THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY
October 15, 1955
Castes: Can They Exist in India of Tomorrow?
M N Srinivas
T H I S talk
i s going t o b e both
dogmatic and provocative: dogm a t i c because t h e r e i s n o t i m e t o
develop a n a r g u m e n t , but o n l y t o
s t a t e c e r t a i n conclusions, a n d p r o v o c a t i v e because its e x p l i c i t a i m is
to i n i t i a t e a discussion.
The mode
of p r e s e n t a t i o n w o u l d h a v e been
d i f f e r e n t h a d the t a l k been i n t e n d e d
f o r a p u r e l y p r o f e s s i o n a l audience.
T h e q u e s t i o n w h i c h I h a v e been
asked to answer is worded vaguely,
b u t the vagueness is d e l i b e r a t e — i t is
designed to p e r m i t discussion on
t w o q u e s t i o n s ; one, s h o u l d castes
exist in the I n d i a of t o m o r r o w , and
t w o , a r e t h e y l i k e l y t o exist?
The
f i r s t question belongs t o the r e a l m
o f ideals w h i l e t h e second, t o the
r e a l m of f a c t s .
I w i l l consider t h e
f o r m e r question first.
Hindu Opposition
I t m u s t b e clear t o e v e r y o n e t h a t
in this country only a small m i n o r i t y
which is numerically insignificant
but which may be -and probably is
powerful, really
desires t h a t the
caste s y s t e m o u g h t t o g o . T h e vast
m a j o r i t y o f the p o p u l a t i o n , especially
H i n d u s , n o t o n l y d o n o t w a n t caste
t o disappear, b u t t h e y w o u l d prob a b l y f i n d i t i m p o s s i b l e t o envisage
a social s y s t e m w i t h o u t caste.
As
D r K a r v e has p o i n t e d out, t o the
b u l k o f t h e people l i v i n g i n t h e r u r a l
areas, caste i s n o t h i n g more t h a n
a c o l l e c t i o n of k i n g r o u p s — a g n a t e s
a n d affines l i v i n g i n a few n e i g h bouring villages.
Joint f a m i l y and
caste p r o v i d e f o r a n i n d i v i d u a l i n
o u r society some of the benefits
w h i c h t h e w e l f a r e s t a t e provides f o r
h i m in the industrially advanced
countries of t h e W e s t .
A man's
earliest f r i e n d s a r e f r e q u e n t l y d r a w n
f r o m h i s caste, h i s k i n b e l o n g t o
his caste, a n d h i s k i n a r e o f t e n a n
i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f h i s k i t h . A caste
also s t a n d s f o r a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f
cultural
homogeneity if
not autonomy.
T h e p o i n t w h i c h I w i s h t o stress
here i s t h a t o n l y a s m a l l m i n o r i t y
sees caste as a menace to our
n a t i o n a l life.
I w i l l i n g l y concede
that
their number is
increasing
e v e r y d a y , a n d t h a t n o w a d a y s ever;
in the r u r a l areas one comes across
urbanised young men w h o say that
p a p e r r e a d before the S e m i n a r o n
(Casteism a n d R e m o v a l o f U n t o u c h a b i l i t y on S a t u r d a y , 1st October '55, a t D e l h i .
caste has begun to p o i s o n r e l a t i o n s
between people. B u t i t i s s t i l l t r u e
t o s a y t h a t the v a s t m a j o r i t y o f
t h e people d o n o t consider caste a n
evil.
I t i s essential t o r e m e m b e r
t h i s f a c t f o r n o t h i n g effective c a n
be done unless t h e people themselves
a r e m a d e t o realize t h a t caste necess a r i l y m e a n s casteism, a n d t h a t t h e
benefits it offers are b o u g h t at a
h e a v y price f o r t h e c o u n t r y as a
whole.
I t i s n o t a t a l l a n easy
t a s k t o p u t across t h i s p o i n t t o t h e
people, a n d s o f a r n e i t h e r the p o l i t i c i a n s nor the social w o r k e r s h a v e
d i s p l a y e d a n y a w a r e n e s s o f t h e existence o f t h i s d i f f i c u l t p r o b l e m o f
communication.
The first t h i n g to
realize here i s t h a t g o o d i n t e n t i o n s
a r e n o t o n l y not enough, b u t m a y
even produce the exact opposite of
w h a t is intended
Talk and Practice
I am not t r y i n g to be cynical b u t
I cannot help wondering how m a n y
o f those w h o h a v e o f l a t e s t a r t e d
p u b l i c l y s p e a k i n g in f a v o u r of a
easteless a n d classless society r e a l l y
mean w h a t they say. N o w t h a t this
ideal is
Incorporated in
our Constitution, a n d P a n d i t N e h r u is a
v e r y p o w e r f u l a n d u n i v e r s a l l y respected m a n , C o n g r e s s m e n , l e g i s l a t o r s a n d o t h e r leaders f i n d i t m o r e
c o n v e n i e n t t o agree w i t h h i m t h a n
t o disagree.
Most of us—not only
o u r p o l i t i c i a n s b u t our i n t e l l e c t u a l s
as well—are bamboozled into agreei n g w i t h s o m e t h i n g m e r e l y because
we are a f r a i d to be m i s t a k e n f o r
b e i n g ' r e a c t i o n a r y ' . E v e n discussion
of t h e s u b j e c t is t a b o o . In the case
of caste t h i s disease h a s proceeded
so f a r t h a t there is g r e a t danger
t h a t our t a l k a n d p o l i c y w i l l leave
reality f a r behind.
Secondly, coupl e d w i t h t h e w i d e s p r e a d fear o f bei n g dubbed a r e a c t i o n a r y , t h e r e is
also a s h r e w d If s o m e w h a t c y n i c a l
appreciation of facts.
I know that
w h a t I say m a y seem a c o n t r a d i c t i o n but i t r e a l l y i s n o t so. A g r e e i n g t o progressive r e s o l u t i o n s s a t i s fies o u r consciences a n d assures us
o f o u r w o r l d l y prospects, w h i l e a t
the same o u r sense of f a c t s t e l l s
u s t h a t n o t h i n g serious i s g o i n g t o
be done by a n y o n e , a n d t h a t caste
w i l l c o n t i n u e t o r e m a i n w h a t i t is.
The
best o f b o t h the w o r l d s a r e
secured by t a k i n g such a course.
I n A p r i l 1954, I was i n a v i l l a g e
in M a n d y a D i s t r i c t in Mysore State.
1230
A f e w days p r e v i o u s t o m y v i s i t t o
t h i s v i l l a g e a huge fight h a d occurred between H o l e y a s ( h a r t j a n s ) a n d
O k k a l i g a s ( P e a s a n t s ) in a n e i g h b o u r i n g v i l l a g e , a n d a few- h a d been
seriously i n j u r e d i n t h e f i g h t . One
O k k a l i g a leader c o m p l a i n e d t o m e ,
'These Holeyas, they are getting
above themselves.
T h e y are n o w
demanding t h a t our girls be given
in m a r r i a g e to t h e m " .
I tried to
e x p l a i n t o h i m t h e a i m s a n d ideals o f
the C o n g r e s s a n d t h e Republic, a n d
added t h a t b y v o t i n g f o r the C o n gress h e h a d t a c i t l y a g r e e d w i t h
its policy.
H e replied, " T h e n let
t h e m (the M L A s ) i n v i t e H o l e y a s t o
t h e i r homes f o r dinner, a n d g i v e
them their daughters in marriage,
and we w i l l follow suit".
W i t h his
p e a s a n t shrewdness h e h a d h i t the
n a i l o n the h e a d . H o w m a n y M L A s
are w i l l i n g t o eat f o o d c o o k e d b y
H a i i j a n s , a n d m a r r y their daughters
to H a r i j a n youths?
The a n s w e r i s
obvious.
B u t t h e same M L A s w i l l
a l l v o t e f o r a casteless a n d classless S t a t e w h e n t h e y meet i n D e l h i
or Bangalore or Avadi.
C o m m u n a l Representation
The p r i n c i p l e of caste is so firmly
e n t r e n c h e d i n our p o l i t i c a l a n d s o c i a l
life t h a t
everyone including the
leaders h a v e accepted t a c i t l y t h e
principle that, in the provincial cabinets a t a n y r a t e , each m a j o r caste
s h o u l d have a m i n i s t e r .
( A n d this
principle has travelled f r o m our
p r o v i n c i a l c a p i t a l s b a c k t o our v i l lage p a n c h a y a t s — n o w a d a y s the l a t ter give representation on the p a n c h a y a t t o each caste i n c l u d i n g H a d jans).
In the first popular cabinet
in M y s o r e S t a t e , headed by S h r i K
C R e d d y , n o t o n l y were the m i n i s t e r s
chosen on a caste basis, b u t e a c h
h a d a s e c r e t a r y f r o m his o w n s u b sub-sub-caste. A n d t o d a y i n M y s o r e
State t h i s p r i n c i p l e i s f o l l o w e d n o t
only in every appointment, but also
i n the a l l o t m e n t o f seats i n schools
a n d colleges.
Mysore is no longer
r u l e d b y the M y t h i c a l d e m o n M a h i s h a s u r a , but b y t h e v e r y r e a l d e m o n
Varnasura.
One O k k a l i g a i n R a m pura told me indignantly, ''Shri
H a n u m a n t h a y y a wants to rule strict l y a n d i m p a r t i a l l y , but he must
realise t h a t t h e electors d o n ' t w a n t
It. T h e y w a n t h i m t o confer f a v o u r s
o n t h e people w h o h a v e elected h i m .
We w a n t returns f o r w h a t we have
done"
I am a f r a i d the Okkaliga
THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY
was r i g h t — v o t i n g is on a caste
basis a n d v o t e r s d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d
that it is immoral to demand that
t h e elected m i n i s t e r h e l p h i s castefolk and villagefolk.
It is at the
same t i m e a t r i b u t e t o S h r i H a n u m a n t h a y y a t h a t h e does n o t t h i n k
on
caste
lines.
But
his
party
does, a n d
the
people
do,
and
this fact cannot be forgotten. I n cidentally, no explanation of prov i n c i a l politics i n a n y p a r t o f I n d i a
is possible w i t h o u t reference to caste.
M e r e r e s o l u t i o n s a n d l a w s are
worse, t h a n useless as t h e y lead us
t o believe t h a t w e a r e r e a l l y d o i n g
something. A n d I must b l u n t l y tell
you that if you are t h i n k i n g that
y o u can g e t r i d o f caste e a s i l y y o u
are very badly mistaken.
Caste i s
an institution of prodigious strength
and it w i l l take a lot of beating
before i t w i l l die.
T h e f i r s t lesson
tQ be l e a r n t here is n o t to underestimate
the
strength
of
your
enemy'., It is so p o w e r f u l a n d pervasive, a n d its appeals are so s t r o n g
t h a t t h e f i r s t step i n t h e s t r u g g l e
is to h a v e a precise m e a s u r e of Its
strength.
Caste Hindus and Harijans
I m u s t m e n t i o n here, however,
t h a t the A n t i - U n t o u c h a b i l l t y L a w i s
h a v i n g some effect chiefly because
some educated a n d b e t t e r - o f f H a r i j a n s are t r y i n g t o g e t the l a w enforced.
Believe m e . t h i s i s n o t a n
easy m a t t e r f o r t h e m .
Naturally
t h e i r e f f o r t s h a v e l e d . to an increase
in
t h e tension
e x i s t i n g between
Caste H i n d u s a n d H a r i j a n s , b u t
w i t h o u t such a n increase a n d the
p r o b a b l e occurrence o f f i g h t i n g a n d
s h e d d i n g o f b l o o d , the r i g h t s w h i c h
the C o n s t i t u t i o n gives t o H a r i j a n s
w i l l n o t be translated into reality.
I w i l l not be surprised if such fights
increase i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e , especially in the villages, , As H a r i j a n s
g e t more a n d m o r e educated, a n d
a s t h e i r economic c o n d i t i o n I m p r o ves, t h e y a r e b o u n d t o resent i n c r e a s i n g l y the: d i s a b i l i t i e s w h i c h the
fiat of brute H i n d u m a j o r i t y i m poses o n t h e m .
T h e l a t t e r .are n o t
likely to yield graxefully to the form e r ' s : d e m a n d s a n d t h e g e n e r a l publ i c w i l l o n l y - a w a k e n t o : t h e issues
w h e n f i g h t i n g a n d bloodshed occur.
I t i s o n l y t h e n t h a t issued w h i c h , a r e
b e i n g discussed a t t h i s S e m i n a r w i l l
b e discussed e v e r y w h e r e I n streets,
tea shops a n d v e r a n d a h s
T h e / g i v i n g o f the vote t o the H a r i j a n tat a l s o a c r u c i a l m e a s u r e .
In
the
legislative
assemblies,
Caste
Hindus will be increasingly on the
defensive, as they w i l l n o t have the
October 15, 1955
courage t o come o u t openly a g a i n s t
measures t o i m p r o v e t h e c o n d i t i o n s
of Harijans.
Overt agreement a n d
c o v e r t sabotage w i l l p r o b a b l y b e t h e
p a t h t h e y w i l l choose. A n d i n t h i s
t h e y w i l l p r o b a b l y have the b u l k
of their co-religionists w i t h them.
I w i l l n o w deal w i t h the second
question.
" A r e castes l i k e l y t o d i s appear i n the I n d i a o f t o m o r r o w ? " I n
t r y i n g to a n s w e r t h i s question a
reference t o w h a t has happened i n
t h e recent past is u n a v o i d a b l e .
Past Experience
W h a t m a y b e v e r y loosely called
a ' f e u d a l ' type of society p r e v a i l e d
w h e n the B r i t i s h o v e r r a n I n d i a .
O n l y a t i n y section of the people
l i v e d i n the f e w cities s c a t t e r e d
over t h e s u b - c o n t i n e n t w h i l e t h e v a s t
m a j o r i t y l i v e d i n v i l l a g e s . T h e cities
were, however, d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e
m o d e r n i n d u s t r i a l i z e d ones. T h e o l d
cities d i d n o t r e q u i r e a r a d i c a l departure f r o m the traditional w a y of
life.
I n the v i l l a g e a subsistence
economy prevailed.
Relationships
between individuals a n d groups were
governed not by contract but by
s t a t u s i.e. b i r t h in a p a r t i c u l a r
f a m i l y a n d caste l a r g e l y d e t e r m i n e d
one's r i g h t s a n d duties.
Relationships were also ' m u l t i p l e x ' — t h e same
people w e r e i n v o l v e d w i t h each
o t h e r i n several k i n d s o f r e l a t i o n ship.
Barter
was widespread a n d
i m p o r t a n t while money played a
m i n i m a l part.
The political system
consisted o f l o c a l c h i e f t a i n s w h o
w e r e f e u d a t o r y e i t h e r to a d i s t a n t
k i n g , o r t o t h e V i c e r o y o f a n even
m o r e d i s t a n t emperor.
Relations
between
chieftains,
and
between
t h e m a n d the k i n g o r v i c e r o y w e r e
always
unstable,
and
frequently
characterized by war.
The political
s y s t e m erected v e r y n e a r l y i m p a s s able b a r r i e r s between one c h i e f d o m
and another.
This had many imp o r t a n t effects one o f w h i c h w a s
t h a t i t p r e v e n t e d the h o r i z o n t a l
spread of caste s o l i d a r i t y b e y o n d the
c h i e f d o m , a n d f o r c e d the m a n y castes
of a r e g i o n to be i n t e r d e p e n d e n t .
Caste-inter dependence and
Social Ties
A t t h e v i l l a g e level castes were
n o t o n l y Interdependent but acutely
a w a r e o f the f a c t , a n d t h e a n n u a l
grain-payments made to the Smith,
Potter,
Barber,
Washerman
and
Priest dramatised the interdependence. W h i l e each caste h a d i t s o w n
solidarity, it was also aware of its
s o l i d a r i t y w i t h o t h e r castes—each
s m i t h , f o r I n s t a n c e , competed w i t h
a l l other Smiths f o r the custom of
1231
the a g r i c u l t u r i s t s . Besides t h i s c o m p e t i t i o n , o t h e r k i n d s of ties such as
those between m a s t e r a n d s e r v a n t ,
landlord and tenant, creditor a n d
debtor, a n d p a t r o n a n d c l i e n t c u t
across t h e d i v i s i o n s o f caste. A g a i n ,
l o y a l t y t o one's v i l l a g e w a s u n i versal, and this was common to a l l
t h e castes f r o m the B r a h m i n t o t h e
Harijan.
I t i s necessary t o p o i n t
out here t h a t the H a r i j a n occasiona l l y exercised a u t h o r i t y over m e m bers of t h e upper castes a n d t h i s
was specially t r u e o f s o u t h I n d i a ,
H i s t o r i c a l evidence g o i n g back to a
f e w centuries testifies t o h i s t a k i n g
a n a c t i v e p a r t i n the d e l i b e r a t i o n s
o f the v i l l a g e assembly.
E v e n as
r e c e n t l y as f i f t y years ago the H o l e y a
cheluvadi (hereditary servant of the
assembly o f v i l l a g e elders) o f K e r e
v i l l a g e beat a r i c h S m i t h f r o m M y sore because the l a t t e r h a d the a u d a c i t y t o w e a r r e d slippers ( c h a d a v u ) ,
a privilege
expressly
f o r b i d d e n to
them in t h a t area. The S m i t h was
a p o w e r f u l m a n a n d he h a d l e n t
m o n e y t o t h e t u n e o f several t h o u a n d rupees t o t h e v i l l a g e .
A t a h i g h e r level, several n e i g h b o u r i n g v i l l a g e s were b o u n d t o g e t h e r
b y ties
of kinship,
economics a n d
ritual.
The w a r r i n g c h i e f t a i n s prev e n t e d the extension of ties beyond
the r e g i o n t h o u g h here a n d there
w e f i n d t h a t t h e B r a h m i n s were
considered superior to these p o l i t i c a l
cleavages because of t h e i r position as
priests.
T h e ' b o t t l i n g u p ' o f caste
ties w i t h i n t h e r e g i o n , a n d t h e d e r i v a t i v e emphasis o n interdependence
of a l l castes l i v i n g t h e r e i n , is a
m o s t i m p o r t a n t f e a t u r e o f the preB r i t i s h s y s t e m . W i t h , however, t h e
establishment
of
Pax
Brittanica
over t h e e n t i r e sub-continent, a n d
the r a p i d i m p r o v e m e n t i n c o m m u n i cations w h i c h both strategic a n d
administrative
considerations
req u i r e d , castes f o u n d i t possible t o
r a n g e o v e r w i d e areas.
Horizontal Caste-solidarity
T h e h o r i z o n t a l s o l i d a r i t y of a caste
g a i n e d a t the expense o f t h e v e r t i c a l s o l i d a r i t y of the castes of a
region.
The coming in of printing,
of a r e g u l a r p o s t a l service, of vern a c u l a r newspapers a n d books, o f
the t e l e g r a p h , r a i l w a y a n d bus, e n a b l e d t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of a caste
l i v i n g i n d i f f e r e n t areas t o m e e t
a n d discuss t h e i r c o m m o n p r o b l e m s
and interests.
Western education
g a v e n e w p o l i t i c a l values l i k e l i b e r t y
and equality.
T h e educated leaders
s t a r t e d caste j o u r n a l s a n d h e l d caste
conferences.
F u n d s were collected
t o o r g a n i s e t h e caste, a n d t o help
T H E
October 15, 1955
t h e poorer m e m b e r s . Caste hostels,
h o s p i t a l s , co-operative societies etc.
became a c o m m o n f e a t u r e of u r b a n
social l i f e .
In general, it m a y be
c o n f i d e n t l y said t h a t t h e l a s t h u n d r e d y e a r s h a v e seen a g r e a t increase
i n caste s o l i d a r i t y , a n d the concom i t a n t decrease of a sense of i n t e r dependence between d i f f e r e n t castes
l i v i n g in a r e g i o n .
Certain additional factors have
helped to increase h o r i z o n t a l s o l i d a r i t y as w e l l as t h e tensions e x i s t i n g between d i f f e r e n t castes.
The
v i r t u a l m o n o p o l y w h i c h t h e upper
castes i f n o t the B r a h m i n s exercised
over the new jobs i n d u c e d t h e B r i t i s h
t o s t a r t f a v o u r i n g the l o w castes.
In the South this resulted in the
gradual forging of an anti-Brahmin
p o l i c y b y t h e d i f f e r e n t states.
The
b a r r i e r w h i c h a l r e a d y existed bet w e e n Caste H i n d u s a n d H a r i j a n s
w a s c a r r i e d over t o the p o l i t i c a l
sphere a s w e l l .
Educated members
f r o m d i f f e r e n t castes competed f o r
t h e same jobs, a n d t h e r e were m o r e
m e n t h a n jobs. T h e tensions gener a t e d between I n d i v i d u a l s i n the
s t r u g g l e f o r j o b s spread t o t h e i r
respective castes as it w a s the elite
o f each caste w h i c h w a s c o m p e t i n g .
One of the s h o r t - t e r m effects of
universal
adult
franchise
is
to
s t r e n g t h e n caste. I t i s e a s i l y u n d e r standable t h a t the villager, other
t h i n g s b e i n g equal, prefers t o v o t e
f o r his casteman. T h i s is so widely
accepted t h a t d u r i n g the recent elect i o n s i n A n d h r a S t a t e even the C o m m u n i s t s were a t p a i n s t o select c a n didates w h o h a d t h e proper 'social
base*, w h i c h , w h e n t r a n s l a t e d i n t o
s i m p l e E n g l i s h , m e a n s t h a t t h e y bel o n g e d t o the l o c a l l y d o m i n a n t caste.
I l e a r n t h e r e w a s o n l y one except i o n t o t h i s , a n d he, a f r o n t - r a n k
leader, w a s d u l y elected.
cess w i l l b e s m o o t h , q u i c k a n d n o n violent.
It would be against the
n a t u r e o f t h i n g s t o expect U n t o u c h a b i l i t y t o disappear o v e r n i g h t .
Industrialization and an expanding
economy w i l l m e a n j o b s t o educated
people a n d t h i s s h o u l d m i n i m i s e t h e
bitter inter-caste hatred w h i c h is
n o w p o i s o n i n g r e l a t i o n s between i n dividuals and groups.
T h i s i s especially true of the Souch where,
in the t o w n s especially, one h e a r s
of n o t h i n g except caste.
I believe
t h a t the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a s i n g l e
f a c t o r y w i l l d o m o r e t o ease i n t e r caste r e l a t i o n s i n t h a t l o c a l i t y t h a n
a n e q u i v a l e n t s u m o f m o n e y spent
on propaganda in favour of intercaste d i n i n g o r m a r r i a g e .
The
mechanization of labour and the
provision of underground drainage
e v e r y w h e r e w i l l m a k e unnecessary
t h e personal h a n d l i n g o f m a t e r i a l
w h i c h is considered n o t o n l y very
d i r t y but defiling.
A n e w type o f
education in w h i c h the fingers are
used f o r o t h e r t h i n g s besides d r i v i n g
a quill should inculcate not only a
respect f o r , b u t a love of, m a n u a l
labour.
Widespread industrialization—and not the crazy concentration of industries in a n d around
Bombay, Calcutta and a few other
cities a s a t p r e s e n t — w i l l usher i n
towns in every p a r t of I n d i a , a n d
the heterogeneity a n d habits of
u r b a n l i f e s h o u l d help s o m e w h a t i n
r e d u c i n g i n t e r - c a s t e tensions.
Co-
Education of Harijans
The things I have said so f a r m a y
appear to be e x t r e m e l y pessimistic.
I w i l l now therefore point out the
existence o f c e r t a i n o t h e r a n d o p p o s i n g tendencies.
As
education
spreads a m o n g the H a r i j a n s , i t w i l l
b e i n c r e a s i n g l y d i f f i c u l t f o r t h e Caste
H i n d u s t o keep t h e m i n the c o n d i tion in which they are today. There
a r e also signs t h a t t h e H a r i j a n s
a r e o r g a n i z i n g themselves t o assert
the rights w h i c h the Constitution
gives t h e m .
As I s a i d before, t h i s
w i l l p r o b a b l y m e a n the occurrence
o f f i g h t i n g between t h e m a n d Caste
H i n d u s , a n d a n i m m e d i a t e increase
o f t e n s i o n , b u t t h e l a t t e r are b o u n d
t o g i v e w a y i n t h e end.
Let no
one expects h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e pro--
1252
E C O N O M I C
W E E K L Y
education is bound to m a k e intercaste m a r r i a g e s m o r e c o m m o n i n
the future, but I would urge r e f o r m ers to go slow on t h i s . M a r r i a g e la
a ' h a r d p o i n t ' a n d too m u c h p r o p a g a n d a a t t h i s stage a b o u t t h e desirability of inter-caste marriages
m a y f r i g h t e n t h e upper castes i n t o
t a k i n g a stand against all reforms.
I n s h o r t , o n a s h o r t - t e r m basis t h e
country is likely to have more
t r o u b l e w i t h caste, w h i l e o n a l o n g t e r m basis, a d u l t f r a n c h i s e , t h e I n dustrial revolution which our FiveYear Plans are helping to b r i n g
about, t h e s p r e a d o f l i t e r a c y a n d
higher education a m o n g the lower
castes, the l e g a l r i g h t s g i v e n t o
H a r i j a n s , t h e privileges g i v e n t o
b a c k w a r d castes, a n d t h e g r e a t e r
S a n s k r i t i z a t i o n o f the w a y o f l i f e
o f the l a t t e r , should r e m o v e t h e
m o r e obnoxious f e a t u r e s o f the caste
system gradually.
In the m e a n while, reformers would do well to
s t u d y caste m o r e , a n d realize t h a t
quiet h a r d w o r k , patience a n d a
sense of h u m o u r a r e indispensable
in fighting an institution as powerf u l as caste.
There
is
one
question
which,
though extremely important, I have
r e f u s e d t o consider, a n d t h a t is,
" W h a t w i l l happen t o H i n d u i s m
w h e n caste d i s a p p e a r s ? "
I t raises
such f a r - r e a c h i n g issues t h a t I c a n n o t hope t o deal w i t h i t s a t i s f a c t o r i l y here.