Writing a Brahmin Hindu Respectfully. Views on the Reservation System

This is regarding your recent answer where you stated that Brahmin Hindus are overused in Western Fiction. I am currently writing one such character. How do I make sure that my character is mindful and respectful of other castes and religions, especially when she has been raised to believe otherwise? How should I portray her opinions regarding things like the reservation policy which she complains about due to her upbringing/in her ignorance? If I were to change her community and start researching to make her represent other castes/religions, would that be disrespectful/tokenism?

Intracommunity Issue?

One could convincingly argue caste politics and the reservation system are intra-community issues, so writing a story that doesn’t lean heavily into either may simply be the best option. I ask our desi followers to contribute on whether they think this is a good topic for a non-desi to explore.

*A note to our desi followers, please keep your comments civil and productive. We request that non-desis do not comment.

A Personal Opinion

Should you decide to explore the issue, I offer myself as a case study. I complain about the reservation system all the time, just like I would complain about affirmative action in the US. However, I also complain about the fact that neither school funding nor resource distribution is equitable in the US nor in India. I don’t see a contradiction between the two ideas. What really frustrates me is when people who oppose affirmative action and the reservation system also oppose policies promoting equity and meritocracy, because that tells me a lot about that person’s true priorities. Ultimately, my stance on these issues is flexible and changes depending on the success of policy and the severity of inequality/ inequity. 

I think you can have your Brahmin character start from one position, and, through her own experiences and observations, end up with a completely different perspective. I know people who had no issue with the reservation system growing up, but later viewed it more as a tool for politicians to artificially pit different caste groups against each other while the politicians stayed in power. I’ve heard stories of people suffering because of the artificial scarcity introduced by the reservation quotas (Particularly during India’s socialist phase), while others suffered because their legitimacy and skill levels were always called into question. 

I can similarly imagine a Brahmin starting from the opposite viewpoint (Blaming the reservation system and other castes), only to interact with people from other castes to realize that the reservation system is a flawed policy that nevertheless seeks to address the accumulated frustration of years of inequality and oppression. Either way, I particularly recommend showing the consequences of her changing opinions through her interactions with family and friends if her ideas change over time. Thinking for oneself and questioning community norms always invites a lot of solitude and introspection. Does she feel loneliness? Independence? Frustration? Shame? 

Either way, please consider consulting a sensitivity reader. There is nothing wrong with showing that your character has flaws and intrinsic biases with respect to casteism and Hindu nationalism (Should you care to go that route). Many Brahmins have such biases, but you want to fall short of demonizing Brahmins, Hindus and South Asians as a whole (I notice many white people find it difficult to appreciate the differences between desis, regardless of religion, ethnicity and caste). Remember, outside of India, Brahmins, like all Hindus, are usually in the minority, and, if you are white, your commentary on our views will have greater weight with other white people than anything we have to say about ourselves.

Article By – Marika Sharma

THE OWL CITY TIMES