Indian Caste system???

[glen]

Is it dead?
If not, what are the castes?

 

[Shantanu]

The Indian caste system is misunderstood in the West.

That you have to do what your caste prescribes (as far as profession goes) has not been true for a long time. In fact, most Indian castes are medieval professions by nature. There's no caste for "doctor", or "engineer", or "call center receptionist".

If you are going to make comparisions between the Indian caste system, and Western society, then compare it to fuedal Europe. If you were a cobbler's son in 15th century England, what would you do when you grew up? Chances are, you would become a cobbler like your father, his father before, him, etc. In fact, the origin of many Western last names (like Miller, Thatcher, etc.) come from professions. In that respect, there was very much a "caste system" in Western society, or for that matter any other society you look at. Social mobility is an extremely new concept. It was just more rigidly defined as such in India.

In an effort to address alleged wrongs about the caste system, the Indian government instituted a system of affirmitive action in the 1950's. Whereas affirmitive action in the West has never been about quotas, in India, it has always been about quotas. If you're a lower caste Hindu, you have X number of seats in the university, and public sector jobs reserved for you. You can also compete for the general (non-allotted) quota. If you're an upper caste Hindu in India today, there is basically nothing left for you. I have several relatives in India who are doctors who are sitting at home doing nothing, because the government refuses to let them work because the quota for upper caste Hindus has already been filled. Meanwhile, the doctor-to-patient ratio is like 1/100th of what it is here.

 

[Zombie]

God damn quotas suck and all this assclowns whinning about caste system are bunch of lazy bums.

 

[chiwawa626]

Originally posted by: Shantanu
The Indian caste system is misunderstood in the West.

That you have to do what your caste prescribes (as far as profession goes) has not been true for a long time. In fact, most Indian castes are medieval professions by nature. There's no caste for "doctor", or "engineer", or "call center receptionist".

If you are going to make comparisions between the Indian caste system, and Western society, then compare it to fuedal Europe. If you were a cobbler's son in 15th century England, what would you do when you grew up? Chances are, you would become a cobbler like your father, his father before, him, etc. In fact, the origin of many Western last names (like Miller, Thatcher, etc.) come from professions. In that respect, there was very much a "caste system" in Western society, or for that matter any other society you look at. Social mobility is an extremely new concept. It was just more rigidly defined as such in India.

In an effort to alleged wrongs about the caste system, the Indian government instituted a system of affirmitive action in the 1950's. Whereas affirmitive action in the West has never been about quotas, in India, it has always been about quotas. If you're a lower caste Hindu, you have X number of seats in the university, and public sector jobs reserved for you. You can also compete for the general (non-allotted) quota. If you're an upper caste Hindu in India today, there is basically nothing left for you. I have several relatives in India who are doctors who are sitting at home doing nothing, because the government refuses to let them work because the quota for upper caste Hindus has already been filled. Meanwhile, the doctor-to-patient ratio is like 1/100th of what it is here.

You said it all

 

[glen]

What happens when you leave and go to the UK or the States? I get the impression that some class snobbery lingers, but that may be like any culture.

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by: glen
What happens when you leave and go to the UK or the States? I
get the impression that some class snobbery lingers, but that may be like any culture.

dude, I don't see every white guy say hi to every other white guy he sees on the road? I don't even seem them getting any special treatment at restaurants or bars. Then why expect the same from indians ? I just don't like greeting strangers on the road be it indian, chinese or anybody else. I might do it if I feel like it but just because you are indian doesn't get you any special treatment(depends on mood too ).

Nothing to do with snobbery.