Sunday, January 23, 2011

SO...WHAT'S YOUR CASTE ?



Scene (repeated umpteenth time ):
Dood x – “ Hey …what’s your caste ?”
I – “ ummm…why ?”
Dood x – “just wanted to know …you just , just like that “
The following 10 mins. are taken up by a lengthy discussion of my ancestral origins . It ultimately ends in me getting compared to Imran khan from “jaane tu ya jaane na” and I am asked if I have to do all that that he had to do in the movie ..
( yeah ..imagine me on a horse…or hitting a guy…food for laughter  ? )

Which brings us back to the main issue ?
Yes …people do look upon caste even today .And by people I mean …people of my generation .
We are very quick to say that we are progressing…progressing where , I ask you ?
Going to the pubs…drinking….drugs … live-ins ?
And yet …tiny lil’ things like ‘caste’ and superstitions keep tugging on our armada pants.
Or turn to the “matrimony section” …Sunday newspaper… funny but enlightning .

Scene II :
Dood x – “We went to this guy’s funeral or something …we must come back and take a bath and throw away the clothes “
I conveyed the idea to my mom . Who , is turn gave me a 15 mins. lecture on how we have to deal with cadavers every day  and I’d dare not do all that !

Scene III :
Dood y- “hey , I am not worried at all . The boss is from my caste/village …I am sure I’ll get a promotion “
(question : Ever been to you village ma’cheire ? )

Scene IV :
One of my friends was getting married . The guy …typical dream Indian groom .
( IIT …IIM …6 figure salary )
The mother-in-law , “ now , it wouldn’t look good if the bahu goes outside and works “
This , considering..that my friend had qualifications almost equal to the sonny boy !

Scene V :
Dood z- “ummm ….hey I can’t eat non-veg. or drink today…it’s some auspicious day”
This .. considering that , the guy is a regular drinker …chops non veg. like anything …and CANNOT RECALL the last time he went to the temple .
Funny , our modern age corporate bachcha log turning into ‘agyakaari’ ( obedient ) lil’ mumma’s boys .. it makes them feel good …as if they are still tradition bound .
Trust me , God won’t mind …

Liberated , are we ?
Somehow people want to follow Amrikkan culture ( hell ! amrikkan movies …shows…songs …brands…daaru  )
What we don’t realize is …we are just picking up the wrong points from their culture as well .
->Agreed , the teenagers over there lead a more independent life . And probably a lot less restrictions . But then , most of them move out of the house … start living n earning …by the time they are twenty something .
We , sitting on our couches..revelling in mummy-ka-pyaar , and demanding the same luxuries … ( did anyone say ‘unfair’ ? )
->live-ins ! ahhhh….
Yes , steal it from the Amrikans . Next time , check out the divorce rates too ( oh another field in which we are moving ahead btw )

Yes , we do have a lot of ‘bad points’ in our esteemed Indian culture .
We , as the coming up generation can keep an open outlook …can’t we ? that will help..to a certain extent ..
So , the next time someone asks you your caste , tell them ,
“Dood ….I know it . and that’s enough .”

7 comments:

  1. you should be a hard hitting journalist, with all this writing about society and it's evils :P

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  2. that is very true akshay!! we need to pick up things that are GOOD and not all the fluffy icing stuff

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  3. doood...this is sooo true!
    and the last line just blew me away!

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  4. Hey Akshay,
    All that modernity is more in living than in thinking.
    Even the most educated fall prey to superstitious fears...I have dozens of living proofs just around me...
    It’s a sad pseudo open world with absolutely closed minds still.

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