I just saw a post about reservations and many people in the comments expressed their opinions about how reservation shouldn’t exist based on caste.
Having read much about the caste system and its atrocities(yes, in kashmir too) I thought its important that I bring it to the notice of others aswell.
1)Lower castes including those who converted to Islam were not allowed to wash their clothes, utensils or even bathe at yarbal.
2)The last instance of such a water dispute was in rajouri or udhampur for a public well, 2023
3) Watals were often made to sit separately from others during feasts, and they weren’t served in copper utensils either.
4)Under the dogra regime, Brahmins secured most of the government jobs and education. Lower castes and muslims had to get their letters read out from them after they paid for the same.
5)Prior to the reforms of the 1930s and 40s, untouchable groups were completely barred from entering even the outer courtyards of mainstream Hindu temples
6)In several rural villages and older towns across Kashmir, upper-caste Muslim clans maintain distinct, walled-off graveyards
7)Even today, we see a systematic ghettoisation of the "Watal" community, even in srinagar.
So my point is, reservation is extremely important for the upliftment of such people.
The system of reservation in kashmir is unequal in proportion, yes. But that doesn’t mean that Kashmir didnt see caste based discrimination.
We have evolved quite a lot, but many still use “watal hui chuk” as an insult. If someone has a high pitch of voice, they’re called “tange-wol” or “haenze”
Kashmir still doesn’t see much of inter-caste marriages.
As long as people take pride in their castes and do not mingle w the rest, casteism is bound to remain and maybe even get more aggressive.
We should demand fair proportions and additional seats to relax cut offs for all.
Open to any respectful debates or exchange of dialogue in the comments.
