Caste, Class, Society And Gender India

There was time When one used to ask, What is your caste, What is your name and title? Are you from a rich family Or a poor family, Wealthy and moneyed Or not? Our mentality and mind-set. Which society do you belong to, What your society, Where are you from, Upper or lower strata? You are a woman, A woman, Live you under purdah, Under ghumta Lest they will see you! Why did you, did you smile On seeing the stranger, The stranger, Why did you, did you? , asking his daughter. Though there is something cultural But instead of, Our pagletgiri, excessive punditism We liked and admired we not, Our untouchability. Dharma-, adharma, Papa-punya, Karam-dharam concepts, Too much of orthodoxy and convention Admired we it not.