The theory of evolution quoted by Charles Darwin-
"Survival of the fittest", was meant to define the key element of
adaptation necessary to the changes taking place around and molding of the
characteristics of a species towards meeting basic purpose of surviving. The
animal kingdom did evolve, but few species got dropped in between. The plant
kingdom did evolve, but a few species got dropped. The homo sapiens did evolve,
but species of animal/ plant kingdom got annihilated. You see, we were the
smart asses!!
Once the neighbouring kingdoms had been vanquished/
rather taken care of, like a true emperor, Homo sapiens turned towards their
own in search of that victor's morale booster.
Like any kingdom, family or group, each individual in
that band was allocated a task- a responsibility to fulfill the needs of the
group of individuals by efficiently accomplishing the assigned duty. Thus, one
set of people were tasked with raising cattle, one set for farming, one set for
hunting, one set for making the weaponry, one set to worship their deities etc.
etc. and ONE, usually an elder to run the whole set up. You getting a picture?
Not yet. Ok. As a generation took over, the individuals "transferred"
that knowledge within their family, to their wards. Then it was their next
generation that handled that "task"/ "duty". As the ages
went by, newer groups were discovered... new people were tasked with handling
those duties... and they in turn passed it on to their wards.
This process got carried on for generations and got
repeated over and over again. The individuals became adept at these due to
generations of data and that duty became their "Identity" instead.
They individuals now got referred to as- Cattle Grazers, Farmers, Warriors
(Kshatriyas), Iron Smith, Brahmins (priest), Traders, Scavengers..... Rulers
(kings) etc. The divide among the individuals widened as economics got
introduced in between. The people tasked with menial tasks earned little, thus
widening the gap to the prosperous individuals of other tasks. These identities
over the ages translated into what we called castes. This has been
"MY" general understanding of whatever history of the civilizations I
had managed to read about.
Come the Modern age, social stigma got attached to the
individuals depending on the tasks they were handling. Along with the economic
divide and the power clouted by the powerful sections of the society these
groups (I wouldn't want to refer to them as castes) got castigated, they were
denied many a basic rights. There were many reformists who fought for the up-liftment
of these under privileged- some chose the discussion medium & other
preferred violence.
Let’s jump to post independent days India. Right through our
Civics subject, we were taught about how our Constitution was formulated and
how one Mr.BabaSaheb Ambedkar with the foresight or goodwill, thought that for
uniform development of various segments of the society fragmented based on the
age old discrimination would be able to get together to build a formidable
society & great India. The very basic principle behind this amendment was
to ensure that everyone is tagged along as the country progressed further.
These adjustment (if they can be referred so) were meant last for a defined
period and post that period- C E A S E to exist. But post-independence the
situations changed, the people's mindset changed...so did the thinking of the
people in Power. With great power comes.... greater greed/ want!
Let me bring to you my perspective of how things changed
for various groups involved, because of this small act…. To follow in next
post. We will in the end get to how Homo Sapiens vanquished their own kingdom.
