http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19339945/ I wonder how long it will take to get rid of this nonsense? Its seems like India is lucky these lower classes are peaceful. What keeps the untouchables from rioting, or rebelling?
Right now I am sitting in a cubicle facing a BPO division. I can see all kind of people out there. Beautiful, Not-So-Beautiful. Black, Brown, Pale. South, North, East, West, from Central India - Speaking, Shouting, Laughing - in a gazillion languages. Look over the windows - You see those guys and gals , sharing and smoking away ciggies. Untouchability?!.. { Yaawn.. }
Discrimination has almost vanished in most states of India. However it still exists in certain less developed states and areas. In fact the "lower castes" actually have more rights and privileges in India than the so called "upper castes". 50% of all government jobs and educational seats are reserved for the lesser developed groups in India. No one discriminates against anyone in employment matters. Companies select the best candidates that they can find. However as certain social groups are economically more developed, they usually have a better educational background and thus get most of the jobs. It is difficult to change the economic structure of a large population like India. IMO, it will take about 100 years more to bring all social groups at the same economic and educational levels.
Visibly it is not possible. In many cases the last name of a person may reveal his caste, but this too is not always true. Many last names are common to more than one caste. To know the caste of a person you have to ask him about it. Originally the caste system was based on one's occupation. There were first main groups Bhramans - the religious priests and those involved in education. Kshatriyas - the rulers and the soldiers. Vaishyas - the traders and business people. Shudras - the general workers. According to original Hindu scriptures, the caste of a person was result of his goon and karmas (qualities and deeds). It was not supposed to be something inherited. The oldest Hindu scriptures like the Vedas, hardly have any mention of the caste system. However somewhere down the line, the Bhramans, who had considerable influence in the society, made the caste system a sort of grading sytem of the society, which got inherited by one generation from the previous. They considered themselves to be superior to all three other castes and placed themselves on the highest level in their "grading system". Kshatriyas came next , followed by the Vaishyas and finally the Shudras, who were considered the lowermost. As Bhramans controlled the education system, they prevented the Shudras and and to some level Vaishyas from accessing education and learning. Their argument was that as they were to become workers, they had no need for education. Slowly the caste system deteriorated to such an extent , that many subcastes of Shudras were considered "low life" and "untouchables". They were denied access to religious places, were prevented from using wells and other facilities etc of the "upper castes" etc. Being denied education and opportunities for centuries, most of the Shudras were pushed into a never ending cycle of poverty, illiteracy and misery. Things have improved a lot in India since last 100 years, but to undo the damage done by thousands of years on discrimination is not easy. Just like Africa cannot be turned into a prosperous place overnight, the upliftment of the "lower castes" will take many decades more. The biggest problem is with the education system. Poor people can't afford education. Even if they can afford education, they cannot find good education. Government schools in India are no good. When a child of a poor person goes to a government school , he may get basic education, but it is not good enough for him to compete with those who have studied in private schools. Without good education , he doesn't get a good job. Without a good job, he can't send his children to a good school. The cycle continues. Thus msn finds that there are hardly any "lower caste" employees in call centres. It is not that companies discriminate against any caste, but these people never really had an opportunity to study and develop themselves. The number of "lower caste" people actually out number the "higher caste" people in India and they have substantial control over the politics of the country.
is there any way to visibly tell what is the name of someone? No.. You cant say what caste someone belongs to.. To me it doesnt matter at all.. I dont even ask about the caste when I meet someone. But honestly Caste system is the biggest cancer India has got now (Even bigger than corruption). People get killed because of this system..utterly rubbish.
India has beome a caste-less society in recent years in that everyone (no matter their social status) has an equal opportunity. I just don't like it how the foreign media (without knowldge of Indian culture) write such nonsense based on possible historical injustices. Things have moved on from what was written in the past.