30/07/2026
"We should eradicate caste!" my friend announced proudly.
"100%! It needs to go," I said. (Long post but worth a shot)
Frnd: Exactly, everyone wants it gone!
Me: Cool, We are saying it, okay, but what are we actually doing about it?
Frnd: We will abolish it?!
Me: Abolish what? Don't just say "caste." Tell me *how* we are going to abolish it!
Frnd: (blink, blink, silence) You tell me.
Me: See the only place I use my caste is ..?! Wait a minute.. I mean it's basically useless for me! I can't even use it as Surname, people will get offended, so i don't. I can't use it on paper, as I said it's entirely useless! and I don't use it in daily life. I literally ignore it. So you tell me, who is actually keeping it alive?!
Frnd: Hmm, I don't know!
Me: Instead of just talking big, step one is simple.. the Government needs to rip the caste column out of school admission forms..
Frnd: Why?
Me: Your niece is 10 years old, right? Why does a girl doing her 5th grade need to fill in her caste to understand her studies? Does Algebra change based on caste? Does a^2 + b^2 = c^2 only work for certain lineages?
Frnd: No. . Hmm
Me: It’s like a doctor asking for your caste before performing CPR. How would it be if a doctor said, "If I have to restart your heart, I need to know your caste and subcaste"? What's your reaction?
Frnd: I would ask why on earth you need my caste to give me medical treatment!
Me: Exactly, then why does a school need to ask for caste and teach the child based on whether her great-grandfather was a farmer or a warrior?
Frnd: For the future...
Me: Oh come on! We don't ask people for their "Blood Type" to buy a movie ticket, so why do we need their "Ancient Social GPS" to teach how to code?
Frnd: That's true...
Me: If the data doesn't exist, the discrimination has no fuel.
Frnd: You mean if it's not used at all, it can't be used to discriminate at all!
Me: Hmm Treating caste like an "Ex-Partner," where we stop bringing it up in every conversation, is the only way to move on.
Frnd: What should be done next?
Me: Next, they need to stop issuing caste certificates, altogether.
Frnd: Uh?
Me: Yes, exactly. By issuing a certificate, the state is effectively saying, "This label defines you forever." Stop archiving the division and watch it dissolve. To put it even simpler...
Frnd: Hmm?
Me: It’s the ultimate "Social Participation Trophy" for something you didn't even do. "Congratulations on being born! Here is a piece of paper confirming your 500-year-old vibes." We have certificates for birth, death, and marriage. One of these is a biological fact, one is an inevitable end, and one is a legal headache. Why do we have a government document that certifies your "Ancient Social Status"?
Frnd: bu.. but...
Me: But what?
Frnd: Then what about caste-based reservation...
Me: Ah, see!! How can you say you don't want caste, but you still want caste-based reservation?
This is like saying "I don't like water," but then putting on goggles and a cap and going to the swimming pool!
Frnd: Hey!
Me: What you are claiming is equal to saying "I am against animal cruelty," but still wearing animal skin and fur! Oh oh.. another one.. Or saying, I am deathly allergic to nuts, but I will eat this jar of peanut butter because it has protein!
Frnd: Then don't we need reservation?
Me: Dude! You have a house, a garden, a car, and a bike.. why do you need reservation?
Frnd: That is... well...
Me: What if a multimillionaire says, "I want one free meal because my great-grandfather had less money in his wallet"?
Frnd: That's wrong. They already have money, right?
Me: If a guy pulls up in a Mercedes-Benz to claim a "benefit" while a kid on a bicycle is told (beep) "Wrong Category," what kind of system is this then?
Frnd: If we do all this, will caste go away?
Me: When was the last time you used your caste?
Frnd: When I was looking to join that course recently.
Me: Have I ever asked you for your caste?
Frnd: No...
Me: So who is asking for it?
Frnd: Schools, institutions, government jobs.
Me: Then who needs to stop asking for it?
Frnd: Them!!
Me: Exactly. It’s a government-managed system. Parliament can change it if they have the courage. But every time someone brings it up, people panic about losing their perks.
Frnd: Yes, what's the point of just talking, they are the ones who need to do it. But even if they do it, people will criticize them.
Me: Because people want the perks without the discrimination! You can't be saying Caste should be eradicated while holding a card that gives you seats, jobs based on that same caste you want to eradicate! Pick up a side!
Frnd: What if I only want the perks not the discriminations?
Me: It's like......It's like complaining that your ex was toxic, but still using their Netflix password, riding in their car, and living in their guest house rent-free!
You can't burn down the foundation of a building while standing on the balcony enjoying the view. If the goal is to erase the line that divides people, you can't keep drawing it in highlighter every time it benefits you!
Frnd: But... you're comparing apples and oranges! The discrimination lasted for hundreds of years, so isn't it fair that those communities get a head start to catch up?
Me: Absolutely! If someone was pushed down for generations, they deserve a hand up. Nobody is saying assistance shouldn't exist. But answer me this.. if a family has used that hand up to buy three cars, a villa, and send their kids to elite private schools for 2+ generations, are they still being held back by that 500-year-old push?
Frnd: Well... maybe not that specific family, but...
Me: But that specific family gets to use the same "perk card" as a poor kid sleeping on a footpath whose parents actually need it! By basing the help on ancient social labels instead of actual current financial need, the rich in those categories keep taking the perks, while the truly underprivileged stay right where they are.
Frnd: Okay, fine, but why should I give up a perk if the system offers it to me? Wouldn't anyone take an advantage if given the choice?
Me: And there it is! You don't actually want caste to end, you just want to end the parts of it that hurt your feelings, while keeping the parts that fill your wallet.
Frnd: I... well, it's .. hmm complicated!
Me: It’s not complicated at all. It’s simple hypocrisy. It’s raw double standards. You want the dignity of an egalitarian society, but you want the privilege of a feudal system. You want to throw stones at the caste system on Twitter at night, and then use your caste certificate to grab a college seat during the day!
Frnd: So what are you saying? We shouldn't help anyone?
Me: Help should follow the ration card logic, not the horoscope logic. Nobody checks your grandfather's job title before giving you an LPG subsidy, they check your income. Same rule here. Help the kid who's sharing one textbook with three siblings, not the kid who already got a MacBook and a driver dropping him to tuition, just because their certificate says the same box. Help the person who needs help today, based on their poverty, their income, their lack of resources, not based on what their ancestor did or didn't do 500 years ago. Help the kid on the bicycle, not the guy stepping out of the Mercedes!
Frnd: But if we remove caste from reservation, won't people still discriminate privately?
Me: People might hold biases in their heads, but as long as the state certifies, measures, feeds, and rewards those categories on paper, the state is keeping caste on life support. You can't cure a disease by giving it a monthly government allowance! Am I using caste? No because I have nothing to do with it! My kid doesn't know because he has no use with it! But when there is usage then it gets passed on..
Frnd: Hmm...
Me: Some people might still discriminate. Discrimination happens everywhere! Status, Gender, State, Language! What not!! But Caste discrimination can be stopped slowly steadily when Caste usage is stopped!
Frnd: It feels odd to give up..
Me: You can't stand on a stage demanding the abolition of caste with one hand, while reaching into the government cookie jar for caste-based benefits with the other. You can't post "abolish caste" as your Instagram bio and then WhatsApp-forward your caste certificate to the admissions office the same evening.
Frnd: Well.. huh.. hmm yeah..
Me: Either you destroy the identity completely, or you admit that you love the identity whenever it gives us a discount!
It's the "I'm on a diet" guy who orders a diet coke... with his biryani, fried starters, double side dish and gulab jamun. You want the WiFi password of equality but you are still logging into caste's premium subscription whenever it's convenient!
Frnd: Okay stop, I need a minute. I have been carrying a caste certificate in my file folder for 20+ years like it's a loyalty card.
Me: Ofcourse.. the question is, are you finally ready to cancel the subscription? The least you can do is ..
Frnd: What is it?
Me: Atleast Let your own community people who are poor to get the perks so they can actually benefit and get upliftment.?! If you don't feel like doing it, then there is something fundamentally wrong with the whole thought process!!
Frnd: But then it's not Caste based reservation it is Economic based.
Me: So? If You keep saying even after getting higher status you are discriminated then what's the point of holding the benefits? In that case the least thing you can do is Maybe Let others grow their status! Now, Who is holding them back? The General category or You people? You can let go of perks by opting for General category whenever/ wherever you apply but you are the one who wouldn't let go of the concessions, cut offs, free coaching by govt, extra special paid coaching from pvt institutions then grab all opportunities leaving none for the less privileged because they don't get good coaching, schooling like you Elite people do!
Frnd:
Me: Again.. Who is holding them back now? All I am saying is Handover the torch once you light your lamp, that's the nicest thing you can do. Anyways... Gotta go.. think about it, take your time! You know what's right!
