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.
