Jats Are Now, Officially, A Backward Class.

[dalsingh101]

Congratulations!

Jats Are Now, Officially, a Backward Class

T. SHER SINGH

No one looks more foolish than one trying to pass himself off as someone he clearly isn’t.

That was what 81-year old Kim Novak found out when she appeared on the Oscar stage last week sporting a 21-year old’s face. She is, you may remember, the Hollywood bombshell who co-starred with James Stewart in Alfred Hichcock’s 1958 psychological thriller, Vertigo.

There’s nothing wrong with plastic surgery … as long as it is proportionate and stays in touch with reality. Surely some Academy aficionado was having a big laugh at her expense while engineering it so that she would be one of the presenters of the award to a film befittingly titled “Frozen”!

It’s no different, no less ridiculous, when the silly people who govern Punjab today declared the foolish Sikhs who refer to themselves as “jats”, as a backward class within the asinine caste system, the STD -- sexually transmitted disease -- gifted by Hindutva to the world.

The influence comes by dint of sheer numbers, not ideologically, because the medieval desis constitute about 80% of the country, the Sikhs but 2%. Democracy doesn’t work too well when the overwhelming majority consists of lemmings who are easily led hither and thither by superstition, greed and self-interests.

Dumb and dumber. They have learnt to fib like the worst around them.

For years, 'jats' have been fooling themselves with the lie that they are of a 'high' caste. Now, in pursuit of a handful of (mostly non-existent) jobs and benefits, they're claiming that they are a 'low' caste.

Here’s what a recent news-item which has deftly slipped under the radar of the Indian media, reported:

The Punjab Cabinet approved the Backward Class (BC) status for the Jat Sikhs of the State on 5 March 2014. With this, Jat Sikhs will be the 70th community to be included in the category.

The grant of Backward Class status to the Jat Sikhs will enable them to get reservation in government jobs. Jat Sikhs of Punjab had been left out of the Indian Cabinet’s decision because the Punjab government had failed to bring the community in the State Backwards Class list.

A few days earlier, the Indian Cabinet decided to include the Jat community in the central list of Other Backward Classes in nine States: Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan.

The latest move by the Punjab Cabinet will now facilitate a proclamation by the Government of India that Jat Siks are now, nationally, a Backward Class.

Hm-mm-mm! Nothing is a surprise any more in India.

Only disappointments.

The Jats are now 'BC' -- appropriately linked with the pre-historic period of human development. Now, they can proudly claim that they are in the same basket as the rudely categorized Scheduled Castes of India!

It doesn’t bother me that all Jats, not just the stupid Sikhs who demean themselves by labelling themselves as Jats, have been confirmed to be, within the Hindu firmament, ’backward’.

But Sikhs?

Here’s the unkindest cut of all. These idiots -- the so-called ‘Jat’ Sikhs -- actually lobbied to have themselves declared ’backward’. Legally and officially. Now, they wear the self-sought insult as a victory.

Why, you ask?

So that they will have a shot at the government jobs, positions, grants and subsidies which are reserved by law for the Hindu ‘scheduled castes’ as an attempt to rectify the historical imbalance created by thousands of years of oppression of the so-called ‘low castes’ by the so-called ‘high-castes.

A noble cause, no doubt, but only if it is indeed used to help the down-trodden.

But in India, everything good and noble is corrupted within the blink of the eye by the privileged few so that the benefits can be usurped and misappropriated -- within the rubric and protection of the law, of course.

First of all, if they are Sikhs, how can they be Jats?

If they call themselves Jats, they can’t possibly pass themselves as Sikhs. A mere turban and beard and kirpan, or a dupatta and salwar and kameez, do not a Sikh make. There is more to being a Sikh.

And a Sikh is more than all the castes of India rolled into one.

He treats all others as equals, and accepts no demeaning inequality for himself. Period.

This fundamental principle is the mainstay of Sikhi.

The Gurus elevated all castes -- including the Jats -- so that they could leave behind the mythology of the brahmin, the kshatriya, the vaishya, the shudra, all of them, in the dust. In Sikhi, if you hide behind the skirt of a caste, A-N-Y caste, then only are you despicable, then only are you less and lowly.

That is, you demean yourself if you either look down on others, or you allow others to look down on you.

It is simply not acceptable in Sikhi. If you’re a Sikh, you are neither lower nor higher than any other human being. No ifs and buts.

But the Jats in Punjab who walk around in the garb of Sikhs?

They may or may not be the most intelligent or sophisticated or bright in the land, but they are certainly the richest and the most powerful … and, if anything, over-privileged. More often than not, they are the oppressors, never the victims.

So, now they qualify as a ’backward class’ so that they can also jostle their way in and pry the measly jobs out of the fingers of the real poor and downtrodden?

It’s like a beggar slapping his own face, my father would’ve said if he was around to see this shameful day, so that he can entertain the passers-by and thus win some alms thrown his way.

I have watched this recent phenomenon -- something that surfaced only in the last 30 years or so -- when some morons amongst us started identifying themselves openly as Jats [or Khatris, Bedis, Sodhis, Bhallas, Ramgharias, etc., etc., all of them -- they’re all ‘moorakh‘ (stupid), to use the Guru’s own terminology! GGS:1127.19].

It is not a coincidence that the trend began post-1984, when there has been a heightened flurry of activity in planting seeds of division within our community by our obvious detractors. The brainless amongst us have fallen for the bait, hook, line and sinker.

It was hilarious to watch them through the years, cooking up stories of how they were a ‘high’ caste. We watched from the sidelines as they first demoted themselves 10 steps from being Sikh to being Jat, and then desperately trying to pull themselves up a rung or two by clinging to the fiction of being a ‘high’ caste.

Today, for a fistful of dollars, they have embraced the honorific of “Backward Class’.

Wow!

‘Matt maari hai, innah di!” my grandmother would’ve exclaimed. “Their brains are dead!”

It just shows what clinging to caste appendages does to you … to your intellect, your mind, your self-esteem, your self-confidence, your very soul.

Right on cue, as if, two days after the Punjab Government’s pronouncement, the newspaper so ironically called “The Hindu” reported the following story (March 7, 2014). It’s not directly connected to the self-afflicted wounds of the so-called Jats of Punjab, but it highlights how the ‘backward classes’ are but pawns in the rat-race called Hindustan.

The candidacy of Navneet Kaur Rana of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Amravati, Maharashtra, has been challenged on the basis of the caste certificate issued to her.

The petition has sought to prevent her from using her caste certificate to gain any benefits of reservation, including for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The writ petition has been filed by Raju Mankar who alleges that his statutory right has been jeopardised as he intends to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Amravati seat which has been reserved for Scheduled Caste.

The petitioners have alleged that Ms Navneet procured a caste certificate on the basis of fake documents. Furthermore, they argue her caste is not recognised as Scheduled Caste in the State of Maharashtra.

And, here’s the clincher:

The Bombay High Court is slated to hear the matter on March 10, 2014 to decide if the certificate of Scheduled Caste procured by Ms Navneet Kaur was indeed as per law.

So much for India’s claims that the Constitution of India has outlawed ‘caste’ and that the government is making progress in eradicating the blight.

This is but the tip of the iceberg. Caste is the lubricant which fuels every vote cast (no pun intended!) in India; of every evil that permeates its society; of every type of crime that plagues the country.

But it’s a Hindu curse, for the Hindus, of the Hindus, by the Hindus.

What are Sikhs doing, miring themselves in that filth?

There’s nothing, N-O-T-H-I-N-G, that captures the degradation of India today more accurately and depressingly than this single cynical move by the various governments of India ... aided by the collective self-slapping of the greedy and the corrupt.

It so breaks my heart.

March 10, 2014

http://sikhchic.com/columnists/congratulations_jats_are_now_officially_a_backward_class

Can't wait to hear the excuses come out.....

[Amandeep Hindustani]

The jatts demanding or asking to be included into the backward classes is a direct result of this community sticking to farming as livelyhood and staying out of manafacturing, service, government jobs.

In fact, most of the communities included on the backward class list are basically farmers. The moral of the story? Get out of farming.

Which brings me to my point in the "hans raj hans" thread. Money, position, power, education talks everything else walks. Including gangsta stuff...

[Jonny101]

It's the only way to get government jobs now. Others have been taking advantage of BS status, jats are no different. They also want a piece of the pie.

[dalsingh101]

Ironically, despite jat over enthusiasm towards farming (literally making a song and dance about it), it has rarely been a proper sustainable living; especially with growing families that must share landholdings. Apparently that's been one of the main reasons why they've joined armies or emigrated abroad - to relieve financial pressure. Couple this with the fact that the 'modren' put jat da generally appears to be averse to working his own ancestral land (hence the reliance on Biharis), strangely deeming it beneath them (whereas working as a skivvy on a UK building site isn't??) and we get a strange picture emerging.

I can't help but think that the green revolution was a failure in the long term. The abuse of pesticides as well as the outright rinsing and contamination of the land seem to be its legacy. (An aunt of mine died of blood cancer in the Panjab a few weeks ago, and one can't help but wonder about chemical pollution?)

On top of this is the aspirations of a lifestyle that cannot really be sustained. Again this just highlights the way in which societies are in flux, and social orders at the mercy of external factors which can bang them seriously out of shape. Another dent into the way people curiously define themselves by their ancestors trade.

Oh well, it all puts the claims of jats being 'a high caste' into perspective.

[Amandeep Hindustani]

The life of the farmer is tough not just in India but all across the world. You really need the proper skills, passion for it just like any other profession. And some good luck as well because one bad summer or monsoon season and you are done. Unfortunately, I dont have a list of all the OBCs in the country but I would bet that most of them are in this profession.

I think that in punjab free water and electricity are provided to the farmers and most them are still looking for more. This puts an unsual stress on the system. In the west, governments are not allowed to give subsidies because its against trade agreements but these handouts are called "grants" because most farmers cannot survive even in the west.

The corporations can do this cheaper, faster and with better technology.

Its smarter for farmers to use their wealth to educate their children and get them more stable professions.

As for the movies, music about farming those are purposely created because it pulls at your heart strings and these artists know that. The result is ching ching for the artist.

[dalsingh101]

In the west, governments are not allowed to give subsidies because its against trade agreements but these handouts are called "grants" because most farmers cannot survive even in the west.

You don't know what you are talking about.

[Amandeep Hindustani]

Yes, sir! One of the first things that I learned in economics at uni.

Giving subsidies to professions are against certain free trade agreements because it gives them an unfair advantage. The money is still given out but its called "loans" or "grants" that are usually never paid back.

[Jonny101]

about a decade or so ago the Jats in Rajasthan had been declared OBC. This status had tremendously benefited their community from government jobs to education. Seeing them, Jats all over north India have been wanting to get OBC status. Punjab is the latest. Let's not try to compare the west to India. India is a different ball game with different rules. To get a decent job one needs sifaarish and rishwat and if you don't have these then you need OBC. It's almost like the Laws of physics are completely different in India.

[OnPathToSikhi]

In fact, most of the communities included on the backward class list are basically farmers. The moral of the story? Get out of farming.

Would you also have been of the same view when India was standing in front of the world with a begging bowl? The same farmers turned around a beggar like state of India by producing enough for local consumption and exports. What an ungrateful view of things... But expected from a "Hindustani" (BTW, you sound very familiar. Also hiding behind "Amandeep" is not going to help much)

[Jonny101]

You, being a Jat, want to have all the privileges. Punjabi Jat Sikh (same for haryana Hindu Jats) cannot get OBC status as they are NOT backward. every prominent position has been usurped by them. they are the richest community, already over-represented in every field. Punjab Police for example is a Jat Police force.

Farming is not as profitable as it was a generation or two ago. Now with every passing generation, the land holdings are getting smaller and smaller. Now Jats(both Hindus and Sikhs) have come to understand that they need to get jobs in order to survive as middle class. But they have come to realize that in order to get Jobs, the OBC status can and does help tremendously.

Personally I liked Manpreet Badal's proposal to scrap caste based reservations and introduce reservation based on one's poverty level irrespective of caste.

[tonyhp32]

Thanks again Dalsingh for showing that lack of knowledge about a subject does not stop you from having an opinion on it.

Read what Jonny has written, he knows far more about what happens in Punjab than you do listening to the gappan of freshies on building sites.

[dalsingh101]

What was Jonny's big insight?

I already said that farming is shite way of making a living (unless you have big plots). Panjab's green revolution appears to have gone sour?

A problem also lays in a simple peasant imagining he is some 'lord of the manor' zamindaar type, when the reality is so different. I meet loads of the pendu 'put jattan de' from back home; I know EXACTLY what they are like.

I would say jats are a backward tribe, not least of all because of their culturally embedded indifference to education/knowledge outside of career opportunities. The way some of the most privileged members of Panjab society come here to work as skivvies on sites (not even bothering to learn a trade before they jump), year after year, speaks VOLUMES. So the OP is no surprise to me. It's just a open acknowledgement of what many people already knew.

Now that you've got your (rightfully deserved) backward status, I hope we can hear a lot less whining along the "waahh waaahh, it's not fair!" line.

But I don't expect someone like yourself to understand...obviously...because you are backwards.

[Amandeep Hindustani]

Would you also have been of the same view when India was standing in front of the world with a begging bowl? The same farmers turned around a beggar like state of India by producing enough for local consumption and exports. What an ungrateful view of things... But expected from a "Hindustani" (BTW, you sound very familiar. Also hiding behind "Amandeep" is not going to help much)

I know what you are getting at. "Amandeep" is as much sikh as "singh" is - not very much.

Outside of a relatively stable job and income getting into manafacturing, services, government, private companies etc..also is the sure shot way of decimating tribalism, casteism, sexism, feudalism and general stupidness.

However, in the long run caste or religious based quotas/reservations are a vote grab nothing more. However, some posters have pointed out that it did help other communities. So best of luck!

[OnPathToSikhi]

I know what you are getting at. "Amandeep" is as much sikh as "singh" is - not very much.

"Amandeep" and "Singh" are for Sikhs only. Hindus cannot use these words - Get it?

Outside of a relatively stable job and income getting into manafacturing, services, government, private companies etc..also is the sure shot way of decimating tribalism, casteism, sexism, feudalism and general stupidness.

However, in the long run caste or religious based quotas/reservations are a vote grab nothing more. However, some posters have pointed out that it did help other communities. So best of luck!

Hypocritical view. Keep it to yourself or implement such views on your fellow "Hindus"

[Amandeep Hindustani]

"Amandeep" and "Singh" are for Sikhs only. Hindus cannot use these words - Get it?

Hypocritical view. Keep it to yourself or implement such views on your fellow "Hindus"

Maybe in lala land with the oompa looompas. The question is not as to why hindus are using these terms and names but why sikhs are.

[Amandeep Hindustani]

Better yet - create a group, give yourself a fancy name, hold a meeting in a basement, record it, put it up youtube and claim " your version of history is correct". Thats the trend with you people, no?

[OnPathToSikhi]

Maybe in lala land with the oompa looompas. The question is not as to why hindus are using these terms and names but why sikhs are.

Keep going. Almost there to smoke you out of your hole.