Existing caste system and classism in the 21st century.

[lombok]

I agree that caste system is more dangerous and harmful as compared to the class system because it is limiting the people based on their family they are born into instead of their abilities. Everyone should have the same chance and same access to education and jobs and improve their lifestyle regardless of whatever background they hold.
 I also think that classes problem that is existing even if people are free to move to a higher social class, but many remain trapped in poverty because they do not have access to good health care, good education and better job opportunities. Both caste discrimination and classism are creating inequality in the society that is not good.

Actually, denying people their rights due to their ancestral origins is the worst sense of injustices within the society. Though the stratification system is open, giving all an opportunity to change their status, the absence of educational institutions and quality healthcare persist in keeping the poor in the same place. To attain equal opportunities to all people is one of the major preconditions of removing sectarian barriers.

[Ashawowo(OS)]

The experience of John Kiriakou, which he shared in that video, made it clear to us how the caste system and classism have had a lasting influence on the  economical and social life of the current generation and the next generations to come if it is not stopped.

This is hell! Like I mean why would people status decide the rest of their lives, no opportunity to attempt getting to the top of their game and making a better living or even enjoying an upgraded life simply because he's of lower caste. I believe everybody should be given an equal opportunity to change their lives if they've got the ability and will power. The caste system suppresses people a lot, their creativity, their desire to live better lives and the right appreciation for their productivity. It would reinforce mental slavery in the future generation and rip them off the desire to be great, I agree with him, caste system is a very pathetic practice by the Indians.

[Cryptomultiplier]

It exists in different form in different countries under different name, even in the most modern nations, there is diversity in everything and some of them are still followed to this day. These kind of system is created by one who was at the top and intended to remain at the top forever so they shut the door for everyone else possible and need to do the impossible if they want to be there.

This is a reason why the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer in a sense because even the poor might be qualified, have good education having struggled to achieve it, have the right potentials and talent, they simply can't get ahead because of such disparity in the society.

The caste system makes change or upgrade of class difficult to obtain even with the right merits, because that's how the society was designed to function and this is how many potentials die unnoticed and until something is done about this, it would remain so for generations to come.

[Sticky Bomb]

It exists in different form in different countries under different name, even in the most modern nations, there is diversity in everything and some of them are still followed to this day. These kind of system is created by one who was at the top and intended to remain at the top forever so they shut the door for everyone else possible and need to do the impossible if they want to be there.

This is a reason why the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer in a sense because even the poor might be qualified, have good education having struggled to achieve it, have the right potentials and talent, they simply can't get ahead because of such disparity in the society.

When I researched more about this system, this broke my heart

In Arokkiaraj’s study of three villages and three caste groups:  Kallar, the dominant landowning caste, Moopanars, the caste that works as agricultural laborers in the lands owned by the Kallar, and Paraiyars, the caste barred from agricultural labor who later took up manual scavenging. Arokkiaraj concluded that people belonging to Kallar could easily afford the cost of migration through their personal savings, whereas people belonging to the Moopanars and Paraiyar castes had to borrow capital from various sources. The privileged castes could also send back better remittances to their households in comparison to the marginalized castes: interviews with the wives of Moopanar and Paraiayar male caste members reveal that the money they received barely allowed them to functionally run their households, consequently forcing them to take up other sources of employment.

Source

How can a government ban it's own people from accessing better opportunities or even certain jobs within the same country, this is more like being treated as slaves or illegal migrants in your own country. Its crazy, but it's happening. I can bear being limited based on background, but it's unbearable when such background decides the rest of your life. I see relocating out of the country as a better option for people of lower caste in India, but the question remains how many of them can even raise enough capital for such relocation

[Fortify]

Before I start I'll would like to tell the Indian brothers that this topic is presented through the experience of John Kiriakou. Thank you. THE STORY

In brief, Caste system is a social structure where a person's status is assigned at birth and is usually very difficult or impossible to change. While Classism is prejudice, discrimination, or unequal treatment based on a person's social or economic class.

I was going through a podcast today and came across John Kiriakou speaking about his experience when he visited India. He spoke of the caste system still existing and how limited for someone with lower status to transition.  

The caste system does not help society to grow because it affects who these people marry, where they get jobs, medical treatment, education, etc. I am not supporting classism, but I think it is much better to caste system.  

Caste system is inherited by birth, while classism is due to economic and social factors. In classism, the individual is subject to move to an upper class after attaining higher education, outstanding career opportunities, or being a successful entrepreneur, and through inheritance. The setbacks people still affected by the caste system face are that, even if they want to change their status, the system doesn't let them. If they can't go to a good school, how will they get higher education? If they can't get good jobs, how will they afford to get professional medical care and pay for tuition fees?  In other words, from generation to generation to come, a family under the lower status will forever be in that status/poor forever.

The experience of John Kiriakou, which he shared in that video, made it clear to us how the caste system and classism have had a lasting influence on the  economical and social life of the current generation and the next generations to come if it is not stopped.

The longer I've been around the more I see how hard it is to jettison these bad ideas that get built in to the psyche of a nation. Different countries suffer from different variations of it, Americans vigorously defend their tipping and healthcare systems even though it is objectively much worse - probably manipulated by the media to undermine any resistance while keeping the billionaires rich. India is equally locked into this, which has built up over centuries and generations just teach the next one which makes it hard to disrupt. The government should make small and progressive changes over time though if it wants to change the thinking of a nation, because that is the only way it will eventually become embedded in future.

[9ja Amaka]

The experience of John Kiriakou, which he shared in that video, made it clear to us how the caste system and classism have had a lasting influence on the  economical and social life of the current generation and the next generations to come if it is not stopped.

This is hell! Like I mean why would people status decide the rest of their lives, no opportunity to attempt getting to the top of their game and making a better living or even enjoying an upgraded life simply because he's of lower caste. I believe everybody should be given an equal opportunity to change their lives if they've got the ability and will power. The caste system suppresses people a lot, their creativity, their desire to live better lives and the right appreciation for their productivity. It would reinforce mental slavery in the future generation and rip them off the desire to be great, I agree with him, caste system is a very pathetic practice by the Indians.

Give thanks to God we don't live in such society were who a person will become is determined right from birth. It is indeed hell to live in that sort of environment. Caste system and classism have to be  nullified. This is no the future we want for our children to be born into. Because of the caste system many talent, star could not shine. I also discriminate a system that takes classism too important. This is why the rich often continue to prosper in all their endeavors while the poor find it harder to create a new life for themselves out from poverty.

[Ishicryptic]

Caste systems and classism are all in the human nature from the beginning of generations till now although modernization is bridging those gaps, people are no longer denied accesses because of their race or financial capacities, they are mostly judged by their characters and intelligence but still there are places where discriminations are still very strong. I watched the video in the OP and I'm appalled that people can treat their own people with such disdain, I think that it is very primitive of them to caste their own fellow country people. I think that the Indian government should criminalize this caste system in their country except that they are in support of the evil system because they cannot deny that it is not happening, if a visitor can notice the atrocity it means that it is a common practice, it's a big shame on the leadership of that country. I know that racism still exists in some countries and it is very unfortunate but atleast their governments condemn it.

[Rabata]

In a society where such discrimination exists, people are not valued despite their qualifications, which can be a major obstacle in the path of social and national development of a country. Caste system deprives people of their just rights. They are socially placed in such a way that they can never stand proudly. When a child is born in such a family, he is socially humiliated. By adopting this identity, that child has committed a sin. We have to come out of this dark era of caste system and classism. As human beings, everyone is equal. If no one is considered differently and measured by the same standard, then peace will prevail in that society and blind systems like caste system will also disappear. No one can say what talent someone has. No matter where a child is born, if he gets the opportunity to get proper education, he can do many great things that can bring fame to his society and country.

[Dave1]

Caste systems and classism are all in the human nature from the beginning of generations till now although modernization is bridging those gaps, people are no longer denied accesses because of their race or financial capacities, they are mostly judged by their characters and intelligence but still there are places where discriminations are still very strong. I watched the video in the OP and I'm appalled that people can treat their own people with such disdain, I think that it is very primitive of them to caste their own fellow country people. I think that the Indian government should criminalize this caste system in their country except that they are in support of the evil system because they cannot deny that it is not happening, if a visitor can notice the atrocity it means that it is a common practice, it's a big shame on the leadership of that country. I know that racism still exists in some countries and it is very unfortunate but atleast their governments condemn it.

It's because there are still society today that still lives under the old rule. It should be this way as we are already in the modern era and so with that advancement, government should give equal opportunity to everyone of their population. We also have this so called caste system, but this was 500 years ago. And thank God that we ancestors that time realized that this is not fair and so they abolished it and now we are harvesting it and become a democratic government wherein we have equal rights.

Maybe those who are in the caste system can't accept the fact that is very old and traditional. I know it exist and I won't mention that country. But they are moving backward with that kind of mindset and government should really removed that in their law or tradition.

[Porfirii]

To what extent what Mpamaegbu said about the Osu system in Nigeria is not applicable to caste system in India (I mean, that thanks to modernity it is becoming less and less valid or mainstream)? I think that one of the few good things about the American dream is precisely the liberation from the bonds of the belief that people's origins predetermine their destiny, and since it is an ideal that has been exported globally, I understand that this has helped caste-based estates to be increasingly residual globally too.

Maybe it's because of the education I've received, but treating a person based on their cast rather than their values seems illogical to me, even though it's what we all do more or less based on their wealth.

[Findingnemo]

It exists in different form in different countries under different name, even in the most modern nations, there is diversity in everything and some of them are still followed to this day. These kind of system is created by one who was at the top and intended to remain at the top forever so they shut the door for everyone else possible and need to do the impossible if they want to be there.

This is a reason why the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer in a sense because even the poor might be qualified, have good education having struggled to achieve it, have the right potentials and talent, they simply can't get ahead because of such disparity in the society.

When I researched more about this system, this broke my heart

In Arokkiaraj’s study of three villages and three caste groups:  Kallar, the dominant landowning caste, Moopanars, the caste that works as agricultural laborers in the lands owned by the Kallar, and Paraiyars, the caste barred from agricultural labor who later took up manual scavenging. Arokkiaraj concluded that people belonging to Kallar could easily afford the cost of migration through their personal savings, whereas people belonging to the Moopanars and Paraiyar castes had to borrow capital from various sources. The privileged castes could also send back better remittances to their households in comparison to the marginalized castes: interviews with the wives of Moopanar and Paraiayar male caste members reveal that the money they received barely allowed them to functionally run their households, consequently forcing them to take up other sources of employment.

Source

How can a government ban it's own people from accessing better opportunities or even certain jobs within the same country, this is more like being treated as slaves or illegal migrants in your own country. Its crazy, but it's happening. I can bear being limited based on background, but it's unbearable when such background decides the rest of your life. I see relocating out of the country as a better option for people of lower caste in India, but the question remains how many of them can even raise enough capital for such relocation

We are talking about the ones who don't even make a couple of dollars as their daily wage, so moving out of the country is not really an option other than some war brokeout and they managed to get out from their as refugees but again it will take generation for refugees to be even considered as humans in other parts of the world.

So the only option left for them is make their way to the top and I think education and endurance might be their last hope to have a better life.

[Hypnotizer]

We are talking about the ones who don't even make a couple of dollars as their daily wage, so moving out of the country is not really an option other than some war brokeout and they managed to get out from their as refugees but again it will take generation for refugees to be even considered as humans in other parts of the world.

So the only option left for them is make their way to the top and I think education and endurance might be their last hope to have a better life.

They can change region or state, like move out of the exact city or village it is intensely practiced to a more modern and bigger  city or town with more economic opportunities in the same country since they can’t afford to relocate to another country and begin chasing a greener pasture there.

This  might help the other group that can’t raise money for relocating to another country even though the system is practiced in almost all of India, I think in the bigger cities it wouldn’t be the same like in the rural areas, so they might have a good opportunity there.

[DiMarxist]

Call it cast system or not this is social stratification in display, where society is classified based on the economic power that individuals holds. This to me is not only present in India it exist every were in the world under a different name and rules. A society where there are no equal opportunities and a society where access to opportunities is based on how connected to the powers that be is a classic example of a cast system.

Society is in a way that your entire life is defined by the class that you belongs to, this is one thing that everyone every one is faced with by the time that they get to the age of deciding their future. Most of the people who are up there are benefiting simply due to the influence of their family name and connection that they have been able to have, this is not the case with the lower or even middle class.

It will take time and efforts before anyone who is found in the lowe ranks of the pyramid that defines how, society operates to breaking Free and moving forward to the next level of life.

[Audrey Simmons]

Before I start I'll would like to tell the Indian brothers that this topic is presented through the experience of John Kiriakou. Thank you. THE STORY

I'm very shocked that something like this is still happening in this present generation. This old, degraded mentality is what some humans still use to go about their daily living and survive with such brains. If this were to be history, I would understand, but not in a developed century.

Where are the Indians? I haven't seen any comment from them giving further explanations. This should be of national concern, such a part of India shouldn't exist, except for those who are benefiting from the system that will argue the point.

We humans are all created alike, nobody gets a special part of the body or brain, what should make one a lower class from birth and the other a higher class right from birth? If this is a culture or a tradition, it is a cursed one that needs to be revoked.

[trendcoin]

People who are likely pushed into the lower castes of the caste system because they have darker skin will be sent to the front lines in the event of war...

It is in moments like these that an opportunity to rebel against the caste system arises for the honorable people of India...

Muhammad Ali did this by refusing to serve in the Vietnam War. Muhammad Ali did this by throwing his Olympic medal into the sea. There are many examples of this throughout history. And history shows us time and again that change does not come as a favor bestowed by those at the top...

[Dogedegen]

When I researched more about this system, this broke my heart

In Arokkiaraj’s study of three villages and three caste groups:  Kallar, the dominant landowning caste, Moopanars, the caste that works as agricultural laborers in the lands owned by the Kallar, and Paraiyars, the caste barred from agricultural labor who later took up manual scavenging. Arokkiaraj concluded that people belonging to Kallar could easily afford the cost of migration through their personal savings, whereas people belonging to the Moopanars and Paraiyar castes had to borrow capital from various sources. The privileged castes could also send back better remittances to their households in comparison to the marginalized castes: interviews with the wives of Moopanar and Paraiayar male caste members reveal that the money they received barely allowed them to functionally run their households, consequently forcing them to take up other sources of employment.

Source

How can a government ban it's own people from accessing better opportunities or even certain jobs within the same country, this is more like being treated as slaves or illegal migrants in your own country. Its crazy, but it's happening. I can bear being limited based on background, but it's unbearable when such background decides the rest of your life. I see relocating out of the country as a better option for people of lower caste in India, but the question remains how many of them can even raise enough capital for such relocation

I don't see why someone would be shocked or sad by something like this. We have gotten rid of caste and similar systems from the past in many parts of the world, you are living now in a time when the times are the best than they have even been when it comes to topics of social things. The world is not perfect and is never going to be, so we should understand this and expect that these things always exist somewhere. There are places in the world that they still do some barbarian rituals to children too, but there is no reason to get upset about it when you are living in times of progress and where bad things like that are on the way out. We will always have some issues, and the issues of the past were much worse than the issues of today.

Before I start I'll would like to tell the Indian brothers that this topic is presented through the experience of John Kiriakou. Thank you. THE STORY

I'm very shocked that something like this is still happening in this present generation. This old, degraded mentality is what some humans still use to go about their daily living and survive with such brains. If this were to be history, I would understand, but not in a developed century.

Where are the Indians? I haven't seen any comment from them giving further explanations. This should be of national concern, such a part of India shouldn't exist, except for those who are benefiting from the system that will argue the point.

We humans are all created alike, nobody gets a special part of the body or brain, what should make one a lower class from birth and the other a higher class right from birth? If this is a culture or a tradition, it is a cursed one that needs to be revoked.

It is very limited and this is much less evil than other things that we have happening now. We could make a comparison and bring many issues to light, but if you think reasonable there is not really a single issue that we have eradicated completely anywhere. So if these things are limited to small parts of the world, then that is fine and we should be happy that we have come this far in a short period of time. There were times in the past that are not that long ago where you were not allowed to even be dissatisfied publicly by something like that. Progress has been good!

[Die_empty]

I'm very shocked that something like this is still happening in this present generation. This old, degraded mentality is what some humans still use to go about their daily living and survive with such brains. If this were to be history, I would understand, but not in a developed century.

Where are the Indians? I haven't seen any comment from them giving further explanations. This should be of national concern, such a part of India shouldn't exist, except for those who are benefiting from the system that will argue the point.

We humans are all created alike, nobody gets a special part of the body or brain, what should make one a lower class from birth and the other a higher class right from birth? If this is a culture or a tradition, it is a cursed one that needs to be revoked.

Maybe you should tag any member from the Indian local board if you want to get their input. However, the caste system shouldn't exist in the 21st century. People shouldn't be judged based on their race, skin colour, wealth, education, and others.

The caste system will reduce the productivity of a country because employment is not given based on merit but on caste. I had an Indian neighbour who told me that he is more respected in my country than in India. He told me the challenges he faced during his search for a job because of his appearance.

[abhiseshakana]

I don't know about the implementation of the caste system in India or in the world but I am very familiar with the Hindu caste system in Bali. Bali island is very interesting, small island, the majority of the population is Hindu. In there caste identity is still recognized in terms of culture and custom, but citizens' rights remain equal legally so no economic discrimination based on caste. BUt  on social practice, it is still visible, but starting to decrease. Because  my aunt married a Hindu man of the Kshatriya caste, i know that caste still have big influence on marriage when a person choose life partner, status in customary ceremonies, social prestige, and leadership in certain customary villages. But caste does not determine a person's wealth automatically, many members of the Shudra caste have succeeded in becoming crazy rich and on the other hand people with high caste do not necessarily have a good economic condition.

So the impact of the caste system, depending on the country, time period, and social context. But todays phenomenon, beside caste and classism we also face racism. From my perpective these discriminatory acts, social prejudice, and stereotypes causing damage and injustice. Based on history, extrem racism use to justify slavery, segregation, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. Discriminatory caste systems used as a basis for restricting rights, the impact can persist across generations and classism oftenly generates more economic inequality.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_discrimination
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balinese_caste_system

[bitLeap]

The Caste system and Classism are almost indistinguishable, in the class system, the upper-class or the 1% are all hereditary, Rockefeller, Carnegie, JP Morgan, Rothchild etc, all came from a family tree that has remained in the Upper-class for ages. When you're born in these above listed families, you automatically belong to the upper class, you don't have to work for it. Similarly, in the Caste system, the Brahmins in India, which is the highest rank in this system, which comprises of priests, teachers, and guardians of the sacred knowledge, they do have higher opportunities, than those in the Shudras or Dalits, the lowest level of the cast system. Now try to link the Shudras, and Dalits to the lowest level of the Class system; the working poor and the underclass. You'd find the similarity, these set of people do almost a similar kind of jobs, sweatshops. The terms are just different, but same context. Great thread however.

This system is ingrained from ancient times and now only the system is slightly adjusted. We who are outside india do not want to interfere too much with their traditions and beliefs about placing social status in society. But I personally want to give a view because somehow the world of caste system and classism is difficult to let go, whether you realize it or not.
This creates a great wall for those who are entangled in the system, constrained by Customs and beliefs. In today's era of freedom to choose a better way of life should be given to everyone without exception.

[Solodoski]

I also a agree that caste system is worst than class system, just as you have mentioned with class you can easily work hard to get a good education and probably a good career and you climb to the upper class, but in a caste system you are already limited from birth and the system does not even give you an opportunity to be better. I am not really advocating for either of the two, but I think class system is still preferable,  because you can get to the upper class if you put in the work, although it's not going to be easy for you to climb to the upper  class, but the probability are their for you to achieve it. I am not from India and I have never been to India, so I don't know anything about their culture,  but I have to put it clear that the caste system is still effective in many society,  which I think it's very wrong and things should be done to abolish it from every society.