| Q27
Contd
Since
a child of a particular caste grows in an atmosphere conducive to
the development of the profession of that caste, it has greater
chances, of developing the necessary skills. However, the hitch came
when the flexible framework was fossilized to a degree of rigidity
that prevented change and growth in the case of deserving
individuals who could shine better in other professions. Not
withstanding this, there is nothing in the system itself that we
should feel ashamed of.
If this is so, why should there be
animosities among the various caste groups? The origin lies in the
vanity and selfishness of persons who could not assimilate
learning, power and wealth and who used these to exploit the
less fortunate ones. It is they who brought into vogue the
hierarchies of castes because of which respect was demanded rather
than commanded. The fault therefore lies with these individuals and
not with the system.
It is not fair to condemn a whole system
because of a few aberrations even as we do not condemn the entire
police force or the administrative machinery of a government when a
few members of the system go wrong. The various castes can be
compared to the various departments of an office. They are different
groups discharging different duties and responsibilities for a
common purpose, viz., the well being of the society as a whole.
Hence internecine quarrels among them will ultimately ruin the
entire society including the warring groups themselves.
There was a time when people belonging to
a particular caste were obliged to go in for the vocation of the
caste. A feeling that certain vocations were 'better' or
'superior' which entered the psyche of the society, naturally
spilled into the caste system also creating difficulties among the
castes. But there is no reason for its continuance now since members
of all castes have the necessary freedom and opportunity to choose a
calling of their choice by opting for the required training.
Hence in the modem context of education and training facilities
being thrown open to all, caste conflicts are not only
meaningless, but the height of unwisdom leading to
selfdestruction.
|
