For centuries throughout Indian history, gender and caste discrimination have been deeply rooted in the social fabric. While many believe these issues are behind us, the reality is that perhaps only a small fraction of the collective mindset has truly evolved. For millions living in India, the “self-evident” truth of equality remains hidden behind the dark walls of prejudice. As a student, I believe that while equality is an innate gift from nature, society has spent centuries attempting to strip it away.
In the late 1700s and 1800s, discrimination in India reached its peak. Individuals from lower castes were often treated not as humans, but as animals. They were forced into the most grueling labor, yet denied the most basic human right: clean drinking water. They were labeled “untouchable,” despite the fact that every human is composed of the same skin and bone. This suggests that people were not ignorant of the truth; they simply chose to ignore it to maintain their own power structures.
Gender discrimination was equally cruel. The practice of “Sati” treated a woman’s life as if it had no intrinsic value, and child marriages robbed young girls of their education and future. Great reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar fought tirelessly against these social evils. They understood a fundamental fact: we are all created equal, and no human possesses the authority to mistreat another based on the circumstances of their birth. Many countries make the girl feel unsafe in their own home; they are not safe, they feel uneasy to speak or to tell their thoughts because of the permissions or the requirements. Things like their clothes, their talking, and all—they can’t get freely to do something. Why do only girls have to face this? Why do girls have to make this much difference from the boys? Is there something that girls know? Why is this happening with girls? We all know it is not nice, but we can’t do anything because we think that by only one person, it will not happen. But you don’t know—one person can change the world. The world is made by one person; the constitution, one person can do anything if you try. For one, then, there is everything to happen, so just try for the world and you will see your first step can make or hold the running competition.
Even though India is now a modern nation, the “pretending” I observe today is concerning. While our laws mandate equality, many individuals wear a mask of modernity while carrying ancient prejudices in their hearts. We see this in small, painful ways—like when a person is still served tea in a separate “special” cup because of their caste. When people do this, they demonstrate that they recognize the truth of equality, yet refuse to follow it. Not only do they prefer the man, like bad men, or they are not nice deciding how our hurting is “no” right; not only has the caste discrimination made it to the peak or goes to the peak, but the gender discrimination, if it feels guilty to speak just what we all are doing. They restrict a girl’s potential simply because “she is just a girl,” and they judge men by their surnames. They wear the mask of equality but speak with the mouth of injustice. If we want to make a big difference, then we have to start from our home, because I listened from a great mouth that for changing the world, we have to change our home, because it will help you to change the world.
There are many leaders, I don’t know in specific countries which specific leader is there, but in India, there are two main ones which I know about for gender and caste discrimination: the one is Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and the second is Mahatma Gandhi. And for their work, Bhimrao Ambedkar got the Bharat Ratna award and Mahatma Gandhi got the title of Mahatma. It is not easy to change the world, but step one, then all. Just try your best and see how changes will look like, and it will make your own heart happy when you see changes all over because of just you. It is the happiness which God takes by making the human, and you will get it by giving the right of humans. Just give it well and feel it, then you will see how God feels.
In our school, all stories give an equilateral color. Same to you if you are rich or poor, or you don’t have any sense, or a girl, or you lose it, or anything you don’t have. What is everyone saying? Everyone has their own things which are not in them, and it makes them different, but in school, by giving the same dress, the school management shows that all are equal. In schools for the world, in the school, all are students; there is no special treatment for the rich one or no undergrounded punishments for the poor one. And also, they don’t give different books or different teachers to teach them; they give all equal. It shows what our school example is going to tell me. Our school, every time, tells that God never made unequalness among people, so why are we going to do this? Everyone loves their school, so just take this inspiration or something what you want to take from the school, or an example just you take from the school, of how cheap it looks when you do social or gender discrimination. If you are an educated one, then you are to teach others how dangerous it takes to do social or gender creation; you do not have to mix up with them and use them to do this social and caste discrimination.
I know I am not an experienced one, but how I see the world is different, because whenever I see the world, I see the past is repeating. Because in the past, a huge amount of social and gender discrimination happened, and now also, I know we are trying our best to make it possible, but I believe that then this work will be fast and it will help all those who are working for it.
For becoming successful, I know there is one idol of yours. Just think why he or she is your idol; is it about himself or herself? No, he or she thinks about the world, has done everything, and sacrificed their life also for this world, and for the problems of people and the welfare of the people. So, an idol means not just accepting the mindset of them; the real idol meaning is thinking what they think of, thinking that what their thinking is going to share with us. And their thinking is just showing us that we should work for the welfare of people. Just look back to your idol for what reason he or she is your idol—the answer is with you.
I firmly believe that all people are created equal. If nature did not create us “different,” why does society continue to do so? As a student, I realize that the classroom is the first place where this mask can be removed. When we study together, our worth is not defined by our surnames, but by our effort and character. The creator or God who made everything didn’t discriminate against anyone, didn’t give unequal treatment to anyone, so why are we doing this? Is it nice? I am not blaming or I am not telling that I made a step to end it, but I am going to tell you that if you can’t do anything for the profit of it, then just don’t do the opposite of it. Just give equal treatment, because everything is seen by God.
It is time to stop merely performing equality and start treating each other with the respect that human dignity demands. To destroy the roots of discrimination, we must first stop consuming its bitter fruits. This change must begin within our own homes before we step forward into the world. I think or I hope that you get what I would like to tell you, because it is very hard to take it that this is happening or over and we can’t end it. These are the observations of a student beginning to understand that while history is written in books, justice must be written in our own actions.
At last, I’m gonna tell you that it is not in your hand to do unequalness or injustice to the people. Just try to be silent, or try to end it. If you can’t do this also, then your life didn’t do anything by coming into this human field. If something is a mistake by me, then please forgive me, because I know mistakes are part of human life, and social and caste discrimination is one of the greatest mistakes done by human beings.just try to do it…
By: Anushka vilas Patil
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