My First Blog

“So what caste are you?” That’s one question I have always detested.

When I meet someone, how does it matter if I am black, white, yellow, pink, grey, hindu, gujju, brahmin, kshatriya? Isn’t it bad enough that we are waging wars against our neighbouring countries that we also want to create an internal divide?

So every time someone asks me this hateful question “what caste do you belong to?” my reply is simple…“I don’t believe in all this…I am an Indian”. While that sounds very patriotic and makes me feel good, there is another aspect to it which I never understood…unless of course I opened my mind to this learned guy that I know who seems to have an answer for everything (it’s annoying sometimes…but my learning increases manifolds)

So here’s what he said, which made complete sense to me and I will give him credit for making me initiate my very first blog (actually that’s when I delved deeper on the subject and thought it will be worth sharing…plus the fact that I’ve been wanting to write since foreverJ)

We have 2500 years of cultural history behind us which sort of transcends our genes. Yes times are a changing with open minded beings…and it will take a while before people can actually shed their cultural differences…but then again, there is a big possibility that it may not happen at all. Simply because even some of the radicals today are firm believers of caste system…no wonder that the Indian’s who’ve migrated to developed countries are more stringent in preserving their “values” than those who stay back, ape the west…and evolve.

Not digressing much, the idea is, that broadly, there are some 90 castes in India (not counting the sub castes which will easily take this number to 200 +)…and believe it or not….they represent some sort of behavioral aspect in each individual. So if I ask you your caste tomorrow…I am far from judging you for being a miser if you are baniya or being loud if you are a panju but I am actually looking for certain characteristics that come with that caste. For instance why are marwaris better with numbers or why are kshatriyas all about valour and pride?

The fact is, as widely proven, the environment we are born in has a huge impact on our being, the way we think, the way we react, our mannerisms, the way we conduct ourselves, basically the way we are.

And the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Yes I am an aggressive person (quite obvious to most who know me) but I never thought the same for my elder brothers….but once I dug deeper, it indeed was true! The aggressive streak is latent…but by jove it is there. And I would not really like to believe that it has anything to with the Kshatriya/panju clan that our ancestors come from.

Similarly, I analysed some of my closest friends. My best friend had been obsessed with buying a house. Less than 3 months of buying her ‘own’ house, her plans changed. She now wants to go back to living on rent, and sell her house (at a premium of course) to either buy 2 properties or one in a more posh area. No prices for guessing her caste. She is a Sindhi - known for their love of acquiring property. But they are also known to be tight with money and not spend much – and I am more than happy to say that my friend, is very generous J

Another old friend, Sharma or Brahmin. They are a learned lot. They like to read and will be typically more well informed than your other friends. And now that I think of it, back in school, none of us thought that my ‘Sharma’ friend will even pass 12^th grade, let alone be well read. And today, he has indeed lived up to his surname with a successful career….and I…would like to attribute this to sheer hard work still. (skepticism doesn’t die easy)

We joke around for many of my ‘Jat’ friends as those who love getting into a fist fight. Ancestrally, Jats served the Indian army and are known to be fearless, feisty and ready to fight at the drop of a hat…especially for their friends or for what they feel is right – see the connect?

My simple sweet ‘Jain’ friend - her parents certainly blamed me for introducing her to the world outside her home. A night stay at my place meant I was spoiling her….digressing her from her true path. Can’t say that I blame them… Jainism is about spirituality with a strong belief in good karma. They believe in individual purifications…that’s why the many pilgrimages. My contention - a good mix of both worlds never hurt anyone ;)

Need I even mention ‘Patel’ (gujju). Smirk all you want but I don’t wonder anymore about the natural entrepreneurial skills or their finesse with numbers. I asked him once…how are you so bang-on with your hisaab? The response - “it comes naturally to me”.  


This list cannot be complete without my dear dear Ray’s and Sen friends. Highly educated, well groomed, erudite lot (they like using big words), and intrinsically laid back. Media houses are swarming with ‘bongs’ just so that they can sit back and give gyaan to all. But the irony here is…that the amount of energy, effort and running around required by a media house…comes close to fighting a battle. So I am confused by now. 

Not very often will you find people displaying traits outside their community or ethnic groups. 

And I can say that I have learned something positive from each one of my friends (I do believe that ability can also be created). Now the good thing is that I or my better half will not pass this much-complicated caste system on to our children… so maybe it helps start an epidemic for a rapid decline of the caste system as it exists today to a one which enhances our persona. But as the saying goes…never say never.