Caste Matters Quotes

“As much as the constitutionality of the state emphasizes the spreading of social and economic equality and scientific temper, it does not, however, explicitly talk about the unequal stakes inherited by the traditional power brokers. The reconciliation of the horrid past that manifests into the present remains unacknowledged. As a result, the question of reparation and inherited privilege does not feature in the discussions of dominant-caste people. This lack of historical accountability creates a group of self-declared nationalists, religionists, supremacists and merit holders that parade around as pundits proffering distorted versions of Indian society.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“Being an ally is akin to volunteerism, where one can dodge responsibility and take a day off. Meanwhile, comradeship is a bond of trust that is developed through personal, social and economic sacrifices.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“The source of power that Shudras and other caste groups derive is from the organized power of religion. The Brahmins' control of the religious order that grants downward contempt towards the lower castes is primarily responsible for the Dalit condition.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“Casteism is the longest-thriving pathology known to mankind. Conjuring differences between human beings out of thin air and claiming they are based on birth, and then ascribing them a certain social status, is a testament to seriously compromised mental and social health.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“As racism manifests in various forms, casteism also functions in the faulty education system-formal, informal and religious.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“The Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj and later Arya Samaj believed in the sacredness of the Gita, which Phule viewed as merely a political treatise designed to keep the oppressed masses within the shackles of the religious order.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“Dalit capitalism is the romantic idea that capitalism is a solution; it does not acknowledge that capitalism is a problem to begin with and a pernicious system to have. It is ardently sold to the general public with the aid of popular culture and media.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“Capitalism is defined by the growth of modernity, colonialism and extensive forms of oppressive mechanisms that are employed to extract maximum labour for minimal wages.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“According to an Indian Express report, the Supreme Court collegium responsible for the appointments of judges and promotion to the superior courts does not have clarity on the rules and criteria. There are indications of nepotism and parivaarwad in judicial appointments. More than 70 per cent of the judges are connected in one way or another to 132 families.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“Laxmi Bai was a Brahmin born in the household of Peshwa Baji Rao II. Her original name was Manikarnika Tambe. And Jhalkari Bai? She was a Dalit born into a Kori caste family. Jhalkari Bai offers us many reasons to celebrate her as a brave Dalit woman who took it on herself to enter the battlefield and fight the colonizers. She epitomizes the chivalry of a women warrior who violated all the regressive religious codes that confined women to kitchen and family. But a modern feminist icon with her name remains missing.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“The quality of hypocrisy changes as we navigate through the hierarchies and seniorities of professional employment.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“A nation, as Ambedkar once observed, is not an entity built on the bricks of laws, but is an act of democratic morality. He goes on to explain the pitfalls of nationalism and its ills in Pakistan, or the Partition of India and Revolution and Counter Revolution. Ambedkar thinks that nationalism is a psychological unity, a sensorial experience.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“In the midst of an economic crisis, no one is seen campaigning for the nationalization of Indian temples that are the safe havens of priestly wealth as a patriotic sensibility. Even the secular/anti-religion Left Front has kept mum on this important issue. For various reasons, the Brahmin left continues to retain its hegemony.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“For Ambedkar, effective patriotism meant collectively working towards annihilating caste. Patriotism in an unequal society is a scheme conspired against Dalits to continue their subjugation.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“Guarding the elitism of the Constitution and selling it under Ambedkar's name has come at the cost of Dalit radicalism. Ambedkar is now centralized as a sanctimonious figurehead. And in a country like India, to worship someone is to kill any critical thoughts about the person.
...It is a constant process of wrestling with the past-its hazards and wrongs-as opposed to its vitality to the present. Such codes of injunction deserve annihilation, that is why he burned the Manusmriti; in the same way, he expressed his frustration towards the handling of the Constitution of India.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which is responsible for space-related projects, has launched missions to the moon and Mars. However, the take-off is always officiated by a Brahmin performing prayers. Even the directors working at the institution ensure that the Brahminic religion becomes part of its operations. Astrology-inspired numbers and specific days of the week are considered when launching satellites. Such superstitious norms have ascended into space research projects. As far as ISRO remains under control of Brahmins, they will transport caste to the extraterrestrial world.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“The idea of contemporary India is a Brahminical project designed by Brahmins. They dominate important positions in all sectors and are over-represented everywhere in India. Corruption, scandals and a rapidly failing state - these are the inevitable effects of the Brahminical project. Dalit universalism, on the other hand, is a moment of refusal to compromise with the ever-growing disasters. It offers a nuanced view of the mayhem caused by orthodox religious and capitalist forces.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“The Indian comedy scene largely lacks protest humour. It exists simply to pass the time, and for unreflective entertainment.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters

“humour offers a secure position to the 'ego's invulnerability'. The ego is elated and therefore, seeing no threat, humour becomes 'rebellious'. Rebellion is the ideal purpose of jokes. Through jokes, one can air repressed emotions.”
― Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters