Written by: ashokkumar(expressindia.com)
4 min readNew DelhiNov 23, 2008 12:00 AM IST
First published on: Nov 23, 2008 at 05:16 PM IST
The biggest scientific innovations of this age has just given a new lease of life to the caste euphoria by giving space to the identity hunger on the Web. Ashok Kumar finds out.
Caste divisions of India have found a new domain to register their presence, the Internet. The Worldwide Web is all set to witness this new rage of Indian castes on its domain on a much wider scale than anticipated by anyone, so far.
Armed with the addresses starting with www i.e. World Wide Website they are increasing their presence on the web with each passing day. Some of the biggest websites of particular castes could be found on the Net by the following domain names. rajputsamaj.net, meghwal.com, dalits.org, kayastha.org, yadav.com, yadavs.org, jatland.com, agrawal.org and scores of other websites which invites members of their respective castes as their new homeland on the Web.
Not only in the form of different websites these castes have also found their presence on the most popular interactive communities, known for socializing on the Web, such as Orkut. Some of the groups which are randomly visible on the these networking sites are Indian jats, Jats In Delhi n NCRs!!!!, JuSt Jats, Rocking Yadavs, haryanaion brave yadavs, Karhade Brahmins, Brahmins of India, Dalits who believe in equality etc.
Some of the unique features of this caste based Websites can be found in the following descriptions and services, which these portals normally offer, such as.
a. Matrimonials: It certainly forms the most important segment of these castes-based-websites. Most of these services related to matrimonials are of course provided free of cost. Apart from the matrimonial services there are numerous net-based social forums, which seem to welcome the respective members of the particular castes. These forums too, have given a one-point platform to these people on the Web to carry on the age-old tradition of discussing various issues surrounding these castes.
b. History: History of a caste, how it originated in the early times, how it came in its present form and the historical achievements made by it so far are highlighted by almost all such sites without an exception. While describing the history mythological facts are also presented as a testimonial to certain suggestions.
c.Clans: Most of the Hindu castes are further divided into clans and sub-clans. The list of these clans, in some castes is so long that it may contain as many as names of 5000 sub-clans of a particular caste. Since most of the members of these castes are not aware of these sub-clans, which form an important part in the marriages, the listing of these very clans on these Websites, have become a big utility tool for the members.
d. Personalities: Castes have always been euphoric about the great men, which a particular caste gave to the society. As such looking at the great interests, which the listing of prominent personalities would generate in the common members, almost all the castes have a separate column to list the who’s who belonging to the particular caste. People from almost all the fields are covered under this category ranging from politics, business, and sports to administrative and legal fields.
e. Miscellaneous: There are several facts of a particular caste such as the numeral strengths, spread in various states and various other interesting facts which always make a good reading for the members of a particular caste. All such details, which are generally not found commonly, are also prominently displayed on almost all these caste-based websites.
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