Genre: Non-Fiction
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As a girl born and raised in India for 23 years, I have seen the role of caste in the Indian ecosystem and experienced both sides of its effects. For people who work extremely hard to get into their favorite university or dream government job, it feels very unfair to be part of the upper caste. I have always hated the caste system in India, so much so that I started disliking politics and the Indian government. However, my perspective changed after a conversation with one of my friends about the reservation quotas in India, and she recommended a book for me to read. Initially, I was skeptical because it was not the type of book I generally read. Nevertheless, I gave it a go to see if it would help me look at the caste system differently and broaden my perspective. Today, I definitely have a better understanding of how modern India has been shaped by its ancient history.
The book discusses in detail the different jatis and varnas that existed in ancient India, explaining why they were created and how they contributed to the development of society. I loved how the authors managed to clarify the transition from jatis to caste, stripping away the complexities while providing enough details to understand the process. While the invasion of Muslim emperors created disruptions in the then-democracy, the British invasion and their subsequent rule of India for around 89 years changed the entire landscape of the country. Today, India continues to follow the path set by the British, making it difficult to associate ourselves with our traditional culture.
Often, even though what we need is change, sometimes a deeper understanding of why something is the way it is helps us accept our current situation and move forward, forging our own path. This book provides insight into why the caste/reservation system in India exists and why it is difficult to bring about changes in the current system. The chapter on Ambedkar is particularly interesting, as it discusses his ideology and thoughts on the caste system. While I am aware that this is a sensitive, complex, and very subjective topic, I believe it should be included in school curriculum. As I always say, we never know what the future holds for an individual or for a country.
“If India is not secular, then India is not India at all” ~ Atal Bihari Vajpayee
