For all the progress seen in India’s transformation into a modern global economy, the country remains strongly tied to the traditions of its caste system, which largely governs where Indians work and in what jobs.
Worldfocus special correspondent Martin Himel reports on the lowest form of work, for members of India’s lowest class.
02/10/2010 :: 11:35:43 PM
Ardmac Says:
My own family is Mixed Irish Catholic – Indian Hindu – & a Muslim. We all get along well, & easily, having learned tolerance unconsciously, by simply treating each other as what we are, – the same family. Fairness and equality then just happens.
Here, in Australia, education is offered equally to Indians/Hindus of any caste. Recently some young rich Indian students were robbed and beaten. Police said they would walk in known dangerous areas openly displaying gold necklaces & the latest in electronic goods. No one of a “lower caste system” has yet been robbed and beaten. It appears the robbers are truly discriminating. At universities here the birth & background of a fellow Indian student still cause them to be shunned by other Hindus, if they are of a lower caste. This system seems ingrained. Australia is a place where politics and race discrimination can be beaten. Our anti discrimination laws are improving daily. Each culture, which seeks to escape discrimination, common in their homeland, by coming here, has to see/use this country as a place to start anew. The responsibility to act in a non discriminatory manner is on all, not just the current residents, but immigrants and visitors too. It is so much harder when the feelings of superior/inferior birth are imported, and then continued to be practised in our back yard.
We can’t change the caste system in other countries. We can make a difference here, with just a little courage, to object to caste practice. If people are to live/study/visit Australia, then practising the cultural adaptation of, “everyone is entitled to a fair go” attitude, – which has been the cornerstone of acceptable Australian behaviour for ever, may help. Its never perfect here, but allways, evolving, most persons striving toward that gaol.