Caste: a place for every person in India

by Vinitha Fredenburgh

Research
Division and classification
Definition

The memories I have of growing up in India are unique. My parents sent me there, from the Middle East, to learn about my culture, religion and my mother tongue. I knew nothing about caste systems and different religions. I only knew that I was a Hindu, and I had thought that was that.

When I started attending school in India, the class teacher would take attendance every morning. One morning, before the first bell- out of curiosity- a friend and I wanted to check our names in the register. The register was on our teacher's desk, ready for an assault. We saw our friends' names, and as we were pointing to our names, we noticed something else. Beside every name, on another column, was the person's respective caste.

For my Christian friend, it was Protestant, for my Muslim friend it was Sunni and for a Hindu friend, it was Brahmin. When I came to my caste distinction, it was Hindu - O.B.C. I did not know what that meant. So that evening when I went home, I asked my guardians what O.B.C meant. They told me that it meant Other Backward Classes. I wanted to know why I was stigmatized as a backward class, but I was told not to worry about it.

As I grew older, I learnt about different religions, their divisions and sub-divisions. Being a Hindu, I would like to elaborate on Hinduism." long time ago a collection called the ‘Laws of Manu' was compiled as a complete and authoritative statement of Hindu religious and social codes. According to the book, society consisted of four classes of men. The four classes of the perfect society were strictly graded and segregated."-Historic India p136

At the top of the ladder was the class of the Brahmins, who were considered divinities. Their positions were priests, at places of worship. Next came the Kshatriyas ( K is silent), the class of kings and warriors. Then came the Vaishyas, farmers and merchants. The lowest of all were the Sudras or serfs. Each class had its particular function.Beneath all castes were the Untouchables or Chandalas. Any contact with them was considered unclean. They were required to ring bells whenever they were out of the village, so that the holy men would not cross their path. They lived apart and did all the jobs the other castes considered below them, such as slaughtering animals, cleaning latrines and cremating the dead. At one point Mahatma Gandhis insistent work was to reform the caste system. He called the Untouchables "Harijans" or "Children of God "

During the British rule many former untouchables got converted to Christianity in the hope that the conversion would result in shedding untouchability and obtaining access to education and employment. But the converts found Christianity to be caste-ridden, with caste based discrimination rampant in the church." M.N. Srinivas- Frontline(Indias National Magazine) August 97, Vol 14: No:16.

Today discrimination against Harijans is a penal offense, but the subsequent statement proves otherwise. "Indians belonging to the higher castes exhaust all means to prevent Harijans or Untouchables from attaining social mobility for the fear of disrupting the cosmic cycle and losing privileges the enjoy under the system." Dalrymple: Readers Digest (Canadian) May 92 p17(4)

The caste brought with it the political handicaps of a society based upon segregation."..the Supreme court in a landmark judgment, gave its approval to 27 percent reservation in government jobs to OBC's but decreed that the quantum of reservation should not exceed 50 percent." In the same judgment, the judges rejected poverty as a criterion of backwardness, restricting reservation benefits to members of "the socially and educationally backward classes," which in effect means backward castes. M.N. Srinivas- Frontline(Indias National Magazine) August 97Vol 14: No:16.

To explain all the complexities of the caste system in India would take up a lifetime. I am sad to see India, a melting pot of diverse languages and religion, shackled with the burden of caste discrimination. Even though caste distinctions are not so rampant, and all Indians have equal rights, people still subtly follow the old ways. It does not help that the government of India has passed judgment on implementing rules to carry on this system.

"The caste of an Indian is not to him a matter of insignia to be worn or doffed at pleasure. It is bone of his bone and flesh of flesh. Prophecies or hopes of the weakening or disappearance of caste within a measurable period are futile. So long as Hindus continue as Hindus, caste cannot be destroyed or even materially modified." Critique report of the Indian Constitutional Reforms- Vincent Smith

I have encountered prejudice on the basis of my caste; my parents are of different castes, (my father is a Hindu and my mother a Christian), and their respective families were against an inter-caste marriage. When I was born, my grandmother refused to acknowledge my presence because of her ignorant anger against my parents. Things changed in my family since then. My grandmother opened her eyes and saw beyond the binds of religion and caste. When I was old enough, I married an American. My extended family in India was shocked. I told them that I really did not care about caste, creed or religion when I fell in love with my husband.I sincerely believe that a single person can make a difference in this world, by being broadminded and looking past skin-tone, religion and other nonsensical beliefs of people.

This is achieved only by education, which remains the sole means of eradicating the harm inflicted by this ignorant practice. Although it could take centuries to change the old ways and traditions, my hope is that there will be no segregation in this world due to caste, creed and colour. People will discover that these refuted illusions cover the most important part of themselves. When they fall away, people will find peace in this world amongst themselves.

Return to English 122 syllabus
Return to English 122 main page
Questions? Brian McKinney (bmckinne@home.com)