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Didn't know that even within Brahmans there were such divides.
I thought this caste-based fault line was gone in India. But seems like this is still flourishing even in the 21st century.
'Brahmans only' badminton event creates flutter
BELAGAVI/BENGALURU: A badminton tournament is creating a flutter on social media, with some netizens claiming it is less open than it proclaims, as it has restricted entries for participation to a particular brahman subcaste.
The organizers of the Open Badminton Tournament 2015, to be conducted by the Daivadnya Foundation, said the June 20-21 event, which states it is 'only for daivadnya brahmans,' is more a community gathering that attempts to encourage youths to take up the sport more seriously.
READ ALSO: Dalit groups slam 'casteist' event in Hyderabad
"Our aim isn't to appear elitist or exclusive at all but to identify rising talent from our own community. We intend to help these young shuttlers make a name for themselves," said Daivadnya Foundation president Shrinivas Kudtarkar, who explained that daivadnya brahmans from coastal Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa are the focus of the tournament.
"We have received inquiries from the community in Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi and Tamil Nadu. Perhaps in our second edition we will include all brahman subcastes as we had to decline requests this year," said Kudtarkar. "There is no question of mistaking our intentions. If another community wants to conduct a tournament, it is free to do so," he stressed.
"Originally from the coastal belt, daivadnya brahmans are now found in different parts of the country. We are trying to link them through such events. We have plans to organize swimming and table tennis tournaments soon," he said, adding the foundation had plans to open a sports academy.
READ ALSO: Non-Hindu entry creates flutter
When asked what exactly they meant by an "open tournament" Kudtarkar said: "It is an open tournament for age groups only," he said. "We have just two categories, above 30 years and below 30 years, for men and women. It is a community gathering and we want to make this tournament a celebration of sorts," he said.
Sources in the sport's governing body, the Karnataka Badminton Association, didn't find reason to be alarmed by the event. "If it is a community event, the organizers are well within their rights to conduct it, but we will not recognize such events," they said.
I thought this caste-based fault line was gone in India. But seems like this is still flourishing even in the 21st century.
'Brahmans only' badminton event creates flutter
BELAGAVI/BENGALURU: A badminton tournament is creating a flutter on social media, with some netizens claiming it is less open than it proclaims, as it has restricted entries for participation to a particular brahman subcaste.
The organizers of the Open Badminton Tournament 2015, to be conducted by the Daivadnya Foundation, said the June 20-21 event, which states it is 'only for daivadnya brahmans,' is more a community gathering that attempts to encourage youths to take up the sport more seriously.
READ ALSO: Dalit groups slam 'casteist' event in Hyderabad
"Our aim isn't to appear elitist or exclusive at all but to identify rising talent from our own community. We intend to help these young shuttlers make a name for themselves," said Daivadnya Foundation president Shrinivas Kudtarkar, who explained that daivadnya brahmans from coastal Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa are the focus of the tournament.
"We have received inquiries from the community in Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi and Tamil Nadu. Perhaps in our second edition we will include all brahman subcastes as we had to decline requests this year," said Kudtarkar. "There is no question of mistaking our intentions. If another community wants to conduct a tournament, it is free to do so," he stressed.
"Originally from the coastal belt, daivadnya brahmans are now found in different parts of the country. We are trying to link them through such events. We have plans to organize swimming and table tennis tournaments soon," he said, adding the foundation had plans to open a sports academy.
READ ALSO: Non-Hindu entry creates flutter
When asked what exactly they meant by an "open tournament" Kudtarkar said: "It is an open tournament for age groups only," he said. "We have just two categories, above 30 years and below 30 years, for men and women. It is a community gathering and we want to make this tournament a celebration of sorts," he said.
Sources in the sport's governing body, the Karnataka Badminton Association, didn't find reason to be alarmed by the event. "If it is a community event, the organizers are well within their rights to conduct it, but we will not recognize such events," they said.
