Some Unanswered Question About Caste System

The views in my head could fill a book, but some of them are too perturbing & provoking to be kept just in my head and one of them is the Caste System. 

Since childhood, I have heard elders talking about caste discrimination they had faced at some point at there lives. Some of such instances appal me to shape my learning into some new directions. Such agonizing instances have filled my mind with a lot of ever-crawling questions. The first instance was when for the first time I was denied to meet my friend after his family came to know my caste as they directly asked me which was a bit humiliating; I have also heard harsh comments on my caste. I am out of things to fight with this socio-political fight at present, but at least now I have learned to overcome my mental trauma caused by such instances because I have realized that I am the same human being as every other guy roaming on the street and I can answer some of the unanswered questions which we come across but never think about it to try to change the situation, where how some caste have demeaning characteristics or traits attached to it which define one person upper caste and other as lower caste. So it is not a fight with society at first hand but with the mental trauma which existed in every member of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes. From this point let’s keep some questions open-ended only.

Should I get my caste based on my birth or by what profession I choose?

Although in the early Vedic period (1300 B.C.E.-1000 B.C.E.), neither varnas nor jatis existed extensively, however, the Purusha Suktha, the 90th hymn in the 10th book of Rig Veda describes the creation of man from the head to the feet (Brahmins, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra). Therefore from an earlier time itself, one's caste has been derived from what one person does to earn a  living or based on profession one professes and thereafter it would be like momentum or cycle, just like an inheritance, one’s caste would be determined by his father's caste. As the moment someone born in Brahmins' family he would be called Brahmin and same with other varnas. Why as in earlier time one's caste has been operationalised from what one does and then the next generation inherit the same no matter what they choose as a profession as it is not same as what my father's profession is and what I would like to profess. Why someone is not given a chance to choose his/her caste by his own choice when the divine itself categorized the Varna system based on one’s profession. 

Why the duties are given as per the roles and title one had from the time back itself and not by the expertise one has in the work or profession one chooses? The whole point is that if someone’s caste is Shudras but his job is of a teacher then why he still belongs to the same caste shudra and not a Brahmins who were responsible for teaching and imparting knowledge. Unfortunately, the Varna system is not like the Caste system, it has its own levels of oppression against Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes in the society where these communities were not given the chance to stand on the equal footing as everyone else. Again when "Proper Caste System" develops, does it gave the choice to choose one's caste, it is very much evident from where these roots are coming.  For a very fact, no one wants to be Shudra or now SC & ST, and servitude for others but they have to accept it as society wanted to run them as what Upper caste has set up for them. Does the SC & ST had their representation at that time when these all caste system were introduced in the society which had described Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe as the weaker section of the society. As there was no representation of SCs & STs then why even I am obliged to follow the same Caste System? 

God knows who attached some characteristics and traits which were used to describe us and they were in itself a demeaning thing. Did you hear any of our caste names, they are in itself sounds very bad like Dholi, Chamar, Chandal, Bhangi etc, also, these are often used as abuse/ swear words. It is enough to explain what demeaning characteristics and traits are attached to these castes.

Fortunately, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was successful with his great efforts in eradicating untouchability from the society by introducing Article 17 of the Indian Constitution. But the problem does not end there, as the thing on paper is different from the implementation or in practice so here come the Socio-economic influences into picture which one had to influence other actions. Wasn't Manu cruel dealing with Shudras in Vedas as they being servitude for others that too without any resistance by the Shudras? No one wants to leave the power one had whether it is money, muscle or any other powers which can be used to influence or suppress others, hence this Caste System is more deepened in one’s blood.  I cannot think that anyone is different in what so manner from others, all are equal and should be treated equally.

Why there is less involvement of SCs & STs in Private Sectors where Capital is of great essential?

It is hard to find even a minimal number of SCs & STs in private sectors essentially where there is a need for huge capital investment for setting up their own independent work. Let's do a practical exercise here, please try to find the number of the owner from SC & ST community who owns the jewellery shop independently or a car showroom for that purpose. Yeah, I am pointing out at the Socio-economic gap which the caste system has created for many years in the society and the reason is not that SCs & STs are incapability to enter the private sector as many said that there is no reservation there in the private sector, it is novice debate to argue that SC & ST can only fight a competition which relies on Reservation System. As per me, a Human Being whether it is from General, OBS or SC & ST category can do anything whatever a normal human is capable of. Why people think that without the reservation system we won’t be able to fight with the general category?

Historically, SC & ST community has long been characterised by a lack of connection with mainstream businesses, resulting in a far less number of business opportunities available to them. The majority of Upper Caste people had all the monopoly on resources and power as the lower caste people were never getting the same opportunity or equal footing. I heard an instance where a person from Schedule Caste category tried to earn his living by selling tea but he didn’t get enough of the earning as people denied drinking tea from his shop as he belongs to a lower caste. Forget about past and history, this is a recent instance so after such things which still exist how we can think that we are on equal footing.

Another reason I can find is a lack of confidence in these people who have witnessed so much oppression in the real-life and even when some of them are now capable enough of investing a large amount of capital but because of the fear of standing with the historical powerful man who has money, power and any other resources. CII’s conference on MSME financing for SC/ST entrepreneurs to address funding options, please go to the link: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/sme-sector/ciis-conference-on-msme-financing-for-sc/st-entrepreneurs-to-address-funding-options/articleshow/67864685.cms?from=mdr.

Another reference  I would like to take is of low representation of backward classes in the higher judiciary, it is hard to find SC/STs judges because of roster system but this too has been changed now into 13-point roster system. How the new Roster System would more affect the representation of SCs & STs, please go to the link: https://www.edexlive.com/opinion/2019/feb/09/roster-debate-this-is-the-latest-attempt-by-the-government-to-kill-reservation-heres-why-5283.html.

Does it make any difference if I hide my Caste?

Why one should ask my caste, is my identity something which is affecting my surrounding where now after people getting to know my caste their behaviour has been changed or they used to treat me? My personal experience entails that till school I tried to hide my caste but this society has been shaped in such a manner that through one or another way one would come to know it sometime by surname or any other source and that time you would regret hiding it because then people around you will see you with more demeaning eyes as when does one hide something when it is wrong. Therefore, better tell them the caste but what's the consequences of it, I say the same as still the demeaning characteristics and traits are still attached. For example, If one could crack any competitive exam on the bases of reservation, the moment you will meet them they will ask your rank or marks; I have no problem with that unless their intentions are not to make me feel inferior. 

Although Untouchability has been faded away from our society but not totally as I would say the means have been changed now to make someone inferior to others. Simply reading this won't make you believe this unless you also come across such instances. Many people claimed to be afraid of SCs & STs as they might file a malicious prosecution under SC & ST Atrocities Act. But I can draw an analogy from this that how many raped women try to initiate to file FIR because of so many social stigmas attached to it. At the first instances, there are very few cases filed and even more of a less conviction rate if filed any. SC & ST Act: An hostile environment and an 'atrocious' interpretation, please go to the link: https://thewire.in/law/sc-st-act-a-hostile-environment-and-an-atrocious-interpretation. On the opposite, I have come across many of the cases where the people from these weaker societies have been beaten in some corner of the country, very commonly in mob lynchings.   

This all won't suffice everything I have in my mind but a small start; I would more deeply go through these small chains of cause and reasons behind it in my future posts. At last, I want to say that a new Ambedkar cannot have a rebirth, but his ideas and thoughts we all Ambedkarites have, which can make a great change. Obviously, I have missed many ideas for the purpose under this title "Stains of Reservation" which is, at last, the annihilation of caste. So you can add to this list which you think would again help in these stages of thought.