– Kuradi Chandrasekhara Kalkura
The toast of the media for the later part of January, 2016 was University of Hyderabad; suicide of a Dalith Student, Rohit, alleging harassment by the University. Even before it is subsided, now it is the turn of the Kapus, demanding enlistment of the community in the Backward Class list. Both are for the wrong reasons. Only sample items , from one daily of one day; “Mudragada plans fast from Friday”, (Headlines); “Pavan claims ignorance on Kapu quota stir”, “Kapu agitation supporter kills self over quota”,” “Naidu hints at talks with Mudragada”, (Front page), “Shun violence: BJP to Kapus”, “Violence a planned act, alleges Pavan”, “Naidu sore over ‘failure’ of Kapu Ministers, leaders”, “Government will fulfill promise made to Kpaus: CM”, “Naidu created differences among castes willfully: Loka Satta Party”, “Kapu violence is not less than a terrorist act.” and some more.
There is a pathetic news in the same issue, about the negligence by of a septuagenarian farmer by his four daughters and four sons. Anjaneya of Halharvi Mandal of Alur Assembly Constituency, in Kurnool Dist. is obviously a Dalit or from a Backward class. No community leaders or organisation has come forward to take care of the rejected parent. However the local Sub Inspector of Police, Ashok Kumar, always considered a die hard section of the Society, took pity and showered compassion. At his instance Anjaneya was admitted in Jeevan Jyothi Home, a volunteery Old Age Home. It is heart rending.
Caste system, once a social order has undergone a metamorphosis. I am sick with the discussion on Reservations and Merit in the community meetings and conferences. Brahmins forget about the Archakas, Purohits and Cooks. I do not like to comment about other communities, who do not care for their ancestral professions. Just because our forefathers followed a particular way of life, considered below human dignity, today are given/enjoy certain privileges. Community/caste Associations seldom think about the persons at the bottom. We ignore the ancestry. Now there are big and small, land lords and farm labourers, merchants and coolies, industrialists and labourers, officers and clerks, high and low and rich and poor in all the communities. There are families which enjoy the third generation and fourth generation reservation. A child studied in the Zilla Parishad/Municipal High School has to compete with them. Same class is opposing the Creamy Layer principle!
Reverting to Kapu reservation, Telugu Desam Party is being paid in into own coin: (Neevu nerpina vidyaye Neerajakshan -నీవుేర్పిన విద్యయ్ నీరజాక్ష.) In 1993 it supported the cause of the Kapus and it was one of the reasons for the election debacle of the Congress in 1994. BJP while in the opposition in Rajasthan promised to include the Gujjar, classified a OBC, a pastoral agricultural ethnic group in the ST list and took up the cause when Vasundaraa Raje became the Chief Minister in Dec. 2003. Agitation by the Gujjars was opposed by other section of the STs, particularly Meenas. Violence erupted in Rajasthan, Army was called in to restore peace and tranquility. Ultimately it brought down BJP the Government. However BJP bounced back to power in 2013. But Gujjars remain where they were. However their agitation continues, with subdued vigours.
Worth remembering William Wordsworth:
“The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”
Replace ‘World’ with ‘CASTE.’
Hope Naidu will act as C.M. of A.P. in a more sportive manner. News is alarming that the Backward classes are ready to rise in revolt against the Government, if Kapus were to be included in the Backwards List. I am sure he will not allow the Kapu issue to become another UOH.
Kuradi Chandrasekhara Kalkura is a noted Kannada-Telugu Scholar. A Udupi hotelier, and former Chairman, Zilla Granthalaya Samstha, Kurnool, Kalkura is a commentator on socio-cultural issues of Telugu states. He set up Gadicharla Foundation and running Telugu Bhasha Vikasa Udyamam. His Telugu Ratham crisscrossed the state with a message of Telugu Vendemataram.<
