastern region (it is difficult to predict about other region because every region has thousands different last names) will know that I am a Brahmin (The "supposed to be Priest") by caste just by my last name.

It's obnoxious.

Wow. Your whole comment is a whole new article, Katha. You share important and historic touchstones of Indian culture that many of us find fascinating.

David,

In today's date -- there is no honor in my last name. Some people take pride in it -- I don't.

I remember one of my friends back home used to omit his last name because he used to say "I hate to exhibit the proof of torture we did as a last name of mine."

He used to write "Humanity" in the place of Religion whenever he had to fill up some kind of form. I remember his parents almost begged in front us to make him change his mind because the form of his voter identity card (something like a national identity card) was returned by the government as he didn't write his full name and religion.

I was not brave enough to do it because I knew without a voter identity card I am doomed for my life. I won't get a job; I won't be able to anything. I admire my friend's guts.

But, I will remember and definitely write here about it. Thanks for the idea.

Thanks David!

I feel blessed to have some unique friends here as well as back home who helped me to see this world in a new light.

It is really interesting, your name! You have Kathakali a Malayalee name, and Chatterjee - a Bengali name! Or, again due to my lack of knowledge of names in India, I might be wrong!

I agree with you Katha, to the fact that the caste system is bad! But, things are fast changing in the modern India! Globalization, rather Westernization has had its effects - good and bad! One of the good ones, is removing the segments made by the caste system!

However, yes, the inertia is still felt! A truly secular nation need not have any reservations! We are still finding it hard to get outta the whole thing! But, I have hope of a truly secular India coming out there to the world soon!

He used to write "Humanity" in the place of Religion whenever he had to fill up some kind of form. I remember his parents almost begged in front us to make him change his mind because the form of his voter identity card (something like a national identity card) was returned by the government as he didn't write his full name and religion.

What if I were born an "untouchable" and no one wanted to interact with me because of the status of my birth?

I can tell you without a moment's thought I would not be in Wisconsin right now and I would not have been sent off to residential school at age four because my family would not have been able to afford the tuition.

However, don't you think that this policy is but a vicious cycle? Isn't it fueling itself by maintaining such reservations still? Isn't it high time, now that India has a good amount of educated people, we need to learn to be TRULY secular and appreciate - so well put by your friend - Humanity as a religion?

Hello Gurupanguji, welcome and thank you for your comments!

First things first -- yes, Kathakali has two meanings -- it is the name of a southern classical dance and in my language (which is Bengali) Katha means communication and Kali means a bud -- my parents' intention was "a communicating flower." I hope that makes sense!

I do agree with you that things are fast changing in India and the change is city-centric. Originally I am from a village, spent most of my life in Calcutta because of my schooling and work -- so I saw it from both angles.

Lots of shopping mall, world class five star hotels, fly overs, call centers do provide opportunities for work and there you won't see any sign of this so called caste system and crap -- but travel to Bihar, Jharkhand, UP or to a bit interior in West Bengal -- the scenario is different.

I am sorry, I have to run to a class now -- will be back in the evening and talk more.

Hi again Gurupanguji!

Coming back to the second part of your comments.

I do agree that Indian government is doing some reservations in academic institutions and in government jobs and coming up with other helpful policies, and with due respect to your disagreement I would like to present a virtual situation here.

Suppose I belong to a family where we are five siblings, none of my parents work (because the place I live is so remote that there is nothing, my parents have no land that they can harvest -- there is no resources, infrastructure... nothing and we belong to the so called backward tribes 00 those who are entitled to get those reservations provided in academic institutions or work world), none of us are literate, none of us in the family knows what are we going to eat tonight.

Do you think that the reservation policy is going to help us much? Unfortunately, rural India is still struggling. We don't exactly call them "untouchables" but we make a furor if any one of them falls in love with one of our family member and tries to marry them. We don't call them "untouchables" but we don't allow them to take part in some of our religious rituals. We don't call them "untouchables" but we don't allow them to be a cook in our own kitchen.

I do agree that those policies are a vicious cycle, looks good in paper, can be a nice showpiece if we can frame them.

If we cannot improve the life as a whole of rural India (where 60% people live) -- nothing is going to help.

In fact, the last part of your comment is very true -- the so called educated, enlightened, people like us -- we have to come out of our own cocooned world and work together.

hi Kathakali & Fruey and everyone else

Well i am new to this site, i was searching for some news on cast system after govrment decide for reservation for obc( lower cast ).
i just think they should do it in root level where problem exists. i mean i am also OBC. i faced such problems in past even though my dad is doctor a class one goverment officer. but now its fine. all this problem are with old generation not with our generation.
while in school time i was not aware of this cast thing that i belong to untouchables, i use to go to my friends place and when they ask which cast i belong i use to tell them what it is. suddenly their parents reaction would change. and sometime i even get response like u dont look like one. coz most of them believe that obc mean black, dirty and sense less people.
initially i didnt understand what is happning, then i asked my dad then he explained me that even though we understand value of human, socity, or anything a tall, for them we are untouchables. and later i found out that they(upper cast) just cant digest our prosparity. i am not telling everybody is like that. there are many very good people in upper cast also. but not all of them.

but still we have brutally killing of man, publiclly raping women, torturing them in schools,colleges
"BECAUSE WE LIVE IN INDIA"

MOTHER INDIA my love, my soul,
my home, my send(clay),

Nandan

Hi Nandan,

Welcome to this blog and thank you for your comment.

I don't know your whereabouts but I assume socially you are in a much better position (as your father is a doctor and you are educated enough to access the internet) than some of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class.

I do agree that the resistance towards the lower caste is still prevailing, but let's not generalize it. Blaming each other doesn't provide solution to a problem.

We should think of something together so that we can help those oppressed people who really need help, regardless of caste.

At the same time, we need that level of integrity where one would refuse to accept any opportunity offered by any special quota if he/ she belongs to a comparatively affluent class.

Hi, Kathakali,

I am curious what caste my former advisor belonging to. His last name is Packinathan.

Thanks

It strikes me reading this how much good and bad; division and unity, racism and tolerance etc.. are a part of the human condition. It is everywhere in the world; whether it is cast, or race, or class. I think it is great you can discuss this openly – in the future there is always hope. Thank you for your comments.

Steve.

PS. one day I would really like to see your country

Hi Tanya,

Welcome!

Packinathan sounds like a South Indian, but I have no clue about his caste. Moreover, why bother?..... :D

Hi Steve,

Welcome and thank you for your comment!

You are right -- there is always hope!

You are more than welcome to visit my country! If you have time, you get to see mountains, sea beach, desert, wild life in one shot! :D

Dear David and Katha-

Thank you so much Katha for sharing your experiences with us on the caste system, which is not just a collection of 6000 castes, but also a machine that gives birth to caste ad infinitum. The Hindu society is based on system of "graded inequality" unlike other systems of inequalities where the two groups exist and therefore revolution is a possibility. In the Hindu caste system,however, there are many groups, such as Highest, Higher, High, low, lower and lowest and because of this graded inequality the priviledges are also graded and hence every caste though they want to throw the hegemony of the castes above them, cant form an alliances with the castes that are considered lower to them due to their own contempt of the castes lower to them.

The recent study that was conducted and published under the title "Untouchability in Rural India" (published in 2006) shows clearly that the worst manifestation of the caste that is "untouchability" is still practiced in India though it is ocnstitutionally banned in 1950. The violence in the name of the caste, which can also be termed as "holo-caste", kills people, rapes women and de-humanises people. The worst thing that caste system does to the individual is to reduce it to a mere slave of the society due to accident of his/her birth.

Recently, we campaigned against the atrocity involving brutal murder of four people. After raping and parading naked mother and her daughter, they were killed by the mob of caste Hindus bruttaly, denial to rape their own mother and sister led to brutal killings of two brothers. We were shocked with state negligence, the way caste hand played its role in hiding issue till people from civil society brought up this issue in open and apathy of Indian media to highlight such a crime. The campaign was also carried out using weblog and the campaign that ensued all over India led to a lot of media coverage later (ironically Indian media responded when international media responded), even to the extent of PM accepting in public how practice of untouchability is a shame.

We are trying our best to inform individuals and groups to understand how serious the issue of caste is and how it affects millions and millions of people in India.

In this great struggle against inhuman system of arbitrarily classifying the humans into birth based artificial categories that deny them development of their human personality, support from all walks of life and of all type is very important when the upper caste who get the social security trying to keep in tact this system.

We are glad that people like David, who share the same alma mater of our own leader, Dr. Ambedkar who studied with John Dewey during 1913-1916, and freethinkers and intellectually honest people like Katha, are taking interest in such issues. We need more and more individuals and groups coming to support the peaceful social movement that is ongoing in India for just and free society.

With regards,
Mangesh