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Recursion

(56,582 posts) Mon Feb 22, 2016, 01:43 PM Feb 2016

Agreement reached in deadly caste protests in India

Source: CNN

Off and on throughout India's history, the country's caste system has provoked violence over rights and opportunities.

One such conflict was resolved Monday, with the leaders of a protest calling on demonstrators to unblock roads after reaching an agreement with the government.

But in this case, the caste feeling aggrieved isn't one of the disadvantaged, but rather the relatively prosperous Jat community -- and it wants to be treated like those traditionally underprivileged.

The demonstrators are angry at what they see as reverse discrimination. In protests over the weekend in the north Indian state of Haryana, they blocked highways, attacked railway stations, set fire to buildings and looted, police said.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/22/asia/india-unrest-water-crisis/

Agreement reached but no sign that the protestors will be satisfied with it

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Agreement reached in deadly caste protests in India (Original Post) Recursion Feb 2016 OP

I was just talking to Jat friends about US politics but not this issue. appalachiablue Feb 2016 #1

Thanks! I thought DU could use some clarity and order Recursion Feb 2016 #2

appalachiablue

(41,146 posts)

1. I was just talking to Jat friends about US politics but not this issue.

Reply to Recursion (Original post)

Mon Feb 22, 2016, 02:35 PM

Feb 2016

India's complex society and caste system I should know more about, and plan to give it some time.

I like the De Stijl, Mondrian avatar.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)

2. Thanks! I thought DU could use some clarity and order

Reply to appalachiablue (Reply #1)

Tue Feb 23, 2016, 01:08 AM

Feb 2016

And if I can't bring that in my posts, I can in my avatar.

The caste system was outlawed in 1949, but ironically that resulted in the first ever India-wide census and enrollment of literally every Indian citizen in one caste or another (that was never true even at the height of the caste system), with an eye to affirmative action to redress their structural disadvantages. (So, for instance, if you remember the flap from a couple of years ago with the Indian diplomat and her maid, the diplomat was actually of a "lower" caste than the maid, and got her job through the quota system -- though her family is also insanely rich, which probably helped. There are very rich Dalits and very poor Brahmins.)

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