The Caste System - an Inherent Evil

[ravichaudhary]

Sujata (Feb 13, 2004 02:59 p.m.):
Ravi:

a) However, let me repeat no, it was not an established social custom, not legally or morally, yet an accepted/imposed phenomenon. At least the Jat villages on the outskirts of New Delhi:

Did not accept the Brahmins as superiors but yes, a few outrageous prevalent customs were entertained without questions. The one I most hatefully remember was the hand washing practice by Brahmins.



2) No, no one carried the firewood and water for them and their households, as part of the acknowledged duties of lower caste status.

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Please forgive me, I am not that familiar with rural life.

Your No 2, answers my question.

You could have provided different data , than you have provided - that they carried water/firewood for the Brahmins, a spart of the caste duties. That would create a different perspective.



My knowledge of rural life is limited to Western UP, my fathers and my mothers village, and my wife's village and a few other villages.

I have not come across this custom there.

None of my relatives, mother, wife, aunt have mentioned such a custom?

Without going into the rest of your usual informative writing, could you clarify, if it is not an imposition on your time or sensibilities

The existence of the custom puzzles me.

Either it was the norm or it was not?

Either the Jats were carrying water for the Brahmin family or they were not ?

If they were carrying it, why were they doing so?

Did they do it every day ?

When did it start ?

How widespread was this custom ?

or is custom of the "washing of hands of a Jat" by a Brahmin family member, something, that was done on other occasions too.?


If you or another reader can help I will be grateful?



Ravi

 

[shokeen123]

Ravi, here is the response to some of your questions:

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“You could have provided different data, than you have provided - that they carried water/firewood for the Brahmins, as a sprat of the caste duties. That would create a different perspective.”

For heavens’ sake, why would I want to alter the truth just to create a different perspective? Ravi, I am merely trying to give account of my own experience. However, not to lose track of the question, no, they didn’t carry firewood for the Brahmins, as a spart of the caste duties.

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“Without going into the rest of your usual informative writing, could you clarify, if it is not an imposition on your time or sensibilities?”

Thank you for the gentle reminder. (Sorry if the informative information took your precious time…). To answer your question, yes, it was an imposition on my sensibilities, but unlike “the general lot” I did not accept it. I did something to correct it -- I stopped promoting the hand washing ritual at individual level.

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“Either it was the norm or it was not?”

I do not completely agree with the literal definition of the word “norm!” Norm means “a standard pattern of behavior that is considered normal in a particular society.” “It was imposed alright, but hell no, NOT considered normal by any stretch of imagination. Don’t you get it Ravi? I have already summed up the whole concept with one sentence repeatedly, It was the “We have always done like that” scenario. It wasn’t objected by anyone because it merely required washing hands. But for me it was not so, to me it meant lowering another human being, and I didn’t agree with such a conviction.

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“Either the Jats were carrying water for the Brahmin family or they were not?”

NO, NO, NO! For the last time no Jat carried water on his head for the god dammed Brahmins (at least not in my part of the world) I do not believe I have implied they did anywhere in my response? Now I am not sure if such a practice existed elsewhere or in Western UP?

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If they were carrying it, why were they doing so?
Not Applicable (NA)

“Did they do it every day?”
NA

“When did it start?”
NA

“How widespread was this custom?”
NA

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“Or is custom of the "washing of hands of a Jat" by a Brahmin family member, something, that was done on other occasions too?”

This was a common practice only at the well. This is the only place where people from both castes often came in contact with or interacted.


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Hope it has been helpful?

Sujata