We Worship the Hierarchy, But Ban the Word

I heard one of our Supreme Leader said he was called “नीच आदमी” by his political rivals. 

It was Nation outraged. Media Panels Screamed.

And yes, calling someone “नीच आदमी” is not merely an insult, it can amount to a punishable offence as it’s a direct attack on a person’s dignity and identity.

I strongly condemn this.

But then I remembered something.

In the Bhagavad Gita (4:13), Lord Krishna calmly announces:

“चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः”

Translation: I (Vishnu) created four varnas based on qualities and actions.

Translation 2 (Indian social reality edition): Humanity has been successfully divided.

For centuries, we have comfortably lived with “upper” and “lower.”

Born from the head. Born from the arms. Born from the thighs. Born from the feet. Back then the human anatomy was a social policy.

Somewhere along the way, “lower” stopped being a metaphor and became destiny.

Now here’s the twist.

The victim here was born in Ghanchi Teli community (Oil processor), categorised as OBC. In the old hierarchical imagination.

So the outrage over the word “नीच” is fascinating.

When hierarchy is in scripture, it becomes sacred.

When hierarchy becomes insult, it’s unacceptable.

We don’t mind a system that historically ranks humans.

We just mind the vocabulary slipping out loud.

The real discomfort isn’t the word.

It’s the mirror.

Of course, one option is to file a defamation case.

Another is to question a mindset that had classified people as high and low.

But that would require reform greater than outrage.

And outrage is much easier.

Next time when we call someone “Bhangi”, “Neech” or “Dalit”.

We need to ask question to ourselves, is it our very accepted social hierarchy.

OR

Are we really abused by our own social structure.