André Béteille's article “India's destiny not caste in stone” (Feb. 21) is reflective of the current trend on caste discrimination in India. Successive governments have indeed taken steps to bring the castes once looked down upon into the mainstream. Caste discrimination is slowly but surely on the decline. The need of the hour is take a holistic view of caste.
We should learn from history, not allow our politicians to score brownie points using caste. Although statistics are not readily available, inter-caste marriages are on the increase. The educated class is indifferent to the so-called caste hierarchy.
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It is the educated middle class, more than any other section, which is most zealous in safeguarding the identity of the community to which it belongs. Politics is increasingly being driven by the competition for backwardness.
Even those whose proud forbearers once ruled much of the land are learning to recognise the advantages to be gained from being designated as backward.
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J.S. Acharya,
Hyderabad
The dilemma is whether to overlook caste or speak openly of its ill-effects on a section of people and take steps to help them. After independence, the nation followed the latter route. But while it had its benefits, it also turned out to be a case of riding the tiger. Reservation was meant for a limited period but it continues to this day. Elections are fought on caste lines, especially at the State level.
It cannot be denied that electoral politics gives a new lease of life to the debate on caste every few years.
Aditya Deekonda,
Hyderabad
The print and electronic media, especially Hindi, are dominated and influenced by the ‘upper' caste. With very few exceptions, the top and middle management and content providers of the Hindi media belong to the ‘ upper' castes. They thus fail to inspire a democratic and casteless society.
Abhay Kumar Nema,
Indore
I agree with the views expressed in the article. I am a post-graduate student who belongs to a so-called ‘upper' caste. I have friends belonging to all castes.
In fact, caste has never been an issue between my friends and me. I am married to a girl belonging to a different caste. I surely see a change, although it is slow.
Bineet Joshi,
Dehra Dun