I only came to reside in Goa about 13 years ago. My observation, totally unscientific, from a lay persons's viewpoint, is that casteeism is very prevalent in Goa, perhaps more so among Hindus than amongst Christians, Among Christians I don't have the slightest inkling about who belongs towhich caste. But I have noticed that the divide amongst Hindus is very pronounced.In my neighbourhood there are two Hindu temples....one mainly for the Chambar (shoemaker) casteand one for others..mainly Brahmins, I am told.I was appalled when my night watchman said to me upon return from running some chores that\"Ti Chambar tuka meong aili"" He was saying that a lady of the Chambar caste had come to see us.\The lady he was referring to named Rekha was known to him. He knew her name, but chose to refer to her by caste rather than name. I blew my top.. Rekha was very dear to us. Her husbandwas a good friend who died prematurely, leaving a young widow with 5 young daughters. I took theresponsibility of supporting the family for many years till the children were educated and grew up.\To hear her being referred to by Caste upset me to no end, and I let the night watchman get a piece of my mind.There are many such incidents that I have encountered in Goa, but I will not relate all of themI have heard that Casteism is prevalent among Christians, but have not personally encountered it.Only those who have personally encountered discrimination based on Caste, know about it.I sense that the "better off| people are Christian brahmins, and the less well off areof other cases.
