Caste Away!
There are walls - between countries because of race and creed. But when I went to India, I realised that there is one more division that is made - between castes.
In the first few pages of Edward Luce’s In Spite of the Gods, he elucidates how the caste system influences politics, children’s occupations and marriage. He described how people were not allowed to marry outside of their caste or take up a profession of their choice, highlighting their ignorance and illogicality. And from the way he describes it, it seems to be an issue that only the low-income group, viz. the villagers, have to deal with - an issue that will be resolved with adequate education.
I laughed out loud at his insinuation for I recalled a number of situations where the educated still integrate this caste system - consciously or subconsciously - into their everyday behaviour. Among the wealthiest people Mumbai, a son refuses to tell his parents about a girl he is in love with because she does not belong to the same caste as he does. In Dubai, the most cosmopolitan Muslim city in the world, Indian girls brought up in this city are not allowed to marry a man of their choice because of the difference in caste.
Let’s forget about Indians as well for a bit, shall we? I hate to admit this, but the first thought that popped into my mind when I was reading Edward Luce’s words was a situation in a T.V. show called Gossip Girl, based in the US. A father from the crème de la crème of American society has planned what university his son will study at, what profession he will take up and the girl he will marry. The United States of America. A completely literate man. An educated man. And the behaviour is such.
Education may or may not be the answer to remove what is so ingrained not only in Indians but in people all over the world. And I wonder, as globalization progresses, and societies evolve, whether this basic human tendency to discriminate against people who are different will ever die out.
In the first few pages of Edward Luce’s In Spite of the Gods, he elucidates how the caste system influences politics, children’s occupations and marriage. He described how people were not allowed to marry outside of their caste or take up a profession of their choice, highlighting their ignorance and illogicality. And from the way he describes it, it seems to be an issue that only the low-income group, viz. the villagers, have to deal with - an issue that will be resolved with adequate education.
I laughed out loud at his insinuation for I recalled a number of situations where the educated still integrate this caste system - consciously or subconsciously - into their everyday behaviour. Among the wealthiest people Mumbai, a son refuses to tell his parents about a girl he is in love with because she does not belong to the same caste as he does. In Dubai, the most cosmopolitan Muslim city in the world, Indian girls brought up in this city are not allowed to marry a man of their choice because of the difference in caste.
Let’s forget about Indians as well for a bit, shall we? I hate to admit this, but the first thought that popped into my mind when I was reading Edward Luce’s words was a situation in a T.V. show called Gossip Girl, based in the US. A father from the crème de la crème of American society has planned what university his son will study at, what profession he will take up and the girl he will marry. The United States of America. A completely literate man. An educated man. And the behaviour is such.
Education may or may not be the answer to remove what is so ingrained not only in Indians but in people all over the world. And I wonder, as globalization progresses, and societies evolve, whether this basic human tendency to discriminate against people who are different will ever die out.
posted by Melanie at 5:10 PM
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