Astaroth wrote:
concerning the Social caste system and poor ppl in India.. i saw a program a few months ago where the social castes, the lowest, were cleaning sewers with their bare hands. "Nothing could be done", cuz they had done something in their previous life that meant that they now had to put poob in buckets with their own hands.. no such thing as fancy shovels... lovely
also saw 60 minutes the other night, where poor indians walked around in oil and toxic waste on the beach while tearing old ships apart for less than a dollar a day - they are practically being used as slaves, no union, no protection gear, backbreaking work etc. Most of Indias steel comes from old ships, apparently, many western ships... Too easy to get rid of old ships this way, plus instead of paying to get the ship destroyed, the indians would pay for the steel.
You're right about the lowest caste in their system. They've been shit cleaners for generations and that's what they will always be. Indian politics never helped. The Indian political parties are all caste based and they only help the caste they represent. ANd being politicians, you're normally rich and come from a higher caste. This is why the lower castes never progressed up the social ladder.
Indian castes are also differentiated by their surnames. The Pillais were foremerly the accountants and bookkeeper of the Maharaja's therefore they have a higher position in the ladder. The Thevar's were there warlords and generals of the Maharaja's army. So they're also pretty high in the ladder as well. Oh, the Thevars are the Indian Vikings. Since they were warriors, they're mostly hugely built, even their decendants in present day. Then theres the Pannirs, which sadly, are one of the lowest caste in the system. They were the shit cleaners then, and they remain the lowest among all.