Caste system – India is a land of rich cultural heritage where we have been taught by our religious literature to stay in harmony with each other. But we do follow it? Almost every religion teaches us to follow the rituals of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam, where the entire world is your family.
Perhaps, many of us are not even aware of the term Vashudhaiv Kutumbakam.
Knowing its meaning and following it religiously is something far beyond the reach of such people.
The caste system, caste-based reservation system is one of the most critical social stigma prevailing today. Somewhere, we still lag in proclaiming us educated to represent a sovereign and democratic India on the global front. Our constitution makers were keen on introducing the caste-based reservation system to uplift those vulnerable sections of Indian society which were left behind.
The sole contributor of the caste-based reservation system is the caste system which has its ancient roots of origin. Caste system which originated in the old times bifurcated Hindu society into four strata’s by their castes and working ethics. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras were the castes prevailing in India. It was believed that Lord Brahma was the initiator of the caste system.
Brahmins ranked higher in order with their higher levels of intellects. This stratum was believed to originate from the Brahma’s head. The next to follow them were the Kshatriyas or what we call as the warriors. Kshatriya’s were thought to evolve from the arms of Brahma. The third strata of the Hindu society arising from Brahma’s thighs were known as the Vaishyas, and finally, the fourth one’s from his feet formed the Shudras.
The prevailing caste system is an extension of this ancient system of caste. Independent India abolished the prevalent caste based on discrimination. Ahead of this abolishment, the constitution of Independent India introduced reservation quotas for the vulnerably backward strata of Indian society.
The beneficiaries of this law were the members of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Both the castes presents a lower status in the entire caste hierarchy system. The bill was passed with an intention to uplift this stratum to mark their social presence with a prominence. Furthermore, the reservation category was extended to include the Other Backward Castes somewhere in the year 1989.
Presently, what we see is an altogether different form of the caste-based reservation system. This system, currently, has transformed more into caste based violence. This is so because the caste-based reservation system was passed for the succeeding ten years right from the date the assembly passed it. However, to gain public sympathy and their support, caste-based reservation system still prevails in our society.
Time has come now where the high caste people are being deprived of their educational and job rights.
Today, this caste-based reservation system has acquired such a form which contradicts the existence of righty to equality entitled on every Indian citizen by our constitution. As the reservation system extends special privileges to specific strata of the society, the others are being debarred of their rights.
It has, therefore, become the need of the hour for the ruling party to evaluate whether there is still any need for the existence of caste-based reservation system in India or not. It is my sincere appeal towards our honorable government to extend this reservation system to those who thrive in hard on roads for a piece of daily bread. These people are the ones who are in dire need of reservation system to protect their rights of being human.
It is a time when we need to take a step ahead in collaboration to uplift this excluded section of the society. It is only then that our country shall genuinely owe its title of Sujalam Sufalam.
