Caste prejudice is still holding us back

Yesterday, I went to a homoeopathy clinic near my home for cold medicine. We have known the doctor for a long time, so after he gave me the medicine, we started talking about waste management and flooding in our locality.

Our area faces flooding because people throw garbage into drains and gutters, which then get blocked. Many shopkeepers also dump waste on the roads. One particular road near us, near the chicken and mutton shops, is broken; gutter water flows openly, and the smell is so bad that it is hard to pass without covering your nose.

During this discussion, the doctor’s wife suddenly said that “Bhabhan, Yadav and Muslims smell dirty.”

I was genuinely shocked. I couldn't respond in the moment because I didn't want to make the situation awkward, but that comment stayed with me. I belong to one of the communities she mentioned. What shocked me most was hearing such a stereotype from an educated person, especially when we were discussing a real civic issue.

Poor sanitation, garbage dumping, and blocked drains are serious problems. But linking dirt or smell to an entire caste or community is not a solution; it is prejudice. Cleanliness has nothing to do with caste. It depends on civic facilities, waste collection, public behaviour, awareness, and accountability from local authorities.

The more I speak with some people, especially those who strongly identify with caste groups, the more I notice that discussions often end in caste superiority or stereotypes about others. It is disappointing that in 2026, we are still debating who is “superior” or “inferior” instead of focusing on the development Bihar actually needs: clean roads, proper drainage, waste management, schools, healthcare, and jobs.