A teacher walks into a classroom of 40-odd students. Since it was the beginning of academic year and there were new admissions, she asks the students to introduce themselves to the rest of the class. Understandably they were nervous to take up this assignment. She ordered "pin drop silence" as a student stood up and answered the "three common introductory" questions - Name, Rank and Parents occupation..!?. Couple of months later, two students were involved in a fight and were caught by this teacher. She inquired what went wrong that resulted in a fight, both came up with their own version of the story as expected from 10 - year olds. She ordered the first kid to get his father to come and meet her the very next day. The second one was told the same but was asked to see her at his leisure! One works as a high command in police department, the other was a carpenter.
- Social living and its importance was not written in books back then, but they were still taught!
"Galli cricket" was played regularly irrespective of the quota of homework that was given. Gathering six kids at the neighborhood was always impossible. We were always successful in pulling up four kids. A mother of two just moved into the neighborhood and raised our vision of having what we always hoped for. Mothers play a key role in choosing your childhood friends and you got to stick with them for the rest of your life! Two of us went to her house to get her approval to have her kids play with us. She asked us two questions - "Meeru evaru (caste) ? - Class lo meeku ee ranks vasthayi?" - We never had six in our group. Couple of years later, they got transferred again and we were asked by her to help them move.
- We chose when to discriminate!
Ragging was always fun and healthy at my college. Unfortunately it wasn't the same for my friends in other colleges. Ragging session doesn't always begin with - which department are you from? - They wanted to know your last name! A friend of mine who went to VRS was asked this same question in his first year of Engineering. He was smart - his parents are from different castes. He managed to fool for two full years by switching his last name considering who posed that question. Some still prefer to be addressed by their family name.You could be good friends with someone outside your caste, but your friendship will not earn you an invitation to your friend's marriage. Drop the idea of marrying someone.
- Memories are short lived - My foot! - Educated arrogance!
I was oblivious to "The Right to Refuse Service" until I was educated by someone. To get a value meal Cheeseburger you need to have $5- $7. But to get it from a colored neighborhood you also need to be "special" enough to get one. Disclosing race/color and origin can still be done voluntarily while filling out a "Charity Fund Application!!".
- Lets face it - We dont belong here!
This may be out of context here but have a look at this scene from "Invictus" - directed by Clint Eastwood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOpdWWzlzug
- By someone who had to answer "meedi ee kulam?" and who is biased! and not surprised to learn that India is carrying its first caste census in 80 years!
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