Your notes on the caste system

Caste System

Caste System

by Katja Böhnig -
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The caste system in India dates back thousands of years and its oppressive hierarchy has sustained itself even until today. Sujatha Gidla, the author of the article, grew up in the state of Andhra Pradesh as a so-called `untouchable´ (Dalit) and illustrates her experiences of ostracism and the feeling of inferiority belonging to the Christian minority. Only after she leaves her village, she encounters other Christian girls that belong to a higher caste than her. Gidla ´s own discovery of rethinking her internalized caste system and her aspirations to write down and remember the story of her `untouchable´ ancestors reflects the lost identity of the lower caste due to the inhuman conditions led by the Indian caste system.