The Caste System in India and Beyond

Here's a moving documentary directed by Stalin K. about the caste system in India. I urge you to watch it and pass it on as it's a real eye opener. Although it's illegal, the caste system lives on, and not only in Hinduism.... Sikhism, Christianity and Islam all discriminate on the basis of caste throughout India.

In short, the caste system is a hierarchy that you are born in to. In many parts of India people believe that you are born, live as, marry within and die as the same caste. Using this logic, if you are born a low caste, you must live as a low caste. Your work must be in cleaning toilets, slavery, working with dead bodies or in any other demeaning and disgusting job that society has. You must always act as if you are inferior and respect the authority of the higher caste, be they murderers or pedophiles. This system is UNJUST. How is it fair for your life course to be decided on the basis of the family you were born in to?

What worries me the most is, somehow, us Indians have managed to bring the caste system with us to the UK... what is that about?  Obviously, the consequences of being a lower class isn't as severe in the UK, but why has this ridiculous tradition followed us? Marriages are still based on it, people are segregated because of it, and others get judged on the basis of it... why?

From the perspective of Sikhism, wasn't the religion founded on the basis of equality? Yet it's common place to mention what caste your family is from. This exchange of information is encrypted in everyday conversations when we meet one another, yet it defies the whole purpose of Sikhism.Why do we feel the need to tell people that "we are jatt" or whatever.

Take a stand. What can YOU do?

STOP defining yourself on the basis of your caste. It's irrelevant, and shouldn't play a part in your identity...even more so if you're living in the UK.

REFUSE to answer someone when they ask you what caste you are. Lead by example, and explain why you can't answer.

EDUCATE pass on the message. Knowledge is a powerful tool, use it!

[Originally posted on 26.02.2012]