That the caste system originated in India is well-known, but the fact that it is still enforced by powerful community leaders in India is cause for concern.
The latest incident to come to light is that of pupils in some schools in the southern state of Tamil Nadu being made to wear colour-coded wristbands to indicate their caste. The government has ordered an investigation into the practice and has called it a serious violation of human rights. Practices like this have not just led to discrimination but have also sparked communal clashes.
While on the one hand, India has made giant strides in the fields of science and the arts, on the other there are regular reports of tensions arising out of caste and class conflicts. Much more needs to be done to rid society of the scourge of the caste system than lip service. Banning the wristbands in schools may only be one step towards fighting the menace. People will, ultimately, have to make a determined effort to change if they want society and the country as a whole to prosper. They will have to call the bluff of vested interests and work towards a progressive society based on the freedom of expression, speech and the right to work for all.
