The never ending Caste System of India

                                                             At a time when measuring backwardness based on caste is being challenged, India has to make glance at grassroots caste system that is prevalent in countryside.  SC, ST communities were treated less than human in villages, where they should not step into temples. They can’t ask about their rights which will attract upper caste brutality. I witnessed such an incident today in Gadisingapuram village in Jiyyammavalasa mandal of Vizianagaram. On the eve of village festival being organized, a few youth are dancing to the drums in front of chariot. While it was going through the dalit street, a girl of age fifteen years brought her little niece amidst them just  to look a small move by the child. The drunken youth at seeing the dalit girl coming among them shouted at her “ You bloodh Paidi bitch, how dare you come in front of us” . The girl’s brother who came to her rescue was beaten along with her sister. If they could not reach hospital on time, two precious lives would have been lost. Over the years, it became clear that caste discrimination was not just limited to upper caste whereas land holding Backward Castes as well acrimonious towards dalits and tribes.  The words of BR Ambedkar  about caste discrimination in Hindu religion were proven right even after  seven decades of independence.  Ironically, the assaulters are educated properly and do not know how to respect fellow men.


                                                                                                                                                  Prashant K Snigtha
                                                                                                                              (Writer is a banker, works with rural                                                                                                                                 people and enthusiastic about wirting)