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Nguyen Ha Van

SOCG 109: Reading Notes13

Ghiridaradas, Anand. 2011. India Calling(New York: Times Books), chapter 2.

Polgreen, Lydia. 2011. Scaling Indias Caste Walls with Capitalisms Ladders, New York Times,

December 21.

1. What are the different entrepreneurial schemes Ravindra is involved with?

Ravindras business empire includes many different schemes: an event-managing firm; a

middle-class finishing school; an English academy that teaches aspiring Umred youths the

spoken English that can help them broaden their economic opportunities, at a low cost; roller-

skating classes, the exclusive distribution in the area of a brand of high-end skates that he

recommended to his students; motivational teaching at several local schools and colleges.

2. What is the casteless regime of caste described by Ghiridaradas?

It is a system of classifying people into different classes, not based on the caste they are born

into, but rather on their economic power. Instead of ascribed status, money has become the

new determinant to sort people into the new Indian hierarchy. However, the mentality that

some people are born as masters and others as servants, and that hierarchal boundaries need

to be strictly enforced seemed to leave an indelible mark on the Indian mind. It affects the way

they behave to other people: reverentially, ingratiatingly towards ones of higher castes, and

dismissively, suspiciously toward people from lower castes.

The elevator example: 2 men the executives and the delivery men. The ex were taller, had

fuller faces, better formed features. Without limps, body lumps, or skin discoloration. The DM

were darker, more deformed, worn down by their own history. The history was written down in

the physical bodies. The gap was so wide they physically express their social and economic

standing.

8/12/2019 SOCG 109 reading notes 13

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Nguyen Ha Van

Rs love life: rejected because they belong to different sub -castes >> identity is narrowly

conceived

How is this different from class systems in other country? Is this just an exchange of one system

of hierarchy for another?

Adam Smiththe poor mans son

3. Can capitalist success overcome caste barriers to social participation?

Capitalist success can only overcome caste barriers to social participation to a certain extent, as

can be seen in the case of Ashok Khade. As a Dalit, he used to be forbid from drinking from the

village well, to worship at the village temple. Now, as a successful businessman, he is welcomed

everywhere, from the village temple (which was rebuilt with his money), to the company of a

Middle Eastern prince. However, his caste still remains a barrier to full social acceptance, which

can be seen in his hesitancy in revealing his surname in business, which would be a clue to hislowly origin.