True Face of India

[kaka_in_usa]

Re: True Face of India

@pak-one

I have a few questions for Indians here (and no disrespect intended):

• I know that the government/many people are trying to change casteism, but I wanted to find out how much skin color and caste have an overlap? For example, my friend is a Kashmir Pandit and looks like a Kashmiri, whereas I ran in to a Brahmin from the South who looks like someone from that region. I used to think that caste had some linkages with skin color, but that is not the case?

There was an blog in dawn few days ago. it talked about how language is a stronger bond than religion. It seems to be the case. People usually flock with their own type. marathis with marathis, gujratis with gujratis etc. if same type is not available then they stick with people who is similar to their own culture.
To be honest first time i met south indians personally in usa. people in india dont travel too far, not atleast in smaller cities. Castes now a days dont play any role in educated class or even middle class.

I am sure even you would be more comfortable with an Indian than an Malaysian or eritrian muslim.

PS. it may seem like indians are disconnected from each other but generally there is no difference of opinion throughout the country regarding major issues and destination and goal of the country.

@pak-one

• Many Indian Muslims are converts from hinduism. In the smaller villages do they still retain their “social standing” pre-conversion? I realize that their great-great-great grandfathers may have converted to Islam, but since they have lived in the same village, would they move up or down or stay the same within the social matrix?

Infact most of the indian muslims are converts from hinduism ( i think so are pakistanis). Muslims do have caste systems themselves in few states and in smaller cities. culture is more of less same within a state despite of different religions.
My dads friend is a thakur muslim and he is a minister in BJP. When Bhairo Singh Shekhawat (a BJP legend) was alive all the thakurs used to touch his feet, be it bjp thakur or congress thakur, be it hindu thakur or muslim thakur. Even Indian muslims have different culture depending on the state they live in.

Also muslims dont fall in the wraps of hindu caste system per se. in small villages muslims are given status according to their occupation. a cleaner muslim would be treated same as a cleaner hindu, a shop keeper muslim would be given same status as a hindu shopkeeper.
mostly caste system depends on your occupation. if you are a lower caste and a policeman then everyone treats you like a king.

@pak-one

• Finally *and a tough question, anyone know the approximate breakdown of the castes? For example 20% brahmins, 30% X, Y, Z?

no idea about that. i would assume that there would be majority of lower caste since there are more working class people than businessman , priest or a thakur.