From: vmuddan@hubcap.clemson.edu (Sekhar Muddana)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian.telugu
Subject: Caste, an analysis. Part I
Keywords: caste, telugu
Date: 11 Oct 92 15:01:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: hubcap.1992Oct11.150143.16340
Organization: Clemson University


Caste is a sensitive issue. I am not an authority on this subject. I
don't even claim to be more knowledgeable than an average telugu. The
opinions in this article are very subjective. Please don't take it as
a personal attack on anyone or any caste. You are going to read it at
your own risk. This is not an OBJECTIVE analysis. So it may contain some
not entirely true statements. The statements are certainly not general
and not applicable to everyone in a group. Thanks.
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I want to classify the subject into these categories.

1. Caste before Buddha 
2. Caste after Buddha
3. Caste in telugus from 1000 AD to 1900 AD.
4. Tamil movement and its influence on telugus (1900-1956)
5. Present status of caste

   a. caste in Telangana
   b. caste in Rayalaseema
   c. caste in towns and cities
   d. caste in villages
   e. caste in professional colleges
   f. caste in an average person's daily life in Andhra
   g. caste among telugus settled in other parts of India 
   h. caste among telugus settled in USA
   i. caste among americans born with telugu ancestry
   j. caste among telugu graduate students in US
   k. caste among telugu women 

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For my convenience I want to put a telugu in one of these classes:

A person who 
  1. strongly opposes caste
  2. doesn't like it but forced to accept it
  3. accepts the status quo
  4. strongly favors caste
  5. is a fanatic

Obviously there is no clear cut division among these classes. I would
like to explain about each of the above classes:

1. Those who oppose caste strongly: They are very few in
number. They hate the caste system. They think caste is sin. They do
anything to get rid of it. They don't have friends of type 3,4,5. 

2. Those who are forced to accept it: These are the people who think
that caste is bad. They don't know what to do about it. They think it is
too strong and takes time to get rid of it. They don't have friends of
type 4,5 but there are exceptions.

3. Those who accept caste: These are in majority. They don't think it is
bad. They accept it as a part of life. Sometimes they are proud of their
caste. They don't hesitate to use it to their advantage. 

4. Those who strongly favor caste: These think that caste is good. They
are very proud of their caste. Usually they don't have friends from
other castes, but there are exceptions. 

5. Fanatics: They don't talk to you unless you belong to their caste.
They go out of their way to help you if you belong to their caste and of
type 3,4,5.

                                             To be continued.........
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Here are a few things worthy of note: (material for flames!!)

1. We never had and do not have any leaders of type 1
2. Some I think, are of type 2 : Brahmanayudu, Krishna sastry,
SriSri, P. Sundarayya, Thummala Sitaramamoorthy, Raavi Sastry, 
Karunasri etc.
3. I think Kavisaamrat belongs to type 4. 
4. Do you remember these sentences in text books in grade school?

   a. MK Gandhi vaisya kutumbamulo janminchenu.
   b. Nayakuralu Naagamma voka kapu stri.
   c. Gauthami puthra Saatakarni brahmana chakravarthi.
   d. Nanda vamshamu shudra vamshamu.

Obviosly, our text book writers are not of type 1 or 2.
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Any comments?????
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