It is wonderful article. But we should stop writing "prescriptions" for India from outside of India. Not to say he is not a well wisher of India. We need to be inside India and work to change to change the system. It seems like the "caste" system may never go away as it seems like "shared karma" or "species" or "division of labor" in a jungle etc. We need to find ways to let the castes interact productively and peacefully for the well being of the nation. Of course, we need to continue to heal the wounds caused by historical injustices committed by the various ancestors of ours. His observation on historical and social/cultural continuity is absolutely correct and a peaceful and productive "caste system" seems to have contributed to that one way or the other (in my opinion!).
We can't simply copy ideas from countries like USA or China that are pretty linear culturally.
RE:Great article!
by Kris iyer on Apr 15, 2008 08:30 PM Permalink
Dear Siva, An indian understands India better, when he or she puts distance between him / her and India. In the confusing variety of views and abuse you get in India, with a variety of mixed-motives, often, out-right frauds, you are surrounded by in India, it is not easy to take an objective view. I think it is the insight that counts, which we can evaluate, no matter where the author is living. More over, Sri Ram Kelkar, is not prescribing anything to any one. India is too big for any individual to "prescribe" anything. Sri Ram Kelkar is not claiming to be some "Ayatollah" issuing "prescriptions".
You will notice, NRIs, who have lived abroad for many years, will queue up spontaneously, will say, "thanks" and be generally polite in debates. Perhaps, when in India, some of them revert to "habits" of everyone else.
