Dirty design

Caste system

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I got a slew of responses after the publication of my article "Plight of Untouchables" in Republica (March 28). A few asked me to convert to Christianity for a dignified life. Some said, "Don't worry. The plague of caste system will slowly disappear". Some showed sympathy for the untouchables while some upper caste people offered logic to defend themselves. One of them said that caste is not determined by birth but based on quality.

In response, I asked him, "What is the parameter of judging the quality? And who is going to judge? If it is judged on the base of education, financial condition, mental and physical wellbeing, I am as capable as any upper-caste person." I am still confused what quality means. "Why," I asked him, "am I regarded as untouchable and discriminated on the basis of my caste if caste system has nothing to do with my birth?"

Some others came up with the logic that lower-caste people are unclean so they deserve to be discriminated. This includes keeping them out of temples, listening to religious preaching, inter-caste marriage, non-acceptance of cooked food and water from high-caste people and not participating in socio-religious fairs and festivals. Untouchables are unclean because a Kami (Blacksmith) has to work in his workshop with black coal in furnace in above 100 degree temperature to give shape to utensils and weapons; a Sharki (Shoemaker) has to work with leather to make shoes; a Damai (Tailor) has to stitch clothes and has to lick his finger to thread the needle.

What about the quality of so called upper-caste people? Are they clean if discrimination is also a matter of cleanliness? What about those Brahmins falling face down on gutters after binge drinking? Have you noticed those Brahmins sitting at entrance of temples chanting mantras? Most of them have ugly, untrimmed nails, stinking socks, runny noses, and are smoking while offering holy thread and vermilion with same hands to devotees. Those Brahmins pollute surrounding holy rivers with plastic bags and other things, and they are the ones offering false promises of heaven to innocent seekers.

Some logicians tried to convince me that the caste system is good because it has clear division of labor, designed for occupational security. I disagree with this kind of pseudo-logic because they don't provide dalits the freedom to choose another occupation. I want to become the priest in Pashupatinath temple. Would the upper-caste people allow me? But many upper-caste people have adopted the jobs assigned for untouchables like tailoring, metal works and others while enjoying high-caste privileges. Why they are not regarded as untouchables as they have taken up the jobs sanctioned for the so-called untouchables? Thus division of labor is a strategy of upper-caste people to dominate, divide and rule the lower caste. The caste system is rigid and there is no social mobility.

Untouchables are the most creative people; the engineers of the society. Can you imagine those days when there was no global market and no communication system in Nepal? In those days people depended on their local markets. Blacksmiths made utensils and weapons, goldsmiths made all ornaments, and necessary household items were prepared by the so-called lower caste people. The question is: What is the upper-caste people's contribution to humanity? I say they have done nothing except misinterpret Holy Scriptures for exploitation of other people. They twisted the meaning of scriptures to discriminate and torture lower-caste people.

It is not our mistake to be born into an untouchable family. Upper-caste people need to cooperate with us and support us by not discriminating, and treating us as fellow humans. If you really want to see new and progressive Nepal, you must walk along with untouchable, not subject them to humiliation. We have laws against caste discrimination but they have not been effectively implemented. Because of continuing discrimination, untouchables have been committing crimes as a form of protest. Many untouchables joined the Maoist party with the hope of liberating themselves from the social strictures.

Rather than having discussions on caste system behind closed doors, there is a need to take the discussion to the grassroots. Caste system will continue unless consciousness of each individual improves. Society is made up of individuals. The mass is not going to change unless an individual changes. Let us speak and act against caste-based discrimination at personal level. One small effort can ultimately make a big difference and give dignity to the untouchables. Caste-based discrimination is a matter of great shame for a 21st century society. It is better gone.

The author is a martial artist, meditation practitioner and sociologist girithejorba@gmail.com