From years cast system is not only itself a burning problem but
also creator of many unsolvable problems in India. Many will repudiate the fact
that cast system is no longer practiced in India and so the matter should be disclosed
by now immediately. But the documentary ‘India untouched’ made by Mr. Stalin K
proves that wrong. Whether cast system still prevails in India or not – let’s
not get into the debate. Let’s discuss the unhealthy effects of cast system and
its probable way out. If someone scrupulously analyzes the current
socio-economic situation in India then it will be clearly revealed that the
people who are categorized as SC, ST or OBC are worst sufferers of the cast
system. The root of the cast system is laid from the ancient Aryan literatures
like Vedas, Upanishads or Srimadvaghabat-Gita as well pointed out
by Dr. B. R. Ambedker in one of his famous undelivered speech ‘Annihilation of
Caste’. There may be many arguments and counter arguments about this fact but
none can deny that whatever be the reason, cast system is surely dragging the
development of India backward. Today almost seventy percent of Indian
population belongs to any of SC, ST or OBC category. Only few percentage of
them are leading a respectable life and the rest is economically as well as socially
way backward. If this vast population of India is properly uplifted then India
will surely be a far better country in terms of economy than it is now.
So what are the possible ways of improvement of this situation?
The one way which immediately pops out of the brain is education. Educate the
people who belongs to those backward class and they will automatically find
their own means to lead a respectable life. But, if this method would so easy
then we should not see people suffering here and there. Moreover Indian
Government is already providing reservation in education as well as in government
jobs for those backward classes. So where is the fault? Basically the thing is
that the advantage of reservation system is enjoyed by a few percentage of
those SC, ST or OBC. Those who live in remote villages, toil hard day and night
for two-times-a-day-meal are merely benefitted by this reservation system.
People who have no food to eat can hardly think about proper education. They
are economically so downtrodden that they will not be willing to send their
children to school rather their children will be engaged in some labor-work to
make little money. There is another question. Why only these backward class
people are economically feeble? If someone tracks history then he will
understand that these people have suffered immense case of social stigmatism. Varan-Byabastha
in the ancient Aryan civilization made them slave and did not let them
come out stronger in socio-economic perspective. This tradition went on and
till now they are deprived of education, good culture or whatever needed to
uplift a society.
But there are other problems too. Even if some of the backward
class people are becoming educated and trying to join the mainstream of the
society, they are being continuously oppressed by the forward class people.
They are not getting their due respect from society. This happens because these
upper class people want those backward community people to be remained ever
backward. They do not understand that the so called dalits (lower class
people) are also a part of the society and so they have equal right to be
educated, admired or to have whatever privileges are enjoyed by them. These
days, forward class people have a gross misconception that dalits have
little intelligence within themselves and if they let dalits to come up
then work efficiency in various fields will decrease. But this type of argument
is totally flawed as recent researches have proved this thing otherwise (‘Quotas
do not hurt efficiency, says study’ – The Hindu, February 5, 2015). So, the
privileged class people should be made aware of this fact so that they can
participate in the upliftment process of the backward class people. These forward
class people have now most of the money and power of India. So, without their
help, people in dark can never experience the light.
Another solution of this problem may be practice of
inter-marriage. Now-a-days, inter-marriage is very rare incident to happen.
Both upper and lower class people mostly do not want to get married with someone
belonged to other class. But inter-marriage is definitely necessary for the
improvement of backward class. If it happens then there will be mixing in
cultures between higher and lower class. Also, the notion of separation between
these two will be reduced and vanished gradually. But inter-marriage in India
will happen frequently only when the mindset of people will change. People
should be free of all prejudices or superstitions if inter-marriage has to
happen. Today, many parents do not let their children to marry someone from
other caste even if there is no strong reason to prohibit so. It happens
because they have fear of society too – what society will whisper if they let
their wards to do the same. So, again awareness comes into play for this issue.
People have to realize that there is no real threat posed by inter-marriage,
rather there are possibilities of good outcomes due to this.
In many Indian villages, besides cast there are practices of
sub-cast as well. The lower economic group between shudras (scheduled
cast) are called ati-shudras and shudras hate those ati-shudras.
Moreover they treat those ati-shudras as untouchables. This type of
division between backward class people also hindering their way to improvement.
In stead of living together and finding paths of illumination, they are
immersing themselves into more darkness. If these lower class people do not unite
together, then how their society will improve? Now-a-days some of the backward
class people are coming in the lights of social upliftment as they are getting
cast based reservation. But after they are placed in high position they do not
tend to improve their deprived society. They forget that they have got the
advantage because many people of their community are still in darkness. This
situation also has to be changed. The lower class people who are in somewhat
good position in comparison to others in the same community should come forward
to develop their community. They ought to be the torch-bearers of their society
in-stead-of being self-centered. Who knows that their little effort combined,
may eventually emerge as an excellent result.
So, to sum up, yes, cast-ism is creating many problems in India.
But they have solutions too. These solutions are never easy to be implemented.
But, if, people come forward with their logical mind, willing heart, then the
problem can be annihilated from root.
