CASTE SYSTEM & ALLEVIATING THE POOR IN INDIA

CASTE SYSTEM & ALLEVIATING THE POOR IN INDIA

Dear Friends,

CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA:

The present social/government system of caste categorisation by birth is wrong.

Caste by quality/profession of the people was valid, is valid and will be valid in the society because we need broadly all these four caste groups of people in the society always as existed since human evolution.

THE FOUR CASTES IN INDIAN SOCIETY:

1. Brahmins: People who can guide the society toward higher knowledge, progress, prosperity & happiness [Spiritualists, Intellectuals, Gurus, Saints, True Leaders, Scientists, Teachers, Judges, ...]

2. Kshetriyas: People who can give just rule to the society and people who are actively involved in creating/making/manufacturing things for the society and those who protect the society [Rulers, Administrators, Directors, Managers, Co-ordinators, Secretaries, Industrialists, Engineers, Miners, Manufacturers, Protectors, Defenders, ...]

3. Vaisyas: People who grow/produce/trade/transport/exchange things/money and help/assist others [Agriculturists, Horticulturists, Farmers, Traders, Businees-people,Transporters, Doctors, Lawyers, Officers, Clerks, ...]

4. Sudras: People who do manual works & serve all others [Manual servants & labourers]

PEOPLE ARE CATEGORISED UNDER FOUR GROUPS:

Yes, people with all kinds of different professions can be broadly categorised under any one of these four groups. However, it is wrong to put people strictly in airtight compartments as one group totally separated from the other group. In fact all the people do have, to some extent, all the qualities of the above four groups, but in varying degrees. Those who have the quality suitable for any of the above four groups by profession/skills/education are simply categorised as such.

ALL GROUPS ARE IMPORTANT:

It is to be clearly understood that none of the above groups are superior or inferior in their importance in the society. All of them are equally necessary to maintain a healthy society as much as our different bodily parts are all important to maintain our healthy body.

ALL GROUPS SHOULD LIVE IN HARMONY:

So, mutual love, respect & care among all groups of people in the society is important. In fact it is the harmonious existence by mutual cooperation & support that is required among all groups of people in the society to live in health & happiness.

HURTING OTHERS IS HURTING YOURSELF:

If any of these groups of people try to look down upon another group; then it is just like hating your own body parts because all people of all groups are parts of the whole social body! If people of one group hurt/exploit another group, it is just like hurting/exploiting yourself because all are parts of your social body.

APPLY THE GOLDEN RULE:

So, the principle of non-injury and empathy should be followed by everyone in the society while dealing with another fellow being in the society. This is called golden rule that you treat others as you would like to be treated.

UNJUSTIFIED CASTE DISCRIMINATION IS WRONG:

Unjustified caste discrimination to the extent of untouchability in the Indian society is totally deplorable. However people who are thus socially out casted need to think deeply why they are being treated so? If they are out casted simply because of their parentage, then, that is totally wrong.

OUT CASTED PEOPLE NEED TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES:

But if that caste discrimination is because of their unclean/bad habits, then they need to improve on them. Neat & clean habits are to be developed. Good/healthy food should be consumed & good/healthy eating/drinking habits are to be followed. Good moralities are to be maintained. Education for all should be encouraged. They should live with self-respect and try to live a self-reliant life. They should not have any inferiority complex because of their caste parentage.

NEED FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF THE POOR:

Poverty is one single worst social problem that should be addressed urgently by the government, social reformers, philanthropists and benevolent rich people who really want to alleviate the poor people. It is a proven fact that when people achieve economic freedom, they are least affected by this social evil called caste system. To give economic freedom to the poor, first step is to help them find a free economic base to stand on where they can easily climb up further economic steps for their own progress with free supports to their basic needs. So, those who are extremely poor should be supported with free food, free cloth, free shelter, free education, free health care etc until they are in a position to pay for their basic needs themselves. When poor people are freed out of their daily struggle for food, cloth, shelter, education & health care; they can improve themselves very fast thus enabling them to earn more; to get higher jobs; to compete with others in the society in a fair way.

JOB RESERVATION IS WRONG POLICY:

While seat reservations for females in elective bodies like Village Panchayat, Town Committee, City Municipality/Corporation, State Assembly, National Parliament are a good approach for females to take active roles in governance; reservation for other jobs under the current reservation system based on caste /tribe /BC /OBC /religious minority etc compromising the quality of the candidates required for the post in terms of reduced marks and raising of age limit etc; is a wrong policy of the Indian government! Such kind of unqualified/sub-standard people selected and put on the job, they will definitely produce unqualified/substandard results/products thus degrading the overall functioning, standard & progress of the nation! Instead of job reservations, Indian government should support the poor people for full free education enabling them to improve themselves to compete with others in a fair way.

IMPORTANCE OF CENSUS RECORD ON POVERTY LEVEL:

While counting the population, Indian Census Report should contain economic status of the people in detail, especially the information about the number of people who are extremely poor, who are under poverty level and who are generally poor; based on their earning capacities and Indian government policy to alleviate poverty in the country should be based on this economic census records of the people. While old census system of collecting information about people’s religion, caste, tribe etc may continue so just for the value of information but this should never be the basis for alleviating poverty in the country. Any government policy to alleviate poverty should be solidly founded on the economic status of the people and never based on religion, caste, tribe, BC, OBC etc simply because this faulty policy creates jealousy, unfair favouritism, communalism and enmity among the people downplaying the ideal objective of developing all poor people irrespective of their origin or social /religious classification.

POVERTY LEVEL AS THE BASIS FOR RENDERING HELP:

No matter who belong to which caste or religion; all extremely poor people, people under poverty level and generally poor people do need help from the government. No matter who belong to which caste or religion; those who already have enough or who have more than enough income to maintain themselves, don’t need government’s free support. So, poverty level should be the basis to be considered by the government to help the poor people not their caste/tribe or religious category

DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL:

Development for all should be the policy objective of all the governments in the world. Wherever there is need for help, help should be rendered. This is justice. Unfair discriminations based on race, religion, caste, sex etc should be avoided. All policies of the governments should be aimed at helping the poor to stand on their own feet as soon as possible and withdraw free helps once they are able to support themselves. All kinds of exploitations should be stopped by law. All kinds of bonded labour/slavery should be stopped by law. All corruptions should be stopped by law. Development & happiness for all should be the objective of all the policies of the governments of all the countries in the world.

Happiness for all!

Regards,

Goodman

for HAPPY WORLD SOCIETY

PS: this post was originally written by Goodman on 7 October 2012