Chapter Twelve

Who should be kept at a distance?

There are some other things that might need to be mentioned from the earlier hinted story of James Scurry.

And that is about ‘ayitham’, or caste-based repulsion.

In the earlier days, the Nairs used to exhibit very obvious ‘respect’ to the Brahmins. If the Nairs refuse to extend this ‘respect’ to the Brahmins, it would be a major cause for consternation for the Brahmins.

It would be like the Indian police constables addressing the IPS officers with a ‘Nee’ (lowest form of YOU) and referring to them as ‘Avan’ / ‘Aval’ (lowest form of Him/Her).

Such Nairs would be disliked and seen as repulsive elements. They are not fit for being allowed to come near.

However, in the ordinary course of events, the Nairs would not dare to do this. For, if they dare to do this, it would be like placing an axe on the very same social structure which gives them superiority over a lot of other castes.

At the same time, the populations who are in the lower strata would have no interest in upholding a social design wherein they are low. They would definitely refuse to extend ‘respect’ the moment they get a leeway to get away with it.

The codes of feudal languages insist that such impertinent lower castes should be kept at a distance. Moreover, they should be physically and mentally drained, continually.

Another item for noting is that there is no word corresponding to the concept of ‘respect’ found in feudal languages, in pristine-English. The word ‘Respect’ found in English has very little area of correspondence in the concept of ‘respect’ encoded in feudal languages. The ‘respect’ found in feudal languages is something that needs to be compulsorily extracted from another person by means of terrorising, intimidation, exhibition of physical prowess, enforcing subservience and such other sinister means.

The concept of ‘Respect’ found in English is just a very simple and soft feeling that arrives in the mind due to seeing something good and admirable in another person or institution. It might be subtle and restrained, and also even divine in its softness.