The caste equation

Rana Preet Gill

Recently, I read insightful articles on caste dimensions in Punjab, which overwhelmed me. My eyes singed with tears and my throat was choked with emotion by the time I was done reading them. It is not that I do not know that casteism and bias exists in Punjab, but I have not lived with it. I am a ‘Jat’ by caste and Sikh by religion. Does that make me a higher mortal or a superior being just by the virtue of my birth in a land where caste equations make or mar you?

I never thought about it until I read about the Beant Singh and Jagmail Singh — the recent examples of caste oppression. There must be more of them. How many more victims do we need to balance the scales of this social fulcrum which are forever tilted in favour of the rich and the powerful.

We have recently celebrated 550 years of Guru Nank’s birth. ‘Sangat’ from all over the world and Punjab commemorated the occasion by congregating in huge numbers at sanctimonious places. Did we enlighten our mind on what the first guru taught us? His reading extols the virtues of acceptance and not segregation, helping the downtrodden and not haplessly mutilating their bodies, in being one and accommodating all. Sikhism, as a religion does not differentiate between people. The gurdwaras are open to one and all and langar is served to all in a similar way, no matter what the financial status, caste or creed is. Has this aspect ridden our heart of differences? Then what are we celebrating? Do not make a mockery of Guru’s virtues by peddling in this sham of togetherness, equality and being in sync with the Guru. How can we ever call ourselves Sikhs, lest humans when we inflict such barbarity on fellow humans?

The socio-political setting of Punjab has perpetuated the hierarchies of caste to exist in every home, in every setting. My father in his affectionate demeanor cajoled me once that I can only marry a ‘Jat’ Sikh boy. I could sense the undercurrents of animosity and a subtle threat in his voice at that time. He was not a landlord, he was a professor but the years of education and broadmindedness had not blanketed nor articulated his thoughts about caste conundrum. I have seen people ostracising girls when they marry out of their caste. Honour killings take place and are brushed under the carpet. Why even the high and mighty get away with killing their own daughters?

Such are the meanderings of this caste bias that we kill others, we kill our own. How many more deaths will it take for us to change? How many more anniversaries we will be celebrating under this façade that all is well in our lives, under this garb of brotherhood and bonhomie! But the tide is changing. People are rising and raising their voice and you cannot shush them. And this clamour for right and just will find solidaity in every home, in all of us.

When my daughter asks me that how many people in her class are Jat Sikhs, I am appalled. From where has she picked this up? Who is scribbling the caste equations on the blank canvas of her innocent mind. But I will not let that happen in my home. I will not tell her that she ranks high or low in this hierarchy. I will not teach her to judge people on the basis of caste, culture and religion. I will only teach her to accept the differences but surmise them all. If we are able to free our own self from this conundrum of caste, only then do we stand true to our faith.