"HOW WE CAN KNOW?" -Personal 2

« 500 S Asians enters UK daily ??? Its impact? | Longest MOUSTACHE competition »

"HOW WE CAN KNOW?" -Personal 2

by voxpopuli @ 2006-11-04 – 17:52:03

(Before going further about my personal story further I would like to give links of earliar posts in this thread. Please read those and then read the following part if you have not read those. While narrating my story I will have two types of posts. One in chronological order while other posts will be excerpts of later events.)

First Post

Second Post

"WHY HE SAID SO?"

Third Post

“Because we are Brahmins.”
This was my first real acquaintance with Indian caste system some 30 years ago. Earlier I had heard stories of ‘poor Brahmins’ of ancient period. Still never know that I also belong to this caste and what it means.That time still confused about what a big deal in being Brahmin I asked father.
“So what?”
“Brahmins are supposed to be intelligent genetically. Their traditional job was to gather and disseminate knowledge. So son of Brahmin is considered born intelligent”.
Now truly that time it was music to my little ears. Never ever that time I understood that I will be having lot of interaction with this social reality in future and take up mission to study and reinterpret peculiar Indian caste system, which is vastly analysed from western perspective. Anyway that’s later.

Now I wanted to know ‘we are Brahmins’ means who are included in this 'we'.
Who are Brahmins and who are not? How I can spot and recognise Brahmins?
Caste system began its operation in my little brain, which was supposed to be intelligent.
So I asked father,
“We mean who? Does all people in our village are Brahmins? How we can know?

(Guess, “How we can know?”)
Options:
Tags:
- personal

18 Comments to "HOW WE CAN KNOW?" -Personal 2

Hide subcomments

- (Visitor)
- 2006-11-04 @ 18:09:26
I don not under stand the caste system, the only thing I know about it is that you can never change. If you are of lowly caste, that is where you stay.

It is not for me to critisise anyone's culture, but to me this is all wrong. We are all people, and it does not matter where you come from, there are good and bad in all. Everyone should have the opportunity to grow.
- - voxpopuli
  - 2006-11-04 @ 18:26:38
  You will get to know more about it through my story as good or bad, caste system is social reality in India and its part of life.
  
  You are right. One can never change castes.
  
  Alongwith my personal story I would like to have posts on caste system. In my view modern viewpoint about caste system both all over the world and in India itself is largely //western//.
  
  I am against caste system and want its real end. But you cant end any deeply rooted system which has withheld itself for four thousand years without understanding it properly.
  
  My story is not just bout caste though.
  - Reply to comment
  - Permalink
- kiki2u
- http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
- 2006-11-04 @ 18:13:56
Voxy. you reveal yourself in comments, pist about yourself just if you feel too...no need post your personnal story, that's not because that bloggers like you, we enjoy you and your posts because you're intelligent, yes, and funny, with a great sense of humour, plus you're very well-educated/polite with us all.
So, no worries about that stuff of posting your persoals story, you reveal a lot about you in replies and cmts. Ok, we like you as you are, posting about yourself will not change it yes?
Think about it, i only post about myself when i feel too as usally i like to post about somethings i enjoy, for instance.
Ok, Have FUN
kk
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2006-11-04 @ 18:14:29
  *pist=post
  - Reply to comment
  - Permalink
- - voxpopuli
  - 2006-11-04 @ 18:30:55
  Thanks kiki.
  
  I am posting my personal story because I want to share my whole life with all of you.
  
  This is also my process to look back to me and my life and interpret it again.
  - - kiki2u
    - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
    - 2006-11-05 @ 06:27:42
    Go for it, now i'm curious
    Tell us ALL
    - - voxpopuli
      - 2006-11-05 @ 09:32:33
      Thanks I will.
      - Reply to comment
      - Permalink
- The_Walrus ^Pro
- http://www.doctor-dark.co.uk
- 2006-11-04 @ 22:42:35
Ecky thump, monsiuer! Are you going to believe something like that just because everyone tells you it has to be true?

To say that some easily distinguished group is inferior and always will be, it's an old nastiness, and Mr Hitler tried it on, as well. He got his, and the people who continue to oppress others with the "caste system" will get theirs soon enough.
- - voxpopuli
  - 2006-11-04 @ 22:49:29
  Do you get impression from the post that I believe in it?
  
  I was young and was told this. I am actually reviving memories that include subtle nurturing of caste system. This was how it was introduced to me.
  ...and you goes on reading you will find how I responded to casteism, my family.
  - - voxpopuli
    - 2006-11-04 @ 23:23:36
    Please read the post properly before making any judgemental remarks.
    - Reply to comment
    - Permalink
- layreader1810
- 2006-11-04 @ 23:24:16
I think the caste system is neither good nor bad it just is! It only becomes good or bad if we judge it against our own cultures or mindsets.
As for sharing you life story - it's your blog - go for it!
I look forward to reading as I do all your other posts Thanx.
- - voxpopuli
  - 2006-11-04 @ 23:43:30
  Actually now I look towards caste system as an analytical tool to study Indian society, polity and history. Its reerence is bound to come as it is closely related to lives of Indians. More so 30 yrs ago in rural areas one cannot have life without any impact of caste system and its values. My life got bit entagled with it as I took birth in supposedly upper caste and adopted values, philosophy and life style completely antagoistic to it.
  
  But I also think that this is not time to judge whether it is good or bad. It is accepted as bad theoretically in India by everyone but no one can come out of it practically.
  
  I think, however, it has also wrongly understood by western rulers, missionaries and English educated people accepted western interpretation due to colonial mentality. Time has also come to put it in proper perspective to elminate it.
  
  My personal story will only have passing references to it and may post my thoughts on caste system seperately.
  Thanks for showing interest in me. It will help me to express myself.
  - Reply to comment
  - Permalink
- adamantixx
- http://trifledreamz.blogspot.com
- 2006-11-04 @ 23:28:31
so when you learnt that you were from an intelligent caste did it make you simply proud of yourself or did you feel sorrow or pity for those beneath you in the system?
- - voxpopuli
  - 2006-11-04 @ 23:59:25
  At that time and that age I felt proud only to have guilt for many years later on for taking birth in a caste who remained oppressive for more than 4000 years.
  
  It began my probe unknowingly and it ended up soon with conclusion exactly opposite of that. Its very funny the way questions prop up in my mind and way elder people trying to answer me. That will come in next post though.
  - - adamantixx
    - http://trifledreamz.blogspot.com
    - 2006-11-05 @ 00:11:39
    but if you personally haven't put anybody down why feel guilt over your small part in a system thats been around for so long before you were even born?
    i don't think that way or else i'd feel guilty about all the atrocities caused in the name of the British Empire.
    - - voxpopuli
      - 2006-11-05 @ 00:24:48
      Many Brahmins of this generation feel that way. They ask why they should be penalised for the deeds of their forefathers.
      
      However, I am brought up in a state which was known for anti-Brahmin movement. Further I became actively involve in a struggle against caste system. Many times I used to be lone person of Bahmanical origin and was naturally target of remarks as if I am representing them. This will all come in story. Now I don't have guilt fortunately.
      
      Still I feel even if one rejects material benefits that come our way due to origin one cannot reject cultural capital and skills that come with it. Though I went through lean patches in terms of money I never had to live in slums like Dalits.
      - Reply to comment
      - Permalink
- suzeemoon
- http://suzeemoon.friendpages.com/
- 2006-11-05 @ 00:03:11
Now I know why he said that I look forward to whatever else you wish to share.
Suzee
xxx
- - voxpopuli
  - 2006-11-05 @ 00:07:45
  Yes. Thanks suzee.
  x
  - Reply to comment
  - Permalink