James Rappai (Jeevanmukta Das):
Varna-ashram! We already have the ashrams going strong. The Brahmacharis, Grihastas, Vanaprasthas and Sanayasis are all nicely revolving in their own orbits… what we now need are the varnas! So, isn’t it about time we sat down and divided ourselves into the four varnas—Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra?
Any takers?
Me, me, me, me!
Well, apart from Mort, the mouse lemur in the movie Madagascar who will volunteer for just about anything, most of us would think: yeah right, we need the varnas like we need a hole in the head! After all, not so long back, the varnas system was considered the most vile form of social evil, and tossed out on its ears. Indeed, it may even be said to be the mother of all social evils, and may well have triggered the reformation moment worldwide.
Classless society was then thought to be the answer—the bright light shining in the sky—and many a social and religious reformers made a ton of hay while it shone brightly. Classless society, classless religion… all humans are equal, can drink water from the same well, sit on the same bench etc., were demands rallies went to the streets with. Many a civil rights battle too has been fought on this front, and today equality, civil rights, and so on, are ideologies we hold close to our hearts. Add to that, secularism, democracy, democratically elected leaders, hand-picked from amongst the people (as if that was an assurance of good governance!)—all these fine ideologies set fire to our oppressed imagination—and soon, even became the law of this brave new world of ours.
Thus today, if you inadvertently utter the word ‘varna’ anywhere in ear-shot of any politically correct person, which, by the way, is every woman, then you might as well write your obituary and settle down in a nice cosy grave! Indeed, our women carry a sense of being previously exploited, and today pride themselves in being the equality police of the world. And, if she sees inequality anywhere, in any form—then God help us all!
But what’s in the term ‘varna’ that makes us and our women, hiss and spit like a cat who has seen an alien behind the kitchen drapes?
The main objection to the varna system is obviously the appalling sense of inequality it brings to the table. Now, I understand this fully. Really, I do. However, ask yourself this: is it really you reacting—or is it your modern-day conditioning?
It is, after all, a politically correct thing to do. And aren’t we all such suckers when it comes to parroting what the world considers fashionable. Besides, the objections themselves… have you ever noticed that these are very same objections reformers of yesteryears cleverly used to hoodwink us? In short, our towering sense of equality that seems so ingrained in us… may well be a borrowed political platform.
No?? Okay then, ask yourself another crucial question. Were the reformers right?
What these ruthless leaders actually did was to point out the minor flaws in an existing social system, paint them in the exaggerated hues of ‘exploitation’ and use them to incite the so-called disadvantaged groups. Done cunningly enough, it would not take long to get the dullards amongst these groups to agree. And before you knew it, the whole thing had snowballed into a people’s moment—and soon, the system in question was dismantled.
So, what exactly transpired here? It’s exploitation alright. But the person who is doing the exploiting is actually the social reformer. In short, it’s just a ‘you are being exploited; I’ll save you’ scam. And, sadly, it is often built on the ashes of something truly magnificent that he has singlehandedly burnt to the ground.
Not convinced yet? Hmm… here, let me to put it in a light you’ll readily see through.
Assume you are a factory worker and earning a decent wage. True, you are not the hub of the organization, but merely a humble cog—but a relatively happy one. One fine day a labour union leader comes by, holds meetings, convinces you and your co-workers that since you are doing the work, you should be the hub, get the lion’s share of the profits and what not. Now, you may nod your head in agreement, but still, you are wary; not fully convinced yet. But here again, the dullards, and miscreants would heartily agree and soon strikes are organized and the poor little factory is brought down on its knees. End result: exploited or not, you, who anyway had just cog-like propensities to begin with, and happy being just a cog—just lost a nice cosy job! The union leader went on to become a minister or something.
Oh, you think this is a worse-case scenario… and that it rarely happens? Hell no! Ninety-nine per cent of the time this is exactly what happens. Why, today there are entire countries wherein such labour unions are operating, and there, no businesses big or small would ever come and start a factory. And what does that translate to? No more jobs for you and your children. Who, I ask, is getting exploited here? Answer: you, and no one else.
Social reformers too operate in this vile and veiled manner. They use a perceived weakness in a system and exploit it. Who gains? Certainly not you! You end up losing your job, remember? Now, I do not want to debate or belabour this point, but usually when you dismantle a system it will invariably result in chaos. It may result in your achieving your short-sighted goal, but then again, destruction of complex systems will undoubtedly result in losses at many other hidden and not so hidden fronts.
My point merely is this: the ‘equality’ you so vehemently support… may not always be right. What is more, you may not even agree with it. Indeed, like countless other workers who hate unions, you too may prefer to be a just cog in the wheel and earn a quiet living. All things considered, it is realistic, and you are relatively happy.
But forget all that. Aren’t some of us born into rich homes and others into poor? Isn’t that injustice right there? But are we doing anything about it? No! What can we do? Nothing! Can’t strike against God’s will, can we?
And again, isn’t there inequality by the truck-load in our reformed lives today? Managers get ten times the pay that workers get. Can we reform that? Can there ever be equality when pay-scales are different? No!
The point is, whether we like it or not, from birth itself we are inexorably stratified. There will always be someone at the top, someone at the bottom and someone in between. There will always be some level of inequality, regardless of what social or religious reformers have to say.
The varna system is not any different from the societal stratification that exists today. And all it is says is: match the beast to its burden. Put the ass in front of the cart, the bulls to plough the field, and the getting that darn dog off the throne! And the funny part is: if you look carefully, you will see that some of us do indeed have the long ears of an ass, others are bull-headed, and still others have the pack-instinct of dogs. That’s apparently how the good Lord made us!
So who’s ready for the varnas?
Me, me, me, me!
Hey…! Will you let me finish!?!
But is streamlining livelihoods all there is to the varna classification? Actually no. But yes, it sure is about simplifying the whole process, automatizing it—and then relegating it into the background.
The real business is worshipping Krishna. Human life is actually earmarked for spiritual evolution. Thus, what we are really required to do is to organize ourselves, make a sea-faring ark for ourselves and boldly sail across the ocean of ignorance. And in that endeavour, if some of us have to perform different functions, functions we are actually born to do, then where is the difficulty?
And here is something that will truly gladden your heart! There is an inbuilt concession for rapid spiritual progress committed to each and every varna. Not all of us can be Brahmanas. It calls for too much rubbing and scrubbing; too much prayer and preaching. The good news is: the same level of austerity is not prescribed for the other varnas. And the best part is, you will accrue the very same spiritual benefit a brahmana does by performing your set varna duties that are less stringent! This verse in the Gita [3.35] even goes on to state that ‘it is better to do your varna’s prescribed duties imperfectly than do another varna’s duties perfectly.’
Really, if that isn’t hard selling, then I don’t know what is! Truly, that verse… I never could make sense of it before… but now I know it to be a 24-carat concession. The good Lord seems rather attached to his varna system and has thrown in this concession, possibly just to sweeten the deal! I mean, after all, there is a little bit of inequality in the system… and he obviously does not want it to addle your mind. But hey, as long as we can get to Vaikunta with less the effort, who really cares for a bit of inequality, right?
So who would like to be a part of the varna system?
Me, me, me, me!
Mort is it? I like your spirit, Mort. Say, how would you like to be a nice little err… Shudra??