As per e-mails below, today, many Indians try their best to take full advantage of the fact that they belong to SC/ST and OBC, because reservations for SC/ST and OBC in govtmt jobs and govtmt educational instritutions are increasing, thanks to Mr. Arjun Singh of Congress.
Check out all Indian candidates who have got admission through reserved seats (SC/ST and OBC)in govtmt medical, engineering etc. educational institutions and govtmt jobs and ask them, why they have done so, and, why, they have not taken admission in to "general/unreserved" admission category? Regards ============================================== Message: 6 Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:05:11 +0100 (BST) From: CORNEL DACOSTA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Goanet] On Caste. Hi Gabe The quote you kindly provided from the Daily Mail says "scientists have found out that we are hard-wired to care about social status." I can't quibble with this view at all and the Catholic Goans are no exception to this view. However, what I have always questioned is the particular call on social status that is based on CASTE RATHER THAN CLASS--concepts that are NOT conveniently interchangeable at all. Indeed, only about ten days ago because of some consistent fudge from one poster, I reiterated what the difference is and as exemplified internationally in any respectable academic source. For further brief clarification, to me, CASTE status is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE as it is attributed to an accident of birth and pr-determined on highly dubious criteria that will NEVER change. This is in the interests of a self perpetuating caste elite and at the symbolic and material expense of those it determines to be of lower caste--eternally! In other words and by way of illustration, an uneducated illiterate Brahmin would be seen as inherently superior to a highly educated and materially successful non Brahmin or someone lower down the caste hierarchy. What a joke! And yes, some believe this absolute nonsense that I have encountered observationally and in discussion. Class in turn is a relatively fluid concept in social stratification. It is open to upward and downward social mobility AND BASED ON CHARACTER AND PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT determined by merit that is externally verifiable in society by and large. As a working concept, social class out-classes the evil abomination of caste any day. Need I say any more? But oh yes in terms of your question about Catholic Goans, caste belief and Roman Catholic belief are also totally at variance and irreconcilable. Because of this, not one caste adherent on Goanet has been able to dispute this point with me and rationalise their highly questionable adherence to Roman Catholicism and caste at the same time. Kind regards Cornel --- Gabe Menezes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Scientists say we are 'hard-wired' to care about > class; could it be > that Catholic Goans are also 'hard-wired' similarly > ?