The New Caste System is tougher than the old caste system

 

The New Caste System

 

 

While there is much debate over the ancient caste system - if you see all around you, a new system of social division has taken its place.

This caste system is slightly different from the ancient one. The ancient one classified people into 4 varnas - this one is a little more specific - considering the needs of the modern society. In the ancient system, you could move from one caste to another - even a shudra could be king - the modern one is a bit tougher to navigate.

Today's caste system is a bit different in that sense. This system builds walls around certain places that are difficult for an outsider to scale. If you are an outsider, you can say goodbye to your aspirations or be ready to pay a heavy entry cost.

Take the case of politicians. Today there are political families and non political families. Much of us fall in the latter. If your grandfather or father or grandmother or mother is a politician, there is a greater chance that you will at least get a dekko into politics. Most of our young parliamentarians are new first names with very well known old last names. Try getting a party ticket without a well known last name and let me know how it went. 

Much of our film industry is of a similar nature. Connections are the way to get there. It is not easy for an outsider to break in - especially if you want to be backed by a big budget banner.

And the connection of big money in politics and big money in cinema forms another system that feed off one another.

In sports it is a little tougher to make the cut purely because of your last name, but clearly, you can get your opportunities to prove yourself.

Take almost any other business or self employment option. Architects, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, Dentists - in all these professions, it is far easier to establish a reputation if your last name is well known in the profession and you will find often generations of families following the same business . I am not saying that a newbie has no scope here, but one has to think smart.

This, then, is the new caste system. Except possibly in the corporate sector - if you start off right at the bottom of the food chain - this caste system has firmly established itself. Where do you fit in?