Caste is right but casteism is wrong, says Vaidya

Jaipur: While discussing the book ‘We and the World Around’ in the front lawn on Friday, the second day of Jaipur Literature Festival, Sarkaryavah Manmohan Vaidya attacked casteism. Vaidya said that during a period in country, the caste used to decide which profession to choose for earning livelihood. This system did not exist earlier. Earlier there were inborn characters. Now it is not there. CoSarkaryavah said that caste is right but casteism is wrong. He said that caste is only a form of clothing and people cannot be discriminated against on its basis.

“You cannot be stopped from entering anywhere on this basis. The Constitution of India gives equal rights to everyone. RSS is also working on casteism. Inter-caste marriages are being given importance. There are benefits of having a caste system, one is that even today 90% of marriages take place within castes. For this reason divorce rate in the country is very low. Secondly, social change that needs to be brought is easier to do through caste leaders. Therefore, caste is not wrong, casteism is wrong,” he said, further adding, “The idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam originated from India. People of India also went to do business all over the world. Our people did not convert the people there. As the people of Europe and Arabia have done. The word India was given by the British after coming to India. India has been a popular name since ancient times. Therefore it should remain the same. Lokmanya Gangadhar Tilak, in his explanation of the word Hindu, said that Hindus are those who believe in the Vedas.”