Caste Sysem: Education, Employment, Marriage and Beyond

Dear Friends,

As I said in my first post, "Why I decided to blog?", this blog is a small attempt to bring into light every small thing which matters to us; an attempt made to reflect upon the society and the way we look at it; an attempt to voice our views, opinions and concerns on various facets of life. Well the title of this post gives enough indication of the focus of today's post. So lets get started.

You would have come across the following information in some way or other:

• Premier institutes of the country, IITs and IIMs oppose caste based reservation
• Inter caste marriage annoys gram panchayat, refuses to accept the relation.
• Inter caste marriage results in honour killing.
• Demands in parliament to have reservations in private firms

Is it time to do away with the caste system? If yes, then is it going to be easy? Certainly no; then where are the difficulties? Lets have a look.

As we all know, castes were developed to recognize the deeds of the person. All humans who performed similar tasks for livelihood were labeled to have same caste. Yes the focus was on karma. Advantages were clear, there would be brotherhood and not rivalry among the people of same caste. However, a person's caste was determined with his birth. Again this was very fair.

A priest cannot teach his son the art of business.

So let him teach what he knows the best. However, times changed. It became necessary for a brahmin to work for an entrepreneur. It was apt for a rickshaw puller to be educated. Hence things changed.

From pre-colonization to post independence, a lot of water had flown under the bridge. It was time for social upliftment of the deprived. It was time for the uprising of the oppressed. It was time to breed equality. The only way out was to force the so called 'upper caste', to place them under compulsion; in order to allow a breathing space to the people of lower caste.

This resulted in reservations.

That was 6 decades ago.

Today we see ourselves as a developing economy, a nuclear power, the IT hub of the world. A nation which was growing at more than 6%p.a, while the most of the world was under recession. We look to have a greater say in the issues concerning the world. We build Arihants and Chandrayaans; we acquire Arcelor and Corus; we sign nuclear deals and dossiers. But we also have farmers committing suicides. There is a gap between rich and poor; between the rurals and urbans; between the rich of the rurals and rich of the urbans. There is prosperity but there is also naxalism and civil wars. Yes we have a Bangalore and a Mumbai; but we also have a Dantewada and a Dharavi.

Aren't we living in a country diversified not only by language and religion but also by problems and issues? Shouldn't the laws of this land reflect the change in times; reflect the diversity and unity? Why not remove reservations in phases from the country? Why not have no reservations in more developed urban areas? Why not have reservations based on economic status of a family? Why not take into account the per head family income?

Can there be an end to the caste system? I believe yes.

If we permit inter caste marriages; imagine a brahmin marrying a businessman: what would their children be called? What significance will the caste bear?

It is all actually very simple

Remove caste from all equations

• Decide reservation based on income.
• Stop considering caste as a factor in marriages - it is the profession, lifestyle and compatibility which matters.

No doubt it will be tough to implement them, but its nevertheless possible. There will be opposition from the so called old heads and it will be the youth who will face the burnt...but in the long run it would be beneficial. Are we ready to change the society?

What about the political interests? Its an open secret that every party aims at broadening their vote bank. Will they allow such a change? If they don't then should we allow them into the parliament? The strength of any democracy is its people. Pakistan today is a failed state because its citizens are rendered powerless. We have the right; we have the power but alas we seldom show it.

What are your views on the caste system in India?
Should we continue to have castes or should we abolish them?
Can we bring in the change?

Please post your comments and responses.

With lots of love
Atul Mishra

Economics: Satyam scam good for corporate governance?

Dear Friends,

As I specified in the earlier post, "Why I Decided to Blog?" am back with my first write up. The aim of this blog is to encourage healthy discussions, so why not get started straight away.

Economic Times Reports:

Institute of Chartered Accountants of India(ICAI) believes that Satyam scam is among the best things that could happen as in near future it would improve corporate governance. ICAI is the apex body of chartered accountants in India and a statement of this effect on its part carries a lot of importance. The body believes that Satyam has now become a case study which would help in controlling frauds.

Well that's what ICAI has to say, but my personal view on the matter is that the scam was handled very effectively. In a matter of hours govenment decided to save the company. Indeed the scam hurt the image of India Inc. but the way things have shaped up is quite appreciative. Now for the matter of corporate governance, yes Satyam will eventually be a case study, but it also exposes the possibilities a director can explore for meeting his vested interests. This is in a way similar to the recent recession, whatever happened was bad and may be we have learnt our lessons but does this mean that we won't have an economic slowdown again? Certainly not. We had a great recession in 1930s, didn't we have one more?

What do you think, can there be another Satyam? Was the government right in intervening?

Awaiting your responses and comments.


With lots of love
Atul Mishra

Why I Decided to Blog?

Dear Friends,

Blogging is not new to most of you I guess, but as you would see the purpose of this blog is different. A few more days and I will become an alumni of GITAM. The last 4 years have been enthralling, it has changed my life and my outlook towards it. Perhaps that's what life is all about. You meet people, get an insight into their psychology and learn from them. Perhaps the best ability of a human is to learn from experience and the one who makes good use of this, beyond the shambles of uncertainty, attains success. And that's a personal observation. As I gear up to start afresh in this wide, fiercely competitive and challenging world I feel I can give back something to GITAM; to my friends and juniors and to the department in particular. As a junior I have always appreciated the value addition that a senior's guidance can provide and have found it quite pleasing to accost them. However, I don't know how helpful I have been to my juniors so I decided to offer myself another chance. And this was the best option to start with.

What this platform would provide you is a discussion portal to voice your views, your concerns about anything which bothers, concerns or interests you. From final year projects to industrial trainings; from industrial tour to final placements; from Lalit Modis to Barack Obamas; from Kapil Sibals to Jaswant Singhs; from academics to extra curriculars. May be I will be able to advice you over some of these issues, others will be taken care of by other alumnis like me and some others will sort themselves out. This brings me to specific areas of interest: what future plans do you have friends? Let me guess:

• Mulling over MBA(CAT & Co...I mean MAT, JMET, SNAP et. al)
• Planning to leave the country(GRE)
• Take up public administration(UPSC)
• Start earning
• Get more technical(M.Tech, research et. al)

Well, whatever it is guys realize one thing in life:

Its you and only you who has the right to define your success.

And once you do that never ever change it, unless of course you attain it. Hopefully I will find time to upload plenty of articles, prepare my own analysis and write ups of varied issues and keep posting. Please do tell me what type of discussions you wish to have. Help me make myself better. Any questions, suggestions or comments on any topic is of utmost importance to me. Please do tell me the topics you would like to discuss.



Cheers and may all of us rest in peace.

Very soon I will post my first write up on Satyam scam.


To all those who approached me for any sort of advice.

With lots of love
Atul Mishra