Justice Markandey Katju on caste system

The letter I sent to The Hindu on Friday, 9.1.2009

Justice Markandey Katju on caste system
Sir,
The certitude with which Justice Markandey Katju has explained the origin, nature and future of caste system (The Hindu, Jan.8 and 9), especially the prediction that it will be destroyed in the next 20 years, has the stamp of a visionary. But scholarly opinion is sure to dispute many of his inferences.
Caste ‘system’ was never static and is so complex that generalizations about it are extremely hazardous. Castes did not originate the same way or at the same time, or ever possess uniform characteristics all over South Asia. Never was there a strict correspondence between castes and their generally assumed identificatory markers such as ‘varnam’, physical features, occupation, hierarchy, pollution rules, customs or rituals.
The rigidity and definitiveness of the ‘system’, except at the ritually highest levels, was a colonial construct occasioned by the census studies in the 19th century.
As to the prediction that castes will be destroyed: they will only get refurbished; for our slogan already is, ‘Cast your vote, vote your caste’.
P.P.Sudhakaran,
Bangalore

The Hindu published the following edited version on Saturday:

The caste system is so complex that it is difficult to draw generalisations on it. Castes did not originate in the same manner or at the same time, or possess uniform characteristics, across South Asia. Nor was there a strict correspondence between castes and their generally assumed markers such as physical features, customs and rituals. As for the prediction that castes will be destroyed in a decade or two, they are likely to be reinforced in future for our people’s slogan is: ‘cast your vote, vote your caste.’

P.P. Sudhakaran,
Bangalore