| Username |
Post |
| Satya Prakash |
Posted
on 02-Feb-02 09:35 AM
Much has been said about the ills of casteism prevalent in Nepal. However, there is not enough discussion on the ways to eradicate the ills of casteism. There are faint legal remedies and provision in place but the very same people who not only designed them but are also at the receiving end of the (so called high) caste benefits do not take them to heart. The irony is that one denounces only the caste system in a superficial way after reaching to a height through a system of caste ladder while still enjoying the fruit of so called unequal high caste leverage.
So, what can be done to eradicate it? Well, education comes the first and foremost to my mind. But it is a long shot and still the so-called high caste monopoly will continue to prevail with the existing inherent mentality even in the education. Along with the push in education, I mean going beyond increasing the functional literacy rate, and coupled with the strict legal provision for penalizing the practice of casteism, provision of incentives also must be made that promote opportunities for intercaste mingling, and marriages, etc.
Certainly, one way would be to reserve a certain seats for those castes that are not adequately represented in certain scholarships, educational institutions as well as giving an opportunity of fair share in the administration and other branches of the government. I despise the term 'dalits' as this is again coined by another group of privileged people to create another type of casteism.
I personally feel that the government must adopt a radical way to eliminate the root of this social evil called casteism. In this vain, I would like to suggest two ways, for consideration, to be adopted:
1. Prohibit use of a last name that indicates a 'jaat' in the government jobs to begin with. Instead, use the first name and middle name only. Along with it, for identification purposes, one can use the first and middle name of both parents. But no last name.
Thus, Santalal BK would be come Santa Lal
s/o Pirti Lal and Mina Devi
Lal Dhoj Chand will become simply Lal Dhoj
s/o Dil Bahadur and Laxmi Rani
Accordingly, Santa Lal's can choose to become either
Anantadev Lal or just Ananta Dev
You got the idea?
2. The government, through a committee formed with equal representation from all ethnic groups and other distinguished/learned persons (male and female) from society with known interest/credibility in eradicating the caste system, should select two dozen or more last names that do not particularly signify a certain caste or creed. People then should be asked to choose freely these last names as their legal surnames. In allowing choosing such a surname, sufficient care must be taken to avoid the risk of reinventing another generation of casteism though.
Over the years, through intercaste marriages, increased opportunity of education for all, legal provision for incentives and disincentives to eliminate the casteism as it is existent today, and through the elimination of a caste specific last name, I hope we will enter into an aura of caste free society in Nepal. Either with the adoption of #1 or #2 proposed above, it could take at least two to three generation before the fruit of no caste society is experienced but my hope is that we would be less casteist or caste bias society then if not 100% caste bias society.
I realize that some radicals may call it genocide or whatever. But we do need to take a well-calculated radical step to move into the era of social equality. The gains of eliminating the deep-rooted caste system will be higher than the risks for a Nepali nation in the long long run.
What do you think?
Satya Prakash
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| SIWALIK |
Posted
on 02-Feb-02 03:15 PM
Your points are worth noting. I agree with your assessment. Casteism has to be dealt with, and sooner the better. Promoting democracy is not easy without an egalitarian society and meritocracy. However, strangely and ironically enough, casteism also promotes democracy, if you observe the Indian democracy. How? Well, caste was not, in the beginning, meant as what we have today. In the vedic days, it was merely a functional distinction. After code of Manu, it became more entrenched as biological and functional distinction merged, and sons started following in their fathers' footsteps. The hierarchy thus created was detrimental to much of society; we are living the consequence now. The sangha idea of Buddhism did manage to create an egalitarian society to some extent, but you have mentioned how the lingering effect still remains strong. In Nepal itself, I believe it was Jayathiti Malla, who made it a strict social division in the valley. But coming to democracy, one of the benefit of casteism has been creation of interest groups, which is also essential to smooth functioning of democracy. However, just leave it to the self-serving politicians to take that to the extreme and create divisions.
On a different line of thought, caste system gives a stability in a perverse sort of way. For instance, one of human's fundamental search is to find one's place in the universe; I believe cast system does that. Hwever, I think time has come to get rid of the social ills created by this system and find ways to elevate the ones who have been receiving short end of the stick for milleniums.
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| amar |
Posted
on 02-Feb-02 04:41 PM
guys this caste racism will continue until our grandparents are alive and this castism will never go away from the nepali society.
casteism is one of the root problem of nepal being a poor country.
i say introduce a bill taht who ever says a racist or bad comments abou caste just shoot them in their head or give them life imprison so they will never say again..
jaya nepal
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| Suman Dhakal |
Posted
on 02-Feb-02 05:20 PM
hello satya prakash. thanks for bringing up the topic of casteism. you have made several valid points. however, i do not agree with you on one point. u say that the government should prohibit the use of lastnames in the government jobs that indicate "jaat".
It is my opinion, however, that this in no way helps solve the problem. first of all, what u have written "Instead, use the first name and middle name only. Along with it, for identification purposes, one can use the first and middle name of both parents. But no last name." does not work. one can still identify what cast or ethnic group the other one belongs to by simply observing his/her first name. what would you do with all the nepali muslims? their first name is enough for one to conclude, in most cases, that a particular individual is a muslim. a good indicator as to what type of caste or ethinic background that particular individual comes from. using a similar logic, one's middle name can also indicate his/her caste or ethnicity.
does that mean first and the middle name should be droppped as well?
another point. if one is proud of his/her last name and works for the government, why should he/she be denied the right to use his/her last name. just does not make any sense.
and whats with selecting a last name that does not specify any cast and assigning that last names to a govt. officials? do u seriously think that will bring changes
consider the african americans satya prakash. when they were brought here from africa they were given European names. ever wondered why lot of african americans have last name such as washington and jefferson? that is beacuse they picked the prominant figure of that time and gave their last names to african americans. now that the african americans had similar names as europeans, the names now did not reveal that they were from africa, do u think that helped stop the segrgation and the opression of the blacks by the white and even now in many cases. No it didn't and doesn't.
also, i'm sure u have noticed that more and more african americans these days have african names.
Not only the dropping/changing of last name does not work logically, beacuse first name can still indicate on's caste, history has shown us that it does not work politically or socially.
therefore, changing/dropping of last names in the govt. jobs is not going to work satya prakash. also we should not try to be too politically correct. i'm sure you have witnessesed the consequences of political correctness in the american society.
Suman Dhakal
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| Nepe |
Posted
on 02-Feb-02 11:15 PM
Finally I could see somebody come up with bold ideas on eradicating casteism, the source of many evils and shame of our society. I salute Satya Prakash for for his dead seriousness, boldness and novel idea he put forth on the subject. I feel like doing so after hearing either endless idealess emotional rhetoric or an half-hearted sympathy for the cause from peoples with variety of professed and unprofessed connection to the loss-gain equation of casteism. Its time the discussion on the subject should go up from the level of safe play of general denouncement of ills of casteism and put forward concrete and uncompromised ideas/plan for its eradication. This is what Satya Prakash just did. Kudos, Satyaji.
The actual policy/plan/program Satya suggested can/should be refined. But the central message is unchangable. Nothing less than a radical program and action will eradicate such a deep rooted illness of our society as casteism. There is no liberal way, there is no soft way, there is no sweet way for this. Some people and their interest are going to be hurt. But they worth it. There will be resistance disguised of different forms (eg., preservation of culture, identity, social fabric etc.) from different quarters. Eradicating casteism is not like eradicating malaria. Nobody benefits from malaria (well, except doctors and drug companies). But a large portion of population is at the receiving end of casteism. Therefore it is a lot more tough disease. It can not be eradicated without radical steps and measures. Radical measures is the key word here.
Siwalik’s response to Satya’s thoughts are positive. But I smell something different too. Well it may be just my nose. But I do not see the best relevance of his(her?) notes saying casteism gives a stability to society (okay, in a perverse way) or it is beneficial when functions as interest groups. Abolition of casteism will is not going to abolish emergence of professional interest groups. Another meaningful word (in the context) Siwalik used is Meritocracy. I hope it is not intended to demerit the argument that people at disadvantage should be given special support (reservation for Dalits) to help them keep up with the people at advantage.
Suman Dhakal’s doubt about whether decastified legal name would work is a legitimate doubt. But I for one think it should work. We should make it work. In addition, I do not think that it is a mere political correctness. Our caste name is the vehicle of casteism. It is the first tool, first information needed for caste based discrimination and hate. Abolishing it is like partially disarming casteism itself. Furthermore, political correctness is not only not incorrect, but, as a matter of fact, a huge step forward for a backward society like ours. We will have to go a long way in achieving a critical mass of sanity and civic sense before we can afford the luxury of being not politically correct all the time. Our country is far behind that stage. Right now, we need radical reform and changes in almost all aspect of our national life.
Nepe
(I am back)
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| madhu |
Posted
on 12-Feb-02 06:06 AM
This was one idea presented that should have been debated. I am sorry to see that the thread on this topic did not continue. However, I am not surprised at it. It only shows the true colour of many users. Even our oohi undaunted, liberal looking, internet impulsive, never tiring Ashu seems to have given a pass to this topic that should matter to all Nepalis. What could be more important topic than this for a hardworking and smart activist from so called upper caste who wants to bring a social change in Nepal?
It is a fashion to complain about the casteism prevalent in Nepal but many of the educated lot do not want to do anything about it. They mention the ills associated with casteism outwardly, but at the same time, inwardly, like to continue the benefits of it. You cannot change a society with status quo seekers. Suman Dhakal’s comment is typical in this regard.
Time has come for Nepalis, I appeal more so to educated lot, to put their chest, and say from their heart, whether they are ready to do something to do away with the caste system, more than just denounce it.
Should we all resign by saying that you have to be born to be in a certain caste and leave it to fate and karma? That will be sucidal for the future generation.
Madhu
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| Madhu |
Posted
on 12-Feb-02 06:11 AM
Correction:put their hands on chest. Thanks.
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