Hi Gilbert I am afraid you are incorrect in your understanding of "ground realities" especially when you use the word "caste" entirely a misnomer in America, as somehow equivalent to the concept of caste in India. Instead of your word "caste" in America, the terms ethnic minorities, community groups, hyphenated Americans, newcomers or even new social classes would definitely be more appropriate in your hopeful search for an appropriate term to make your point re America.
On another point, you seem to suggest, incorrectly that, lower caste groups in India are happy to stay within their low status position by wearing caste on their sleeves, in clearly, your unmistakable apology for caste. The very substantial literature on caste in India does not support your commonsense view at all. There are several ways lower caste groups have historically opted for mobility within the caste structure or endeavoured to get out of their caste groups. Minimally, if you read outstanding research by Scrinivas you will note that he has talked about intentional processes like westernization, sanskritization and change of religion as means to get out of the binds of traditional Hindu caste. Others have been more radical politically and are treating caste and casteism as racist on the global scene. They are making good progress even though India, refused, for now, to admit casteism as racism at the last international conference on racism (in 2004, from memory) held in Durban, South Africa. No Gilbert, the smart guys you so deride are much smarter than you think! You have also persisted in repeating your erroneous view in this post, about a relative static and unchanging caste situation in India. So let me be of some help re essential reading for you, from a small selection (non alphabetically presented) of my books on caste from my home bookshelf. After all, Goanet is a learning instrument: Deliege R. (1999) The Untouchables in India. New York. Berg Publications. Kothari R. (1991 reprint) Caste in Indian Politics. New Delhi. Orient Longman Ltd. Thapar R. (Eds) (1996 reprint) Tribe, Caste and Religion in India. New Delhi. Macmillan Press. Michael S. M. (ed) (1999) Dalits in Modern India: Vision and Values.New Delhi. Vistaar Publications. Sharma K.L. (1999) Caste and Class in India. New Delhi. Rawat Publications. Charsley S. R. and Karanth G.K. (Eds) ( 1998) Challenging Untouchability: Dalit Initiative and Experience from Karnataka. New Delhi. Sage Publications. Robb P. (1996) Dalit Movements and the Meaning of Labour. New Delhi. Oxford University Press. Sharma U. (1999) Caste. Buckinghamshire, England. Open University Press. Massey J. (1995) Dalits in India: Religion as a Source of Bondage or Liberation With Special Reference to Christians. New Delhi. Manohar Press. Ahmad I. (1978) Caste and Social Stratification among Muslims in India. New Delhi. Manohar Press. Finally, Gilbert, to make sense of how minorities adjust in their new destinations of migration you will find the next two books particularly illuminating. The first relates to the UK. The second, has excellent historical material about what you call mainstreaming in the USA. Eade J (1989) The Politics of Community: The Bangladeshi Community in East London. Avebury Press, Aldershot, England. Rex J. (1986) Race and Ethnicity. Milton Keynes, Open University Press. Very best regards and hopefully, pleasant reading. Cornel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gilbert Lawrence" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <goanet@lists.goanet.org> Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 10:14 PM Subject: [Goanet] WEAR CASTE UP YOUR SLEEVES - TO UNDERSTAND GROUND REALITIES > MOST (specially the "lower caste") use caste to protect and preserve their > identity. In India, the Hindus use caste to maintain their religious path > (deity) and way of life. In the USA, the caste (each immigrant group) > maintained their identity for the same reasons for about two generations. > Then they were confident in joining the main stream. But they still strive > to maintain their identity through their ethnic religious and social > rituals, socials and festivals THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. > > It is by protecting their identity, many social groups in India and the > world have survived in numbers rather than economic wealth. Now these > groups are using the same numbers to fight for a share of the political > clout and economic wealth. > This is something that Catholic Goans (the smart and intelligent) can > learn from others. > Kind Regards, GL > ---- godfrey gonsalves <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The indelible mark of caste -- has been the hallmark of rise or fall in > the Indian social ladder. It is merit by birth and not ones worth that > dictates your social status. _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list Goanet@lists.goanet.org http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
