The caste tag to names has indeed got a lot to do with caste consciousness (“What is in a name?” Aug. 27). People belonging to higher castes take pride in their status and assert their class hegemony by using caste tags to their names. They want to perpetuate their domination. If that is not so, why do people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes never suffix their names with their caste names? Subconsciously, a majority of them feel inferior.
R. Arun ,
Thiruvananthapuram
It is not true that the caste tag is an integral part of one's name (Letters, Aug. 30). How come in Tamil Nadu, Brahmins who used to suffix their names with castes earlier go without the tag today? E.M.S. Namboodiripad might not have been conscious of his caste but can we say the same about millions of others?
A person can have caste consciousness with or without a tag to his name. But by proclaiming his caste to others, he sends a strong signal, especially to people belonging to his caste. In a highly caste-conscious society, using caste names is dangerously anti-social. It will create groupism and divisions in society.
V. Muthu Kumar ,
New Delhi
Agreed, dropping the caste tag from surnames will help in removing caste consciousness. But is that enough? We need to do much more like prohibiting caste-based matrimonial services and advertisements; including caste among the various forms of discrimination at the international level; abolishing caste-based benefits like reservation; banning caste organisations and panchayats; and entering into matrimonial alliances with the so-called disadvantaged sections
Pooja Shekhawat ,
Jaipur
Caste may not appear important for some. But from where I come, it is everything. Society is divided on the basis of castes. In Andhra Pradesh, the whole political system is based on caste.
There is considerable favouritism in admissions to educational institutions. Even students prefer joining the institutions where students of their caste are in a majority.
Nukaboina Sai Balaji ,
Hyderabad
Caste is a social identity, not just an individual identity. An individual does not derive any benefits from the caste system in his personal capacity. He experiences caste as part of a group. Caste is the sum of all social, religious and cultural practices that a family stands for. It is a mental construct. It is a sense of psychological superiority or inferiority one feels over another. The removal of caste tags from names will not help. Education should open up the windows of enlightenment to all. What we need is a change in the mentality, not a severance with one's cultural background that caste has come to symbolise.
Sarath S. Pillai ,
New Delhi
Surprisingly, it is the educated, affluent sections which find it fashionable to use caste tags to their names. Only those who pride themselves on belonging to a superior caste use them to satisfy their ego. But it is one of the feeblest forms of casteism. It cannot be curbed by law. It is the mindset of people that needs to undergo a change.
C. Sivanandan ,
Thiruvananthapuram
‘Pillai' does not signify a caste like Nair, Nambiar, Mudaliar, Nadar or Goundar. It is not even a title given by ancient rulers of Travancore or Kochi (like Panicker, Kurup, Unnithan, etc.) ‘Pillai' is seen even in Indus seals, as revealed by the study of Asko Parpola. It means child or son and the usage was adopted by almost all those who worshipped Lord Shiva in ancient times.
Kanam Sankara Pillai ,
Ponkunnam
