Caste, the single word which itself create differences. Differences between people, between societies, between nations. Caste in simpler words, a class structure i.e. determined by your birth. 

Caste which is given too much importance, which is considered at every step of our life…whether it is job interview or job (where you was rejected because you belong to particular caste), at the time of marriage, even at the time of giving house on rent landlord asks about your caste and caste also create differences in social interaction. (Where people are not likely to talk or to eat food with the members of the other community)

In India even to this date, there are the people who differs people profession on the basis of their caste. The jain or sindhis are considered to be a good businessmen, the people belongs to nai caste are assumed to be involved in barbarers’ work and there are many other caste too….

Even in education; the question of caste is involved, what is the relationship between caste and education? When you were filling your board examination form; your caste was asked, when you will go to apply for any central govt. services or central govt. colleges or affiliated colleges your caste will be asked. The Constitution of India provides for 59% reservation to the Scheduled Castes (15%), Scheduled Tribes (7.5%), Other Backward Classes (27%) & Economically Weak Sections (10%). I am not against the concept of reservation. Being a minority, they were given reservation and it is necessary to maintain this but at the same time their skills must be kept in mind. It must be checked that they are not taking unfair advantage of their reservation.

If we talk about caste-based violence, it is decreasing in the present environment but has not totally vanished. I remember a happening of last year, where one gynaecologist, Dr. Payal Tavadi, who belonged to a lower caste, committed suicide because her colleagues teased her, regarding her caste.

If we talk about the days before lockdown, caste or religion were the heated topics of dispute because of the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), 2019 which focuses on giving citizenship on the basis of a particular religion.

According to my point of view, dividing people on the basis of their caste or considering them inferior on the basis of their caste must be changed and this can only be changed by “changing the mentality of the people.” Otherwise it will be at stay with us at every step of our life.

Ishant Jain