The Brahmin Tag

Tags are for bags and not humans, said my friend. I have had a few personal experiences in the past and recent past that reminded me of Karna's story where his tags of birth and caste discriminated him and pushed him down the path of adharma.

Karna, the first son of Kunti was disowned by her, let in the river and was found and raised by Charioteer. Discriminated began when he approached Dronacharya to accept him as his student. Dronacharya assumed that Karna belonged to the Charioteer community and turned him down as a student. Karna later approached Parashurama and lied about his caste to be accepted as his student. Soon after he invoked his guru's curse when he found out that Karna was a Kshatriya and not a Brahmin. Sadly, Karna faced the brunt of his caste that brought him grief, discrimination throughout his childhood and the last straw was when he was not allowed to compete in Drapuadi's swayamvar because he was not allowed to compete with other kings. Finally, this pushed him to side with Kauravas in return for respect and acceptance in the Royal clan. Let me park Karna's story aside and come back to my life. 

A colleague in my Paris office recently asked me if caste system is prevalent in India. I was surprised by the question and I was not sure if it really did or did not. I was confused if I should put forward the story of Karna to showcase how caste was deep rooted in your culture and epics. He quickly came back with another question that further surprised me. He asked me if I belong to the Brahmin caste. I told him that dividing people along the lines of caste is cruel and declined to give him my answer. I didn't want to sound rude and I explained how during the last census in India, I had instructed my parents not to answer any questions pertaining to caste or religion. 

I didn't answer my colleague directly, but instead decided to test his understanding of caste system. If it were India, people would have deciphered from you first/last names and sometimes by scanning your torso for the "sacred thread". Hardly had I finished my sentence by posing him back with a challenge and he was ready with his answer. "You must be a Brahmin," he said. I was shocked at his response and asked him how/why he decided I could be one. Without any hesitation he said, "you are well educated, intellectual and strong-willed (arrogant). I didn't know if I should smile and take it as a compliment or walk away from this rubbish classification that is following me in Paris like Karna's curse. 

Let me rewind back to 2008. That time I was reporting to a manager who was married to a Brahmin woman and always spoke high of Brahmins for their razor sharp intellect and strict adherence to values and ethics. Is it still the same? Looking back, I realize that I was naive in letting him take advantage of my honesty and kindness by depositing his son's engineering college capitation in my bank account and making me issue a cheque to avoid any financial probe and leaving the tax implication on me. But soon enough the Brahmin virtue of honesty and kindness turned against him when he coerced me to steal the marketing budget from my current employer and help him prepare a budget for his next employer. I remember signing forms where I agreed not to trade my employers property and pass it on to competitors. When I failed to oblige to his request and I was threatened of dire consequences in the upcoming appraisal. 

The fanatic Brahmin gene in me challenged him by sermonizing at the final appraisal at the end of our lives and how our Karma decides our next birth and not our managers. That late evening conversation ended our 5 year professional relationship, but reinforced my sincerity towards my employer and commitment to honesty and righteousness. 

A few years later, I once again took my manager head-on when he hadn't conducted my appraisal despite multiple reminders. When I righteously reported the matter to HR, I was given a chance to be appraised, which only turned out to be a hogwash and a check in the box exercise. I was forcefully fitted into a rating that was assigned by the system. The appraisal system, so called industrialized that works based on a code, ruthlessly allotted me the default rating that I term it as fate/karma due to my upbringing. But then isn't it my duty to question when righteousness is not being followed? 

Krishna in Mahabaratha points at three dharmic people for their silence during perpetration of injustice and holds them responsible for the death and destruction of Kuru dynasty. Bheeshma, Dronacharya, and  Karna. Inspired by Mahabaratha, I continue to fight injustice done to me and to my team mates often caught in the famous bell-curve and quotas system for promotions. 

And recently, I was told that I'm being a typical Brahmin and that I'm too humble and don't promote my work and create visibility within the organization. The history of my experience clearly says that my efforts were undermined and I was exploited for my timid nature, sincerity and honesty. Does it bother me, not any more. 

Is it really my fault or is it my genetic make-up and I'm unable to peel and live up to the expectations of crony capitalism? Like the tectonic plates that collide often, the yearly  appraisal time brings me to the conflict zone between ego and values. If only Bagavad Geeta was told before the battle of Kurushetra, so many deaths including that of Karna could have been prevented. Like many other Brahmins I have used teachings of Bagavad Geeta to deal with life situations and keep me on the track of dharma. 

Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma phaleshou kada chana – You have the right to perform your actions, but you are not entitled to the fruits of the actions.

Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani – Do not let the fruit be the purpose of your actions, and therefore you won’t be attached to not doing your duty.

These days, I've stopped analyzing and crucifying myself and whenever I am stabbed at the back I read the chapter on Karma Yoga and supplement it with Newton's third law. Hinduism confirms that present experiences are result of my past actions and gives me the maturity from seeking revenge. 

Though people are often tagged and discriminated as Brahmins, it is important for everyone to understand the true meaning of the word "Brahmin" and learn what to do and what not to do from Karna and our epics. Bagavad Gita was not for Brahmins, but was open for any one to interpret and follow. Fortunately or unfortunately, those who decoded the message behind it and lived by it were tagged as Brahmins (one who seeks Brahman or truth). As centuries rolled by Brahmins (embodiment of satwa guna) became the bellwether of the society and were looked upto for guidance and support. This sense of responsibility eventually gave Brahmins the intellectual arrogance to perpetrate atrocities by diving and controlling the society based on caste. Is this discrimination that I experience today a result of my past karma? It may very much be true! 

Unlike Karna who decided to side with Duriyodhana to avenge for his discrimination, I've to resigned to the logic of karma and path of karma yoga. Let us not forget that Pandavas had to go through their share of experiences to expunge their past karma (metallurgy terms it annealing) before justice was served. Nothing would happen without the will of almighty and karma. And going back to the educated guess made by my colleague in Paris, yes, I continue to be strong willed and steadfast on the path of righteousness and incidentally I'm being called a Brahmin for my lifestyle and qualities.

So, now you know who a real Brahmin is and you can become one just by living those values - there are no barriers to entry. We've all seen and heard about those born in orthodox Brahmin families living unbrahminical life - in reality birth doesn't get you anything and you if you want to become one just modify your lifestyle and outlook. It may take a few years for it to start its pay back and a few generations to start making a change in your DNA.

Next time someone tags you a Brahmin, feel proud and live up to the real meaning of the word. Not sure if the Brahmin tag will do you anything good in this society driven my materialism and discrimination, but if you live the real meaning of the world, you will reap the benefits. Remember, values cannot belong to any caste or creed or religion, and it depends on the inner quality of the person - irrespective of birth, family or faith. Let's all become real Brahmins keep this world happy, clean, and intellectually charged.