Guest guest Posted October 8, 2002 Report Share Posted October 8, 2002 "V.C.Vijayaraghavan" wrote: >But even today in newspapers and media, one can find mention >of "suvarna" and "avarna" i.e. tensions between caste hindus and >harijans. I have seen many such reports. The use of the term "caste", "savarna" or "upper-caste" in such news items are misleading. What is the definition of these terms? Such news articles seem to suggest that it is a case of all the "upper castes" (presumably including Brahmins etc) oppressing all the "lower castes". However in most cases, these are cases involving dalits and those somewhat "above them", almost never involving Brahmins. Take a look at this:http://www.flonnet.com/fl1819/18190420.htm "HAD Keshappa and Meramma, a young couple from Vannenur village in Bellary district who fell in love across an inflexible caste divide, been caught together, they would in all likelihood have been lynched by the residents of this caste-cleaved village in northern Karnataka. Keshappa is a Dalit and Meramma is from the upper Valmiki caste." Here there is an upper caste named Valmiki. However, take a look at this: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001025/ldh1.htm "Dalit youth's death due to police torture alleged Valmikis say they were discriminated against by cops" The two valmiki castes are different. But I doubt that Valmikis in the first item would be considered "upper caste" by many. I hope that someone comes up with a definition of these terms. Yashwant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2002 Report Share Posted October 8, 2002 INDOLOGY, "ymalaiya" <ymalaiya> wrote: > "V.C.Vijayaraghavan" wrote: > > >But even today in newspapers and media, one can find mention > >of "suvarna" and "avarna" i.e. tensions between caste hindus and > >harijans. > > I have seen many such reports. > > The use of the term "caste", "savarna" or "upper-caste" in such news > items are misleading. > > What is the definition of these terms? Such news articles seem to > suggest that it is a case of all the "upper castes" (presumably > including Brahmins etc) oppressing all the "lower castes". > > However in most cases, these are cases involving dalits and those > somewhat "above them", almost never involving Brahmins. The point is not caste tensions per se, but how the word varna is used. Hence, willy nilly, some social reality is given to the concept of varna. But, many times Indian journalists are a superficial lot and their terms are also sloppy. Perhaps they use the term 'varna' is a sloppy way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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