Hi Selma, Casteology, here we come! I get a perverse thrill from discussing this subject (as noted by Cecil Pinto and my Cafe Prakash friends) because I don't subscribe to it, and don't see myself fitting anywhere into the ladder. Except maybe out of solidarity at the very bottom of it.
Some "facts" as I perceive them: * For Goa, the 20th century has, for a significant part, been a power struggle among the Catholic Bamon and the Chardo lobbies. Even a history of the press of that period reflects this rather acutely. Much like the late 20th century saw a resurgence of the Hindu middle near-the-top castes (despite the sub-altern packaging and pretensions, as sought to be made out) lurch for power, fairly successfully, under the MGP label. Or, the Saraswat resurgence at the end of the century and earlier this decade, in the guise of BJP politics. * I'm not sure either is "superior" to the other, or this has been conclusively accepted one way or another. Without the religious-sanctioned hierarchy (in a theological, not social sense ... since the latter is not absent) the issue is open to debate. There are pockets which are Chardo-dominated (particularly around Salcete) and others which are Bamon-dominated. So the location on the hierarchy is often contested. I know Chardos who would describe the "caste of the rulers" ahead of the "caste of the priests" while undertaking a descriptive exercise.... But to be honest, even the reverse is a loaded way of going about things. * Even among Bamons, there is a pecking order... which is what would have made this graded system of degradation so funny, if it wasn't so tragic. It's geographical too. For instance, the Bamons of Salcete would look down on Bardezkars! * As far as 'kashti bamons' go, does that have to do with the "intellectual" loathing for labour, even of a profitable kind? Was this tag used for those who worked the plantations and fields, or does it have different connotations? It seems much of a Salcete phenomenon, and getting right answers on caste is often a near-impossible task, given that there are so many kinds of vested interests out there in this minefield, trying to paint a "more suitable" picture depending on how they define their interests. Rui Gomes Pereira has about the best -- and most open-about-it -- understanding of caste across communities in Goa. If not mistaken, he defines which comunidades are run by which castes in his book 'Hindu Temples of Goa' (correct me if wrong). My pro-comunidade friends confuse the issue by arguing that the comunidades are controled by a mix of caste groupings. Once, I did an exercise and saw this was true... but only to a minimal extent. Like the few token Hindus who were part of the United Goans, to allow it to claim it was a "secular" party appealing to all Goans. You're right, the comunidades are very much of an "upper" caste affair. But that, of course, does not mean that current-day politicians are justified in marrying the capitalist revolution Goa is currently witnessing to their own robber baron instincts, in a way that enables them to loot these land-owning institutions. --FN On 15/09/06, Carvalho <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear Nasci, > > I don't claim to be an expert in the intricacies Goa's > complex caste system but to the best of my knowledge > Gaunkars consider themselves on par with Bamons and on > a good day will use the word interchangeably. Just as > upper class Chardos on a good day will get away with > calling themselves Bamons. > > I don't know of anyone who is a Shudra Gaunkar. There > are ofcourse Kasti Bamons, of the agricultural belt, > but they still consider themselves Bamons with or > without their kastis. > > Perhaps someone more knowledge can shed some light on > this. -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick Noronha http://fn.goa-india.org 9822122436 +91-832-240-9490 http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/ _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list Goanet@lists.goanet.org http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
