Craft remains with crafties

This subject has been hounding me since quite some time more so because it has the roots of dived that had existed since ages.

When Aryans descended on Indian soil there was caste system in existence. We have heard of Manusmariti which later divided the society on the basis of the path one has chosen for himself/herself. The society was divided primarily in four basic sections e.g. Brahmins, Khastriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras i.e. four varnas. This Varna system so evolved worked well and served the needs of the society. However, at a later stage this system faded in its core value systems and irritants disturbed the fine balance. Subsequently, with India coming in for attacks from its western borders, the basic fabric of Manusmariti came under serious trouble.

caste system 1 G9Oby 16298

It is literary or well educated people (Brahmins), who had the responsibilities of preaching and teaching, got involved in the right of supremacy created void in the society as almost it lead to a situation wherein every Varna tried to prove that they are superior over others except Shudras. To my mind there was nothing wrong in the classification as enshrined in Manusmariti except that the current caste system in Hinduism, which of late is based on births in a particular community or caste. This very concept has been adopted by the Indian Constitution makers as society was fractured on these lines and major initiative was possible. If we today recast the Hindu society as per value and Manusmariti based the ills of so many problem probably can be taken care of. For example we see the current structure of our nation hood then the Brahmins( people involved with teachings and preaching’s) would not be more than 10-12%, Khastriyas( people are for National Safety and Security-warrior class) would not exceed 15-18%, Viashyas will form the largest chunk(people involved in trade and commerce and earning for lively hood) some where in the range of 50-55% and similarly Shudras(people involved in cleaning and sweeping etc.) will be some thing like 8-12%. This would provide solutions to much of the issues raised by so many commissions fixed for these basic issues. No more castes and no more benefits as per these norms. No more issues of forward and backward, SC and STs and so on. We can adopt this system for other religions also like Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis etc. I don’t know as far this would be acceptable to various people but there seems to be no harm in debating these issues a fresh.

Given these conditions in any society, there would be datas (givers-ruling class) and patas (takers-public at large). Unfortunately, these classes will continue to exist but at least not on the basis of ballots and castes, if right people are put in place for the right job. This would take care of so many ills of our problems.

If one analyses critically it will be found out that the craftsmanship is slipping away from the traditional people and more and more people joining the better placed jobs. Our technical education system has not been able to address these core issues. Like if you see a typical village scenario you would have noticed that every village had representation of all segments of economic activity and every one used to get their rightful dues. I would dwell upon this little more and would like to say that a village would have priests, tillers and agriculturists, traders, weavers, carpenters, smithy men, potters, jewelers (not in all the villages), sweepers etc. Village Headman used to see that with all this peace and harmony is maintained. Every one lived happily.

If we see above model of economic activity then we may learn how to encounter management of Village economy. Basic craft was with the people and we have revert back to the people and give them best of the education and training and yet see that these core values and craftsmanship is retained in the people. If we miss then we miss an opportunity for ever.

We survived so long in our poverty but survival becomes more and more difficult when every one tries to become rich rightly or through wrong means.

In the end ,I would like to say that lot of ills of the society can be taken care of if skill sets are improved and basic craftsmanship is retained in the people. Let craft remains with crafties…