Chennai: Professors and scholars on Monday strongly criticised acts of ‘honour killing’ which they said one should be ashamed of. Such incidents were happening even after 68 years of independence.
They were speaking at a public reading event, organised by Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), to commemorate 100th year of Dr.B.R. Ambedkar’s seminal text ‘Castes in India.’ Students from various institutions read Ambedkar’s original text which was presented by him at the seminar in Columbia University on May 9, 1916.
M. Srinivasan, Head, Criminology Department, Madras University, said, “Without addressing the issue of endogamy or endogamous marriages, there was no question of talking about annihilation of caste or addressing the issue of untouchability. ”There was no mention of caste and soc-ial issues in the manifestos of political parties. “We have to understand why political parties are not bothered in addressing the issue of caste. They want to use caste as a tool and they want it to sustain,” he said.
“Endogamy is the key in the whole caste system. Other castes have imitated the practice of endogamous marriage from Brahmin caste,” said S.Anand, Head, Dr Ambedkar Centre for Economic Studies, Mad-ras University. “The entire honour killings are revolving round that particular aspect. If you break that, probably you can solve this issue to some extent,” he said.
“No one can claim that India is shining because we are yet to be successful in annihilating undemocratic, inhuman social evil, the caste and caste system,” said P. Damodaran, Associate professor, Anthropology, Madras University.
“Untouchability is still prevalent in our country.” The writings of Ambedkar was of great relevance today. “We must include ‘castes in India’ as a textbook. Ambedkar’s writings should be included in school and college curriculum,” he said.
Educationist P.B.Prince Rajendra babu said, “From primary school to
law college, caste system is still prevalent. In the present elections, caste
identity and sentiments are being expressed in an obvious manner. A person
belonging to oppressed caste is not able to seek votes from persons
belonging to upper castes.”
