I have spoken to some long time resident friends here and they have, from their experiences, stated that certain areas in the city are discriminatory. One of my Tamil Brahmin friends was compelled to buy a flat in Bangalore because the Brahmins would not give her a place (she was a single woman in her mid-30s) and the non-Brahmins would not give her a place because her name was a give-away - that she was a Brahmin woman. She in fact suggested that areas like BTM and Kormangala, because of the student population, are better bets. Again, I should clarify that what I am saying does not imply that Muslim families are very outgoing and accept anyone - I have never tried renting a place in Shivajinagar or parts of Frazer Town such as Mosque Road. Surely, Muslim families would come with their own biases. When I was trying to rent places in Tilaknagar and Byrasandra areas three years ago, the broker kept showing me places owned by Muslim families. He would say that because I am Muslim, I would be secure in a Muslim home. In fact, I would have felt more insecure there because they would perhaps pry on me constantly and be devastated by my forward going nature.
Also, the veg/non-veg discrimination is also meted out by Hindus. When I uttered my name on the phone this morning as Mrs. Chandrakiran, the fellow on the other line said, "tell me more about yourself. You are veg only nah?" It is my hunch for now, but the nature of property ownership in Bangalore is only compounding these biases in the city - something to add to my Ph.D thesis research portfolio! I refuse to accept that Bangalore is a cosmopolitan city. It is very much rooted in the biases of caste that are prominent in South India and in family traditions. The cosmopolitanism of this city is highly cosmetic. On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 3:12 PM, Sruthi Krishnan <[email protected]> wrote: > In Chennai, the 'vegetarians-only' is a euphemism for saying 'brahmins > only'. It is sophistication you see, the caste system is abolished, so we > search for other markers. Whether you wear a bindi, have a mangalsutra or > whether you eat meat. > There are many I have met here who say we are educated, we don't follow the > caste system. "See, I let my maid into my kitchen." There are many who > don't > and prefer not to discuss it. This is the middle-class version of > communalism and casteism. There are no shouting from the streets crying out > against women going to pubs. Rather it is insidious, slips into > conversations and other remarks. > The market funda does not correct the system here. I get enough Brahmin > responses to my rental ads and so, why do I need to let it out to someone > else? There is also the proud declaration you get to hear "I don't mind a > lower rent. But brahmins only." > In Mumbai, it is communal. I knew a couple -- a muslim boy and a > 'konkanastha brahmin' girl. The trouble they had in getting an apartment is > just insane. She used to instantly find acceptance and the boy's name > equalled a shut door. They moved to the US finally. > > Zainab, I'll ping some friends in Bangalore and see what they say. > -- Zainab Bawa Ph.D. Student and Independent Researcher Between Places ... http://wbfs.wordpress.com
