[Goanet]Caste in Goa

[Gilbert Lawrence]

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Hi Cornel,
Thanks for your thoughtful article. Because you specifically requested
my "view on this would be helpful and informative please", I am penning
this short response. I am getting ready to leave for Honk Kong for the
Pan-Pacific Lung Cancer Conference next week. I am only mentioning this,
because any further replies from me will be delayed for three weeks
(need time to get caught upon my return) and not from disrespect to you
and others participating in this thread.  

I hope I HAVE NOT given the impression to "accommodate a Hindu belief
system with a Catholic belief system". However, I am affirming the
continued Goan-Hindu social-cultural practices with the Goan-Catholic
social-cultural practices. These practices even confused and frustrated
the European padres. (This was another reason for introducing the
Inquisition in Goa to keep the native-Catholics 'in line'.)

I may be opening a new can of worms!:=)) To my analysis, caste in the
Hindu society is a religious AS WELL AS a social problem. Caste among
Catholics in the main is a social predicament. This is not aimed to
defend caste among Catholics, even as a social hindrance. 

We need to recognize the benefits of social and economic
inter-dependence of segments of society. And as we seek to breakdown
past barriers (which ironically helped dependence), we need to
substitute serious alternatives for 'association' - beyond music, song,
dance and scotch. These arrangements are aimed to include the
like-minded. The best example is the Rotarians which were formed for
business professionals to connect. While a Moose-Lodge meets the same
needs for other pursuit/ economic segment of society. Do you find
anything wrong with these groups? These organizations serve the same
function and reflect the same human need with evolving times compared to
different social groups of the yester-year.

There is no room /justification for (LEGAL, RELIGIOUS and SOCIAL
ENFORCED) segregation in the modern world!

But without associations and network, I am concerned whether people /
Goans will flourish as a society; and be successful for long, as
individuals. In fact the whole concept of cyber-Goa (and village e-mail
lists) is to connect within a limited (well-defined) identity. This by
definition excludes others. With a very competitive world (out there!)
there is little room for divisions and discord among us/ our community. 

But this well-defined society (like in the past) needs to understand and
accept societal and individual responsibilities. The success of Goan and
Indian society of the past was based on these duties and
responsibilities which some of the reviewers /analysis (of this thread)
have overlooked.  

Thanks for seeking my views on this topic. Regards, Gilbert

Cornel: 
I am also puzzled that you seem to be prepared to accommodate a Hindu
belief system  with a Catholic belief system. I know all about
syncreticism
etc but refuse to accept the wishy washy view that one can be a bit of
both.
As you will know, this point was emphasised in one or more of Goanet
posts
and your view on this would be helpful and informative please.

Do tell me what you feel about this concern, and also, whether you can
see any linkage, whatsoever, between caste oppression in Goa or anywhere
else, and oppression through female circumcision. Both have long
histories/ justifications, but is there room for either in the modern
world?