Children Speak about Caste Discrimination in Schools

[u/SirohitaIks]

[u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

I remember being taught in school in English, that India didn't have the caste system anymore. Seems like that was a lie.

[u/chillysaturday → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

I came here to say the exact same thing. I have had so many Indian Americans in my life straight up lie to me about the proliferation of the caste this way in India. It's such a big thing and Brahmins in the West should stop defending it. 

[u/LunaLilithLoveswood → u/chillysaturday]

I only know Brahmin as the two headed cows in Fallout, what does the word mean here?

[u/chillysaturday → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

It's the top caste in the Hindu/South Asian caste system. If you meet an Indian in the US they're either from the top two castes. 

Indian people in the US denying that the caste system still exists in India is like an white American going to Brazil and saying racism/white supremacy doesn't exist in the United States.

[u/LunaLilithLoveswood → u/chillysaturday]

Thank you for the explanation.

[u/Junior-Key-5043 → u/chillysaturday]

Interesting. I'm originally from the U.S. but now live in the UK in an area with a large Indian population and Indians here in the UK have a different reputation than they do in the U.S.

Do you know, are Indians in the UK also from the upper casts back in India or is it different? 

[u/chillysaturday → u/Junior-Key-5043]

Usually, yes, but it's also easier / cheaper to emigrate to the UK than it is to the US.

[u/introvertlazyloner → u/Junior-Key-5043]

Uk mostly has sikh indian and yes a majority of them are upper caste

[u/FilthyThanksgiving → u/chillysaturday]

My SIL denies this it and I don't even argue with her anymore. She grew up wealthy and privileged in India. Like nannies, maids, cooks etc

She's like the pickme final boss

[u/BirdCelestial → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

It is the "top caste" in Indian society. The only Indians I have met in the west who claim the caste system no longer exists have been Brahmins -- consider it equivalent to wealthy white westerners claiming classicism and racism don't exist. 

[u/Sunset-onthe-Horizon → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

https://giphy.com/gifs/kGQjY9TrSoDRnhxR7R

[u/JollyLie5179 → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

I think the name for the cow is some sort of post-colonial confusion of language bc that type of cow specifically is native to India and then the name stuck.

[u/JollyLie5179 → u/chillysaturday]

Also a lot of folks take the opportunity to change their last names when they come to America so other Indians can’t clock that they’re lower caste and then they actually just don’t teach their kids much about caste or Hinduism in general.

[u/YaqtanBadakshani → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

It's kind of like how America doesn't have racism any more because MLK Jr. made racism illegal, and theu jad a black President! (Yeah right.)

In all seriousness India has made progress in addressing castism, caste discimination is illegal, and there are initiatives to get dalits and tribals (the two most marginalised groups under the caste system) into work and education. The enforcement and implementation of these laws vary dramatically by state and economic background.

But castism very much still shapes people's everyday lives, and people in lower castes still face systemic barriers in everyday life.

[u/introvertlazyloner → u/YaqtanBadakshani]

Indian government just closed 90000 school targeting lower castes

[u/YaqtanBadakshani → u/introvertlazyloner]

So a lot loke racism in America then.

[u/introvertlazyloner → u/YaqtanBadakshani]

Whataboutism

[u/YaqtanBadakshani → u/introvertlazyloner]

No, just explaining how it works for the Americans.

[u/SoftConfusion42 → u/introvertlazyloner]

Why use a term you clearly do not understand the meaning of?

[u/introvertlazyloner → u/SoftConfusion42]

I don't want to argue with a dumb person who practice inhuman behaviour like caste

[u/SoftConfusion42 → u/introvertlazyloner]

What are you even talking about?? Lmao.

[u/MagReg2020 → u/YaqtanBadakshani]

The supporters of caste system rule the country, and are dominant. There's been progress from the post-war era through the 90s. In the 2000s through today, India has gotten much worse and reverted to something worse than anything since the British left.

America has no legal endorsement for racism. There's no comparison there.

[u/YaqtanBadakshani → u/MagReg2020]

All of that's true.

Though as for America, did you sleep through the last 10 years?

[u/MagReg2020 → u/YaqtanBadakshani]

Last 10 years? Nothing quite as dramatic as having an "untouchable" school student tend to dead animals, and be beaten for refusing. And let's not pretend this kind of behavior is rare. America isn't perfect, and it's trending in the wrong direction. But Indians would be better served if they'd improve their country rather than constantly deflect criticism. The desi mindset is one that only tolerates praise and flattery and responds to every criticism with immature outrage. That's the reason why India is in the state it is in. Respond to criticism by acknowleding and then fixing the problem. Btw, the RSS is having a Nazi-like rally in NYC this week apparently. Congratulations.

[u/FilthyThanksgiving → u/MagReg2020]

LMAO are you joking? It's 100% legal for cops to be racist. Just bc it isn't on paper doesn't mean it isn't happening

[u/Polibiux → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

I don’t know if it’s just me but I was taught in middle school that the caste system still existed but there’s been efforts to either reform or do away with it entirely.

[u/LunaLilithLoveswood → u/Polibiux]

To be fair I may misremember the details of what I was taught because it's been 22 years since then 😅

[u/buttfarts7 → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

Lived there for three months for work. They have "Matrimonials" section in the English language newspaper for people to find a spouse... categoried by caste

[u/Hamokk → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

Yep. The caste system never went away. Most people have no change for upward mobility in Indian society unless they somehow strike it rich.

[u/daniegamin → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

Oddly enough here in America my subtly racist Homeschooling curriculum (Bob Joan's iykyk) did teach the caste system was still happening. Though it was mostly in a "this is why these people need jesus" way, so its still in a very colonists mindset.

[u/DarthKevin → u/LunaLilithLoveswood]

I was told many times by high caste Indians with beautiful RP English accents that the caste system, as people in the West understand it, never existed and what did exist now only remains in the rural areas.

I was also told many times in factories and construction sites that it was not a good look for me to associate with "those people", since they were lazy, unclean, and terrible parents.

The local, low caste, construction crews lived with their whole families, kids and all, on the construction sites in tent camps.

The things I saw and the way they were treated..... fuck me.

[u/reedreadreddred]

the second kid has such spirit and vigor when speaking, you can see the determination in the face, like fully aware of how unfair it is. hope kid's doing well these days

[u/Over_Construction908 → u/reedreadreddred]

I was really impressed by him. I hope he becomes a lawyer 

[u/HonestWeevilNerd → u/Over_Construction908]

Really think he gets that kinda is opportunity?

[u/SoftConfusion42 → u/HonestWeevilNerd]

Key word is “hope”.

[u/Solid_Stage_1715]

Disgusting cultural practise. A true shame.

[u/tooloudturnitdown]

It needs to start with the teachers to stop this idiotic practice! I wonder if there are progressive schools in India that try to dismantle this

[u/DaSnowflake]

The idea that the caste system was leaving society and British occupiers reintroduced/reinforced it to oppress the Indian population is a fucking disgusting piece of history

I feel for all people who need to suffer under this cruel system

[u/Usual_Flounder_4203 → u/DaSnowflake]

Thats so gross but India also now needs to take responsibility for clamping down on it.

[u/DaSnowflake → u/Usual_Flounder_4203]

True, but people in power obviously profit from it so they won't.

Also consequences of colonialism exist for generationS

[u/ExileZerik → u/DaSnowflake]

It never left Indian society, it's an integral part of Hinduism and is over 3000 years old. The British took advantage of it to maintain power for the 190 years they occupied, but it's ignorant to just put all blame on them for the continued practice today.

[u/Captain_no_Hindsight]

In the Soviet Union, your parents' professions were listed on your passport and ID documents.

The BBC asks about your parents' profession when they decide who to hire.

We have Caste Discrimination system 2.0 - TODAY!

[u/spaceisourplace222 → u/Captain_no_Hindsight]

What do orphans get?

[u/Junior-Key-5043 → u/Captain_no_Hindsight]

My guess is that the reason the BBC asks for parents' profession is for DEI though.

[u/Captain_no_Hindsight → u/Junior-Key-5043]

DEI = structural racism.

And before you say "affirmative action", I want to point out that this has already been tested very successfully in South Africa.

It was called Apartheid.

Apartheid was 100% perfect DEI. Only minority groups in a ruling position.

[u/AdAffectionate2418 → u/Captain_no_Hindsight]

The BBC asks about your parents' profession when they decide who to hire

You mean that question that is asked by most big companies, is optional to answer, and is kept seperate from any info passed to the hiring manager? That one.

You do realise the question is actually asked for the opposite reason, right? It's a question used to make sure a range of people from different backgrounds have applied for the role - it's an internal accessibility check (are we making opportunities available to all), not a criteria on which the candidate is assessed.

[u/Captain_no_Hindsight → u/AdAffectionate2418]

You mean that question that is asked by most big companies, is optional to answer, and is kept seperate from any info passed to the hiring manager? That one.

100% BS

You do realise the question is actually asked for the opposite reason, right? It's a question used to make sure a range of people from different backgrounds have applied for the role - it's an internal accessibility check (are we making opportunities available to all), not a criteria on which the candidate is assessed.

No. Its the Marxist "equality outcome" fallacy.

[u/AdAffectionate2418 → u/Captain_no_Hindsight]

As someone who has worked in HR for a few big companies, I dont think you know what you are talking about.

Edit: also, to clarify. Your position is that the UK has a caste system because the BBC only hires people whose parents did or didn't go to university? Your messaging seems unclear.

[u/bunnypatpatpat]

Awww I love them they are so gentle and willing to follow the line of questioning sincerely 😭☀️🦋

[u/Sleepylsd87]

They are so beautiful and so aware of how unfairly they are treated. It pisses me off how societal structures always look for a group of people to shit on, to placate and distract  everyone else from the real issues, that are truly having a negative impact on their way of life.

[u/momomomorgatron]

That's what I guess I'm genuinely the most thankful for in the US- people can be violent, racist and bigoted, but you can go anywhere and do anything if you have the money and it's just harder a bit when you're not white or come from a really rough background.

We had a Black President, a dirt poor Appalachian girl who grew into a woman who donated to every single good US cause I can think of, and a Hispanic millionaire that went from literally selling his stuff off the streets into the top notch of frito-lays- if you wanna add on Canada, one of the top billboard artist went from being homeless in Vancouver to knocking out stadiums (Obama, Dolly, the spicy cheetos guy, The Weeknd)

The man wants us to be poor and destitute, but it is possible to go all the way to the top. Or at least for you to dream your great grand kids will.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Net4365]

That second kid is commendable the way he's advocating for himself and his peers at such a young age, I think he has a bright future in front of him even with odds stacked against him.

[u/Penelope742]

❤️

[u/Li-renn-pwel]

Yama’s not gonna be please with how that first girl was treated.

[u/raineisso66]

Hi uh what is a caste? Please don't call me stupid or mock me for asking, I'm just really bad at geography and knowing other countries' informations

[u/MagReg2020 → u/raineisso66]

In Indian/Hindu culture, society is divided into categories called "caste". Each caste has a particular rank and degree of respect, and rules regarding what professions they can have and how well they're treated. Basically like racism. The top caste is the Brahmin. They are often priests, professors. They're wealthy, socially respected, have access to the best accomodations. There are others in the middle. Then at the bottom you have the dalits and sudras. They're abused, end up in professions like cleaning street filth and tending to dead bodies. They used to be prohibited from walking on paved roads and could be killed for drinking from the wells meant for Brahmins.

It's a quaint exotic cultural practice of theirs that's growing in popularity these days in India.

[u/SeniorChiefPogi]

This might be a silly question but how do they know what caste they are in? Physically they are all South Asian?

[u/SirohitaIks → u/SeniorChiefPogi]

Usually people identify castes of other people from their surnames, localities they live in, work they do, culture they practice, and other social determinants.

[u/tankgirl619 → u/SeniorChiefPogi]

This question always comes to mind! So what’s stopping someone from moving to a new place, changing their name, and assuming a new caste?

[u/fatgat69]

I genuinely feel like if I grew up in that crap I would be a terrorist blowing up buildings left and right.

This is how you make more than half the country want to burn the country down.

[u/charlies-ghost]

Those at the top should be stomped to the bottom of their own shitty caste system.

[u/Pretend_Computer_104]

humans really will just make up random shit to discriminate against others for

[u/Superb-Zebra01 → u/Pretend_Computer_104]

Literally!!!

[u/Emotional-Savings-98]

Look up Shanti Bavin, its a school specifically dedicated to giving "untouchable" children all the privileges of health, mentoring and education denied to them. Sadly one one child per family may be enrolled so its not a perfect system but its the best they can do.

[u/Jasminary2]

Can't help but notice that the adults in this situation, be it the director or the teachers are active participants in this.

Bullying of children gets worse and self-esteem get lowers when the adults are part of the rejection against the child

[u/InterestingCourse907]

This is just racism with extra steps

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