She
was sitting in her office with a smile on her face and mind clutched in deep
thoughts. Looking out through the window at the girls running, playing,
gossiping, laughing and enjoying in the school's playground she was probably
thinking about her own childhood or may be about having her own kids; which she
wasn't had yet. She was an unmarried lady of about 34 years
old. A call on the phone brought her
back to the real world. Her mom’s number was blinking on the screen of her
cell phone. She picked up the call and greeted her mom. Her mom replied her and
said; “Dear! Another family is coming to see you in the evening, come home
soon.” “But I don’t want to get married now mom, I’m happy with my life”. “Don’t
be a stupid and do as I say”, by saying that her mother disconnected the call. She
hung up the phone and started looking out of the window once again. She was a
highly qualified woman and was working as a Principal in a well-renowned
government institution.
The reason that she did not get married yet
was that her parents did not get a suitable match for her. They were unable to
find an educated and well settled boy of their caste. There were a few families
who rejected the girl due to her age factor. I have seen so many girls who did
not get married just because of the ‘Caste System’ we usually follow. “Caste
System” is normally defined as “a social classification which divides people on
the basis of inherited social status”; this so-called system is only followed
in India and Pakistan, while all the developed countries have had moved on by
leaving this system behind.
I really don’t understand what does this
‘Caste System’ really mean? From where did it get originated? Why do people
follow it even more than the teachings of our religion Islam? Not even Islam has introduced such kind of
discriminatory system. ALLAH Almighty has undoubtedly created the human beings
in the form of pairs and categories but this categorization is not meant to
create disputes. There are people belonging to different ethnicities and creeds,
mental level of each and every human being is distinctive, there are variety of
people who speak distinguishable languages and many more such characteristics
but that really doesn’t mean that anyone is superior or inferior. In our
society ‘Caste System’ has turned to be a social problem. We are living in 21st
century where people are living very fast lives; they don’t have any interest
in knowing other people’s caste or creed. But there are parents who still have
conservative view point and they compel their children to marry according to
their (parent’s) desires. Difference of caste along with social status is the
greatest obstacle in the marriages of females as well as males. Parents still
choose the option of coercive marriages, which ultimately results in domestic
violence, divorce, multiple marriages, secret marriages, and disregarding
relationships among the partners. Everyone is aware of the fact that where ever
there is no mental compatibility between two people, the relationship is totally
illegitimate and worthless. Even Islam has commanded us to know the will of children
in the matter of their marriages. People in tribal areas of Pakistan consider
it a sin to marry someone belonging to a different caste; they even kill those
females and males whoever marries apart from their own Caste.
In my opinion, Caste System and Social
Status both are insane stances and also are root causes of many social
quagmires. Everyone has a right to decide one’s fate on one’s own. All I know
is that Pakistan is a Muslim State; it is based on the Principles of Islam, and
there is no caste system anywhere in our religion. Whereas, Caste System has
its roots originated from Hindu Culture and also has religious approval under
Hinduism. This system has no past and doesn’t even have a future in our
country. Being Muslims and intellectual people we have to get rid of this
social stigma. There is a dire need of raising awareness in our people, in our
families. We cannot leave the females of our society growing old like this.
‘Caste System’ should come to an end.
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