Caste Survey in Bihar: Fanning the Evil of Social Discrimination
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
5 October
2023
Does any
sane and sensible individual approve of this caste survey in Bihar? To me, this
is so regressive.
We're still
stuck in primitivism and social apartheid. Do we have any moral right to
condemn the racial and colour discrimination, still prevalent in the western
world? Have we really evolved? I've serious doubts and reservations in
accepting humans' so-called mental advancement.
This
state-level survey is indicative of the fact that we've officially accepted and
institutionalized casteism in India. This is disgusting. Instead of jettisoning
the very concept of castes, we're promoting it at national level!
Religion
defines your existence. Then, caste seals your fate. Are state governments and
people of India aware that it's an individual's constitutional right not to
disclose his/her faith and caste anywhere? The SC also bestows this fundamental
right upon every individual that revealing one's religion and caste is
optional, never mandatory. No one and no agency in the country can force you to
reveal your faith and caste. This is a criminal offence. Yet, everywhere and in
every organization in India, you need to disclose your religion and caste. If
you don't. You're rejected. While filling out forms in schools, parents have to
put their wards' religion and caste, though a few parents have begun to
challenge this reprehensible clause and they all have won as well.
But what
about a majority of meek and moribund Indians who still have a religion and
caste which they carry like a dead albatross around their necks?
However,
there's a silver lining. In the recent caste survey in Bihar, 2,146 people said
that they had no religion. A fewer number said that they had no religion and
also no god but the survey hasn't yet disclosed the number of such people who
said they didn't have a religion and god.
It's time,
the 'educated' and 'enlightened' Indians rejected this very idea of caste and
religion. Even better, if they can part with their truckload of gods and
deities. But this will still take centuries to happen at a collective level.
Until that happens, continue to emblazon your religion, caste and sub-caste on
your forehead like a cheap commodity in a socially divided market, sorry,
society.
------
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URl: https://newageislam.com/current-affairs/caste-survey-bihar-evil-social-discrimination/d/130825
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