Sanskritization is not a solution for caste discrimination

In the previous article “My encounters with the system called Caste” ( https://bit.ly/3gGDDva ) I have concluded that change in mindset from both the dominant and subordinate castes should change to eradicate the discrimination. The feedback I received from many demanded an explanation about what change should happen in the mindset of the oppressed ones. So this article is regarding that in which I would like to add a sociological theory and a few life incidents as examples.

The effective continuation of the system called Caste is mainly because of the blind belief and inferiority complex of the oppressed ones. Knowingly or without knowing they tend to agree that forward castes are superior and try to follow them and identify themselves with the upper strata people. There is a popular theory profounded by Sociologist and Professor M.N.Srinivas called “Sanskritization” in his famous work Religion and society among the Coorgs of South India where he explains how the subordinate castes of the area quit their tradition and try to follow the rituals and habits of the dominant caste. They believed that this will raise their social prestige to the upper strata of society. 

I have witnessed such a case in real in the temple of a local deity in our residential area where women of the forward caste and other castes visit. We can see the women of the forward castes practicing a unique pattern of worship, food habits, and other auspicious related practices that are not originally seen among the women of other castes. But on seeing them eventually the other caste women too started following those traits believing that elevates their social position. They normally were non-vegans but started avoiding meat on auspicious days. The pattern of worship also changed similarly to those forward caste ladies. The weirdest part of imitation I felt was when they tried to sing the devotional slogans in their colloquial slang which actually sounded like children reciting rhymes. 

Imitating a practice which they feel good or like is not bad. I am not criticizing that. But the worst part of imitation was when they started following taboos like not allowing women under the menstrual cycle inside their house which they earlier did not practice. They even do not allow ladies with periods to touch the clothes that they have put up for drying. This is something like discriminating or practicing untouchability which they started following unknowingly. But the treatment received by the upper caste women and other caste women are not similar in many temples I have visited. There is a sense of partiality shown by the priests of that temple. These ladies are not even aware of that and blindly believe that following the traits of upper-caste women has elevated their social stature and sad that they are falling to the realm of evil practices of caste. This ideology should change and people should realize that Sanskritization only authenticates caste difference but cannot eliminate it.

Another important change is the change in the inferiority mindset of the subordinate caste people. I would like to share one life incident as an example. In our village e-Sewa center a differently-abled girl was appointed as the assisting staff. One day when I visited the center I saw the girl sitting on the floor and collecting applications. I enquired when she was provided with a table and chair why she is sitting on the floor which will not be so comfortable to her. She replied that people from dominant castes would visit to give applications and sitting on the chair in front of them will make them feel disrespectful and make them angry. I was shocked on hearing that. I tried to convince her that she is an office staff and need not follow such practice. But she was so frightened and was not ready to sit on the chair because she was instructed like that by the elders of her own community. 

Here am not sure whether the people of the dominant group will really get offended on seeing her sitting on the chair or is it the blind belief of her community who has brainwashed her with the inputs of inferiority. If such is the scenario in the government-related center what will be the situations outside. To the irony, the village president also belongs to her community. But still, the mindset of the people has not changed yet. I have even witnessed this sense of inferiority among the candidates preparing for civil services where few tend to hide their community fearing discrimination while others showing affinity to their community people forming caste groups. This sense of inferiority should be uprooted from the minds of the subordinate caste groups. 

People should realize that community segregation is a government policy to enforce reservation and not an ascriptive status because we are not sure that no misplacement of children has ever happened in any generation of a community. Because we do not carry caste marks biologically so that it can be tested and proved. Many living legends have proved that educational and economical achievements have broken the caste barriers and that is what the suppressed castes should strive to achieve.

Disclaimer: Pictures are used only for reference. I do not own the copyrights.