Re: People’s history of the Punjab: Caste oppression,
So the caste sytem is just as strong in Pakistan punjab as in Indian punjab.
I have always wondered why my ancestors never converted to Islam. My family comes from Indian punjab from an area about 80 miles from the Pakistan border.
Before 1947, the area had a huge amount of muslims that moved to pakistan after migration.
My family comes from a hindu/sikh family and we are from the 'Chamar' caste. So we are from the lowest hindu castes and my ancestors probably experienced caste discrimination.
So why did none of my ancestors ever convert to Islam???
I posed this question to one of the 'purane budde' (old men) of the village a few years ago and he said the muslims caste system was even stronger and had more discrimination than the Sikh/Hindu system in Punjab. That's why our ancestors never converted.
Personally, I think the situation in Indian punjab is much better for "lower castes" than in pakistan punjab. Thanks to reservations in jobs and education. We are now a very powerful caste in Indian punjab both politically, socially and economically.
These days even jats and rajputs are scared of us and treat us with a lot of respect.
Also, to give a perspective, 30% of the Indian Punjab population belongs to 'dalit' castes, with chamars forming 11% of the total population. Another, 40% belongs to sudra castes such as carpenters etc etc.
I would say that the caste composition is probably the same in Pakistan punjab with many of the 'lower' castes claiming to be jat, rajput etc.