Class apart!

As I checked into a hotel in Washington DC, I heard people referring to the hotel cleaning staff as sir and ma’am and my ears suddenly took note of it. This was so unusual. As the day progressed, I was in for a pleasant surprise on my first visit to the United States. I might sound like any other Indian youngster smitten by the magic of America. To a certain extent I am- by a not so commonly talked about trait of this country.

I have grown up reading and hearing how college going Americans support themselves by working in restaurants, grocery stores etc. Whenever I have been to a Mc Donald’s in India, I have wondered if I would take up a summer job there and if my family would consent to it and the answer has always been in negative. Why? What is so different about the culture of America, I have often wondered. Now that I am here witnessing it, I have my answers in place.

In America, the lady waiting at your table gets the same amount of respect as the one teaching you in a classroom. I don’t know about the intricacies of the class system but I can say from what I have observed that people here are not discriminated against on the basis of their occupation.Whether or not you are at the receiving end, it's a wonderful feeling to be in a society where everyone is treated equally.It's like a slice of utopia!

America largely appears to be a classless society. Isn’t that a bit surprising, America being the hub of capitalism? Or is it about the dignity of labour, that we all learn in our classrooms and conveniently forget? I can’t think of many who would care to ask how I was doing or wish me a good day if I were standing behind a counter taking orders in India. Whereas an average American begins his/her conversation with “Hi, how are you?” regardless of who the other person is-a cabbie or someone sweeping the streets! I am not complaining. I am just super awed!

I think a lot of it has to do with caste system in India which held occupation as the premise for dividing people into the four varnas- the Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests), the Kshatriyas (kings and warriors), the Vaishyas (agriculturists and traders), and Shudras (artisans, service providers). [reference: encyclopedia]. Much as we struggle to do away with the caste system, the occupational segregation that has been internalized for ages will take a long time to fade away from the Indian psyche. And till it stays, we won’t be able to treat everyone with equal respect and dignity. I understand that issues are far more complex than they appear but it’s worthwhile to appreciate a thing or two in other cultures. And this one sure deserves a thumbs up!