Caste system in India - Long ago, when civilization flourished along the banks of rivers and in river valleys, when the transport system was in early primitive form, bullock cart horse driven carriage being the only means, one civilization flourished along the plains of the Indus and the Ganges. These people who were village oriented wanted to make their villages self sufficient. To procure essential commodities from far off places at short notice in times of sudden and unexpected calamities was not possible nor could they be preserved for long periods, as scientific ways of preservation were unknown. The only option left was to see that every village became self supporting producing every type of commodities the village community needed. So was the need for every village to have its own band of farmers and weavers, potters and vendors laborers and artisans, besides protectors of the land.

Caste system in India - There were a hundred ways of solving such a problem, depending upon the geography of the region and the genius of the people. But this civilization that soared in the region surrounded by deep seas on three sides and formidable ranges of mountains on the fourth side offered a peculiar solution. We do not know if these ancient people knew anything about the theories of Mendel; but Mendel's theories of heredity echo in what they had done. The society was divided into four distinct categories, and each class was expected to confine to one sphere of activity and cater to the needs of the whole community in that area. In effecting this division, the character of the individual was also taken into consideration. It means that individual aptitudes and inclination were taken note of and nobody was expected to feel like a square peg in around hole. There was also a class of people who were given to have the privilege of free time. They were the seekers and custodians of knowledge whose life was devoted in finding ways of meeting the cravings of human soul. Even here, the character had a major share to say. Like the sacred cow, the Brahmin was well venerated.

The cow offered nectar to the body and the Brahmin to the soul. Thus was caste system created here in order to offer a rational solution to a persistent problem that needed a permanent way out. Was it not discriminatory? True in a way. But what about the conquests and colonization's and the apartheid even in this century in the most modern civilization? But this is only a counter argument and one wrong cannot justify another. But the fact that it stood the test of time and survived through thousands of years speaks certainly about its merits. It is because the entire community worked as one united team, but not like individuals with conflicting interests. The motto was division of labor but not denial of dignity and the conditions warranted such a drastic solution. 'If it was obliged to stereo type caste system as the symbol of social order it never forgot that the human soul and human mind are beyond caste'.

But times changed and with it the conditions. There arose a situation in which the protectors of the land were compelled to fight with an aggressive enemy for their very survival and the community being left unprotected, was forced to take care of itself. With thick walls growing around these castes, each one had to fight for its own safety and security. They could have met the situation as a united body but the walls that rose in order to keep the identity of the classes stood on the way. Thus an institution created with a laudable ambition, was discredited in course of time and finally became a barrier to social justice. The lowly and the weak were subjected to social segregation and endless humility. The progress of the society as a whole was arrested; its divisions multiplied and hatred between the castes increased with the result the entire society now stands exposed to humiliating criticism. So the question one has frankly to ask is 'Is the caste system relevant today?" 'Bhagaved Gita' says that the caste system was created by the Lord himself (Is He not the maker of man both in body and mind and in character too?) basing on the character and the activity of the individual, Neither the activity without the necessary character, nor character without the accompanying activity should go to decide the caste of an individual; certainly not his birth. Again when the Lord effected these divisions, no dividing walls were conceived to forbid their internal mobility. Sage Vasista married Arundhati a low caste lady but the couple were highly venerated; nor was the sage thrown out of his caste. Even today, every newly wedded couple, whether it is day time or night time, look at the ideal couple in their celestial abode as a pair of stars now, and offer their homage.

But now there is no such mobility; there are castes within castes; each is an island unto itself, oceans of differences driving them apart, volcanoes of hatred drowning them. If as Lord Krishna had declared that one's profession the criterion, all teachers researchers, professors must today belong to the Brahmin community, while all the people that serve the community, doctors, engineers, nurses, social workers, etc. should be declared as sudras.

The system had long back started crumbling. The busy city, the cinemas, the hotels and the club life have to a great extent removed these barriers and brought people nearer than ever before. There cannot be any distinction or discrimination at a social gathering or a political function. The VIP treatment given to some, is not based on caste. Nor do we care to know the caste of a trimly dressed waiter who serves to our palate in a public eating house.

Thus, we have moved very far from the days of its inception. No longer there is any need for every village to be self sufficient. Modern transport system has made the movement of men and materials quick and easy. In a matter of hours, anything can be moved from one corner of the globe to another. A country like Switzerland, which has neither lands to till, nor crops to raise eats now and eats well too; only thing is one must have rupees or rubles; dollars or euros; with enough of them, anything can be bought now.

In this age of specialization and automation no village or part of a country can be completely self sufficient. We now drink the water that comes from hundreds of miles away and the electricity we use travels through thousands of miles before it reaches us. The hand of Faustus can produce grapes in winter! No longer do we need the kind of specialization that caste system was alone thought capable of. And so, the caste system is so more relevant.

It is time we accepted that the whole is at present in a great formless chaos of conflicting influences with a few luminous points of formation here and there, left the holier than thou attitude and broke the fences that were erected for the inner growth and development now that they became obstacles on the path of progress and development. It is true that it once provided an atmosphere without any constraints for man to seek the ultimate. But it outlived its purpose. It is time we gave it a grand burial and wrote an epitaph.

We now have only two castes in the world, be it India or Pakistan; be they Hindus or Muslims, Christians or Buddhists; the haves and the have - knots. But the destiny makers of out nation denounce the old caste system on one side and patronize it on the other side. They need these caste divisions and Mandal Commissions and a hundred dividing barriers to keep them firmly pinned to the seat of authority.