Till when will we allow caste to define us?

Mid April, Karnataka government launched a massive exercise, a social and educational census also known as the caste census across the state. Around 1.33 lakh government staff, from across the state are involved in the census work, covering 1.31 crore families in the state for a budget of Rs 116 crores.

Earlier this week, we had some of these census data collectors visit us. As the questionnaire progressed, I was enquired about the religion followed by me and my family members. I said, "None. We don't follow any religion." The data collectors were a little baffled, probably not knowing what column to tick. They decided to tactfully coax the information out of me. "Some religion you would be following madam, some place of worship you visit? You must belong to some caste!!"

I was a little amused, looking at their perplexed faces! Wondering how my caste or religion will tell my elected representatives, whether I am able to fend for myself, if I am economically backward and if their development schemes are actually helping me.

After much discussion, we made our peace, there was nothing much I could do, to resolve their dilemma, when they mentioned my name sounded Christian and they scribbled something in Kannada on that form, I wondered if they had managed to bracket me against my will.

This entire episode, that transpired, brings to light a very significant flaw in our governing system and our social structure. How important is it to know a person's religion or caste to ensure good governance? Isn't the government liable to treat all its citizens equally irrespective of their faith?

If it is, then what purpose does such data serve, except ensuring political parties in this country have information on how to exploit caste and religious sentiments at the time of elections. Choosing candidates who can get votes of certain caste or faith.

We talk of a united India and still allow such dogmatic and antiquated systems to not just prevail but thrive!

If we go back in time, the caste system was introduced in a bid to ensure that communities had people for all kinds of jobs. Your profession defined your caste and your status in the community, which was based on your contribution towards ensuring the community's development. More like a reward system, based on your merit and calibre to contribute. But over time like most things, the system got corrupted and caste become a birthright. Son of a Brahmin was automatically given the Brahmin status, whether he deserved to be one was not important. And the tradition prevailed, ensuring a certain set of people were always deprived of their right to do well in life, because of the caste they belonged to.

It is true that, our culture, our social roots are steeped in our religious beliefs and age-old social systems, but as we evolve and are trying to advance as a fast developing nation, it becomes imperative to pause and think if we really need our faiths to define us, who we are as individuals? Should the gods we worship and the temples we visit, decide our place in the success story of this nation? Are we the sum total of our religion or are we more than that?

Should my job and the social benefits I am eligible for be decided by my caste and my faith or my qualifications and my need?

Providing economic sops to financially and educationally backward communities/individuals is fine, as a nation we have to take into consideration the unfair treatment met out to them in the past and help them get to an even place, that is equality. But going forward do we really have to carry this baggage of caste and gotra and other things that tend to divide us, rather than define us in this country? Is it relevant in our times?

In an ideal scenario, I would see a move in this direction, eliminating the many religious/right wing leaders who spew their brainless crap at us, every now and then, in a bid to rouse religious sentiments and cause disharmony.

But maybe it's too much of wishful thinking on my part, considering, the Karnataka High Court, refused to stay the survey and adjourned the hearing of the public interest litigation that questioned the legality of holding such census until July.

Subjecting individuals like me who have no caste, no religion, no faith to flaunt, into an existential crisis, that too in the 21st century, in a country that boasts to be the next superpower!! Ironical?