Realising Jati System in the Capitalist Era as a tool for Emancipation
The “jati” model originates from the caste system wherein all members of a jati used to practice one specific occupation. This model was good for people belonging to the same jati but acted as a hindrance for people to practice the profession other than that of their jati. We will examine how to leverage this decaying institution of jati.
It is high time that we realise the true potential of jati system. A person whose family has been in a particular profession for generations will be generally in a better position against the person who has just entered that profession. Genetic factors, networking in that profession, trade tricks, environment in which the person has been brought up all shape the mental horizons of the person. We need to connect this ingenious talents to the markets. For example, if a cobbler has the knowledge of how markets work and develops an entrepreneurial mindset, there is a high chance that he might establish his own shoe making company applying his ingrained knowledge of shoe making.
Having said that, I do not intend to discourage a person from practising profession other than his caste’s. That’s what formal institutions are meant for.
A gap has been created due to the market model of economy in the modern era which could not be filled by the traditional informal institutions. This needs an urgent support of formal institutions.
Members from the Vaishya Varna, mainly, learnt the tricks of the trade in the Modern Era but others fell behind. It is high time that we all learn to row this boat. “Money is Power” in this capitalist era. With more entrepreneurs from backward community, will lie the way forward for their “true” political representation. (Though seats have been reserved for members from SC/ST community in Lok Sabha but nothing significant has been achieved in these seven decades since Independence). The change in composition of British Parliament full of aristocrats to industrialists is a testament to this fact. Moreover, the increase in number of MPs in Lok Sabha from OBC category post green revolution was due to their rise in economic stature.
The rise in economic class apart from political empowerment will also greatly enhance social cohesion. A commonality of class consciousness will help gel different caste groups which were earlier divided on lines of caste, class etc. This social cohesion might translate to increase in inter-caste marriages thus furthering the social cohesion and integrate the nation.
Though the policy of reservation (in jobs, here) is a hotly debated topic. But we rarely acknowledge the fact that the public jobs are only a miniscule of total jobs in economy, both formal and informal sector combined. Thus, we need to look for a better solution for the empowerment of Backward Classes. Leveraging the jati model by cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset among all seems to me a better approach for the economic and political empowerment of deprived community.
What do you think?
