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If you’re a Dalit, you’d know. As I mention in the post, membership to a caste is granted by birth. If both your parents are Dalit, you’re a Dalit too. How do
by thelit 4y ago
If you’re a Dalit, you’d know. As I mention in the post, membership to a caste is granted by birth. If both your parents are Dalit, you’re a Dalit too.
How do others know: it’s not obvious. Dalits either change their last name to something common enough to not have any caste indicator. They’d avoid any discussion on caste. So effectively, they hide but there are some who don’t and keep their last name. Still, not every other Indian could tell, but a more caste conscious Indian who belongs to the same region can tell. On top of it, it’s common among Indians to just plainly ask other what their caste is.
- devnonymous 4y agoNote that there are other 'cues' as well that casteists use to identify your caste, such as the food you eat (veg/non-veg), the social rituals/ceremonies or religious practices you engage in. In fact, you'd see enough Brahmins (in the US!) wear the scared thread[1] and embrace the entire identity of being at the 'top' of the caste system that knowing that you are a non-brahmin is sufficient for them to treat you as a Dalit. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanayana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanayana
- gabereiser 4y agoWe have that same view in software engineering as well. s/Brahmins/FAANGs and s/Dalit/Non-FAANG. Not saying it's everywhere but it exists, even on these very forums. How is one from a coding school or bootcamp ever to be seen as an equal to those that took a traditional route? For the most part, people treat people equally but I've seen this kind of behavior on here and in person on a few occasions.
- adiM 4y agoThe difference with caste is that caste is inherited. If you wear rose-coloured glasses, you can assume that hiring at FAANG is merit based and a non-FAANG can move to FAANG if they want. That’s not possible with caste.
- rajup 4y agoWrong, I wear the thread the same reason a Sikh wears a turban or a Muslim woman wears a niqab/burka. Wearing a sacred thread has about as much relation to condoning/accepting caste discrimination as wearing a niqab has to terrorism, but these kinds of bigoted ignorant comments are exactly why Google was right in not allowing the talk to happen.
- india_usa 4y ago
- bongoman37 4y ago[dead]
- whimsicalism 4y agoReverse caste-ism
- rajup 4y agoWe seem to be on the path to it for sure :)
- senthil_rajasek 4y agoThe sacred thread is exclusive to Brahmins and a distinct caste marker. Non-Brahmin Hindus are not allowed to wear the sacred thread. Turbans and burqa do not have such intra-religious restriction. Comparing the sacred thread to turbans/ burqas is a false comparison.
- rajup 4y agoMany Brahmins I know don’t wear it. So how is it a caste marker? Heck I wear it only during certain ceremonies. So the point the gp was making about people wearing the sacred thread condoning the caste system and discrimination is patently false and bigoted.
- 4y ago
- pretendscholar 4y agoSorry if this is a sensitive topic but why don't you just say you are a brahmin/christian/muslim? How would they know?
- tthun 4y agoBelieve it or not .. casts are carried by Christian [0] and Muslim families converted generations ago .. upper cast by choice and forced on lower cast [1] [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_among_South_Asian_Christians https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_among_South_Asi... [1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kevins-murder-is-honour-killing-says-kerala-court/article61579536.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kevins-murder-...
- dheera 4y ago> plainly ask other what their caste is Why do they do this, and what do they hope to gain out of asking that question? Related question -- I would have thought that high-tech Indians in Silicon Valley would detest a system like that. Is that not the case?
- MauroIksem 4y agoWhat makes you think that? People everywhere try to get an advantage on others why would they suddenly change in silicon valley? If anything, i think it would be worse because it's so competitive.
- gigglesupstairs 4y ago> Why do they do this, and what do they hope to gain out of asking that question? Answer is a bit twisted. Lot many just ask as a innate curiosity and to find a cultural base to connect with someone new and not exactly for any sinister reasons. There are like thousands of sub religions, cultures, languages in India that it helps people sometimes to know which caste a person belongs to level with them. Not exactly something to be proud of but happens. At the same time, lot many are orthodox and do ask to get a perspective into someone’s personality and culture to find a stereotype they can base their decisions on - for ex- inside interviews, business meetings etc.