Kitchen, Toilet and Caste

National Council of Applied Economic Research conducted survey of more than 42000 households in India to conclude that one in four Indians still practice untouchability. 

Biggest caste survey: One in four Indians admit to practising untouchability http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/one-in-four-indians-admit-to-practising-untouchability-biggest-caste-survey/#sthash.4GuSY7v8.dpuf

These surveys are sticks which left liberals wants every now and than to paint Indians in general and Hindus in particular regressive and backward. At the same time it would be wrong to assume that survey doesn't reflect ground realities. It is beyond doubt that even after six decades of independence; our societies are still stricken with evils like untouchability.

Social Media is buzzing with rhetoric, valid, stupid commentary on this subject. In this Blog I will try to share my own opinion, experience about Caste.

My Caste, Forward, Backward or Other          

Do you know your caste? Of Course I do, from childhood I wore caste on my sleeves. My parents have made sure by conscious effort or simply by association of people, we are aware of caste. No I am not from forward caste, We are from Tailor community, in Gujarat our caste is classified as OBC, whereas in Maharashtra, our caste is not listed as OBC. My parents never ever mentioned about whether we are from forward or backward caste. It’s just that most of my relatives including my father were in to Tailoring professions; hence it was but obvious that we use to constantly relate to our caste and profession of our forefathers. 

Was I subjected to discrimination? 

Call it benefit of born and brought up in Mega city Mumbai, I don't recall single instance where I was subject to discrimination. No my socio-economic condition did not have any contribution to non-discrimination. I have spent 25 years of my life in 100 Sq feet room in a chawl or slum if you may want to call it. Even if some incident might have happened it just did not stuck to my conscious which I can remember now. 

Not sure about other people who are subject to discrimination but in my case, relatives and occasionally neighbors would frequently remind us while growing up to learn art of my forefathers quickly so that I can be helping hand to my father. May be it was a hint that most of us follow caste profession so should you.

Do I view my Caste in Negativity?

While growing up, I have been told ‘n’ number of times "all these education will go in vain". "There is hardly any job in market.” “Your father can not afford cost of your education". "You are grown up boy, why don't you contribute economically to your family." “Becoming CA is not your cup of tea”. Add to our misery my father passed away early, I was in last year of college. 

I have mentioned challenges posed mainly from relatives and Caste members, but irrespective of these occasional taunts, I must appreciate that my caste organisation has played huge role in my education. Most of Gujarati Castes has their caste specific samaj (organisations). Our Caste was no different; we had many organisation and charitable trusts from the money donated by well off family of our caste. There are many initiatives and social activities our caste use to carry out throughout year. Some of the example being

• ·      On every 15th Aug our caste used to honor top 3 students of caste per each Standards/class. I have still got Medal from 1st standard to certificate of appreciation when I passed CA.  

• ·   Our Caste organisation use to provide text books for any college or post-graduation studies. I was lucky to avail the facility; I have studied from Junior college to Chartered Accountancy using text books provided by caste.  
• ·        This particular initiative which I always remember was in a way unique. Kandivali unit of our caste made mandatory rule for all members last rites rituals will only be performed by caste. In case of death in any family member of caste residing in Kandivali, all necessary arrangements, including cost, for last rites were taken care by our caste organisation. This rule was applicable for all whether rich or poor. I am not sure about others but when my father passed away, if not this initiative, I would have to seek help of friends to meet cost of his last funerals. 

Trusties/Elders of Caste had been helpful and always cheered me to work hard and complete my studies. 

Kitchen, Toilet

Many of us on social media bloated that they would not mind their cleaners to cook for them. Of course this is obvious for people who believe equality. However I would like to point out that if cleaners indeed good in cooking food, he/she would be working as cook in your house and not as cleaners. I am not sure about other city, but in Mumbai, you can hire part time cleaners and cooks. Both Cleaners and Cooks will come for one hour or half hour depending on your engagement and will compete their work with due efficiency. Even if we disregard hygiene factor for a part time cleaner, does he/she have required skills to meet your everyday culinary needs? If your answer is yes, why not hire him/her as cook itself. At least in Mumbai, if cleaner knows good cooking, he/she will not be doing cleaning work. If you ask any economist, he/she will justify this behavioral pattern purely from economics point of view?

Of course I might be wrong, but in my opinion important part of this Kitchen Toilet debate is 'skill'. Cleaning at different places and cooking to meet culinary need of different people is different skill. Both skills yield different wage. If Cook refuse to clean the utensil, reason can be many, including

• He/she feel cleaning is lowest of low work; Cook being superior will/should not do cleaning job.
• If He/She is part time, time spent on cleaning could be utilized in another cooking job, which will earn more money.   

With regard to perception of low work, it’s not that such low or high perception exist in blue collar jobs. It exist everywhere, look around your work places you will find examples. Instead of pointing finger at others, Let me illustrate my own experience. Once I was offended by my Senior Chartered Accountant colleague when I was asked to go to Income tax office to file tax return. In those old days tax return were filed personally in tax office. Filing tax returns are either done by experienced peons or junior article clerks. While I was junior article clerk I had done enough of tax return filings. After qualifying CA, I thought going to tax office to file tax return was not my job. But my senior thought otherwise. It was good learning anyways; today being entrepreneur we are subjected to do practically everything. 

Conclusion

Generations and millions of people have suffered due to century of discrimination. However world has changed so should we for better. Each segment of our society has to reinvent themselves. These include Caste as well. Many societies are making attempt to reinvent themselves. Dignity of labour is important virtue, our society has to inculcate. In my case, caste has provided required support for my education. Not that I have less respect for my forefather’s occupation but no amount of money can compensate value of education.

Each occupation requires different skills. Since we don’t live in pure socialist society, each of skills will carry different economic compensation and related social environment. Dignity of Labour is important virtue we have to learn, hence we should not reduce debate to Kitchen Toilet and caste only.