Entrepreneurs Rise in Ashes of India’s Caste System | Hacker News Reader

Entrepreneurs Rise in Ashes of India’s Caste System

nytimes.com

24 pointspavs12 comments

The most important quotes from the article for the western reader who thinks that some how Caste should enter every discussion about India. "Caste has no impact on life today,". . “It is no longer a barrier.”

I cannot speak for the entire subcontinent, but as a South Indian from one of the "working/middle" castes (like the subject of this article), caste has never stopped me or anybody in my extended family/friend circle in getting education and jobs to the best of our abilities.

An East Asian in Paraguay (perhaps Korean, I'm not sure) was very successful, really very rich. Part of the economic elite, so being Asian did not stop him from doing well in business. Being Asian did not prevent his children from getting an education at the country's best school, either.

But he couldn't belong to the country club because the de facto and de juro policy is that Asians (among others, I guess) can't join. Really, it's in the rules.

So, what I'm getting it is, jobs and education aside, is there still stuff you couldn't do? I doubt it's written into rules like it is in Paraguay, but are there places you can't go, invitations you won't get, and people you can't date?

There is nothing that I was not able to do in pubic life because of who I am, or specifically what my last name is (last names are give away your caste and geographical location).

In fact the question baffles me because I get the impression people from the west still think that there are public places in India that stop people from certain castes from entering or participating. Wow!

Country club is a private institution, they can make up whatever rules they want. I don't see a problem with that.

There is nothing that I was not able to do in pubic life because of who I am, or specifically what my last name is (last names are give away your caste and geographical location).

presumably except dating and marriage - which is still beholden to the very hard lines of caste.

disclaimer: I am an exception to that rule - but just barely made it.

Funnily enough, Country Club seems to be in the middle of a racism charge as of today. http://www.indystar.com/article/20100911/LOCAL18/9110325/3-q...

He should just buy that country club.

Proving, once again, that the secret to power is money. In fact, I think the most useful way to think about money is to think of it as virtualized power.

Hmm. Description of Nadar caste in wikipedia does not seem to suggest it is a lower caste.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadar_(caste)

Can anyone confirm or deny?

Many "lower" castes are economically and politically powerful. Also, the caste hierarchy is fuzzy in South India compared to the north. Of course, where one's caste stands in relation to other is always a matter of intense debate ;)

A bit complicated actually. According to the state government of Kerala, for purposes of reservation (a form of positive discrimination), they are classified as a 'Backward Community'.

The line is so blurry atleast in my part of the country (Kerala state, South India) that it is increasingly difficult to say whether a caste is lower or upper from day-to-day life.

The article has too little meat around it.

A quick Google search revealed that Chezi K. Ganesan is the President of VinChip Systems Inc

http://www.vinchip.com/

Reference: http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-techsupport-caste-arise...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com