We Indians have a lot of things to say about racism and racist behaviour. Quite sensitive we are, when in television and print media, there emerge reports of how fellow Indians are abused – verbally and at times, even physically – in foreign countries. Elders, advice the youngsters aspiring to go abroad for higher studies not to even think about it; for them, it’s an anathema to go abroad because it would mean inviting upon oneself the horror of racism.
But the irony is, back home here, these
same people do the same thing. Not so obviously perhaps, but definitely subtly.
Even here, in India, there’s racism – not on the basis of colour of the skin,
but on the basis of castes and sects.
There is a clear disambiguation of
so-called upper castes and lower castes. How did they originate, one might ask?
But the answers given are seemingly vague, with archaic rules and stipulations
which shouldn’t hold relevance in the fast developing societal lanes of the
country, but which still do. In the remote villages, there are still incidences
of lower caste people being exploited, exempt from the most basic needs.
A student may be most brilliant among his
peers. But at the end of the day, societal sects don’t hesitate to tag his
caste after his qualification and degree. To the external world, it doesn’t
matter. But to certain people in India, educational qualifications tend to lose
value if the caste is not the right one.
In the most orthodox families, even careers
are based upon caste-based precedents. If one does contradict and opt for a
newer vocation, then verbal subjugation starts to occur within the family
itself with provocative ribbing surrounding him, no matter how much the
individual may have otherwise achieved in his career.
Marriages are still conducted on the basis
of caste system, arranged proudly by the families so to speak. While there are
couples who do fall in love with each, caring nought about the caste system,
and do end up getting married after their parents’ approval, tongues of the
supposed near-and-dear ones don’t fail to wag commenting upon on how low the
guy married, or vice versa. Such back-biting comments however are only visible
in the bigger, metropolitan cities. In smaller townships and villages though,
forsaking caste for love is, more often than not, punishable by death which is
also used as an example to anyone else, liable to falling in love.
Of course, we don’t call ourselves racists.
Because in our very eyes, we don't consider ourselves to be so. We are secular and believe in
allowing people to be what they want to be, to do what they want to do and
follow their path of dreams. The only thing is, we still are following the
societal hierarchy given to us by our forefathers, who somehow believed that if
someone was a farmer, he and all following generations of his should be farmers.
And if someone was a scholar educated in the highest of educational treatises,
he and all following generations of his should be scholars.
The applicability of this rationale wasn’t
wrong then, at a time when societal needs and wants were simpler. The present
however is a different situation, with greater complexities surrounding the
country and its people. And since we are wasting no time clamouring for
equality, despite our different skin tones, in countries other than our own;
isn’t it time that we start talking about equality right here, in India?
