Hi, An atheist from India

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- Ram
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Hi, An atheist from India
Reply #30 - September 24, 2014, 06:17 PM

Caste system is changing - slowly. Big cities have become very cosmopolitan in last 40-50 years. There is lot of contact in colleges and universities. Men and women from different castes meet and fall in love resulting in more and more inter-caste marriages. But most of marriages are arranged by families within the caste system. People do become friends and socialize, many young people are not aware of the caste, many may not know which caste they belong to. So attitudes are changing, SLOWLYYYYYYYY! in major cities. Now there is more awareness about which language you speak or which state you come from.

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- Ram
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Hi, An atheist from India
Reply #31 - September 24, 2014, 07:27 PM

Caste always had a big impact on Indian politics. At the time of independence in 1947, Brahmins and members of upper castes were in control. Most of them were Brahmins. Nehru was a Brahmin. Gandhi was a Vaishya. There were very few from the lower castes - Jagjivan Ram जगजीवन राम was an exception. The first president Rajendra Prasad राजेन्द्र प्रसाद was a Brahmin. Now things are very different, Brahmins are in minority in politics. There are many from lower castes in the central and state governments.

The 10th president of India Narayannan was from lower caste, the vice president under him was Krishna Kant, a high caste Hindu. The present prime minister, Naredra Modi belongs to Teli (oil pressers) caste. Mayawati, belonging to Harijan (present day euphemism for low caste) was the chief minsiter of Uttar Pradesh. Yadavs in UP belong to herder caste. The chief minister of Bihar belongs to Mushahar (rat eater) caste, this would have been unthinkable in 1970's.

But caste prejudice is still alive, but at least, slowly members of low castes are asserting themselves and getting organized. Indians change, but like a juggernaut, very slowly.

वासुदैव कुटुम्बकम्
Entire World is One Family
سارا سنسار ايک پريوار ہے
- Nikolaj
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Hi, An atheist from India
Reply #32 - September 24, 2014, 09:51 PM

Thanks on your elaboration on the caste system, Ram As I am in Denmark I have never really been exposed to it because my country's colonial adventure in Tranquebar (Taramgambadi) and Frederiksnagore (Serampore) were overtaken by the British almost two centuries ago.

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