"It is needless to ask of a saint the caste to which he belongs" by KABIR

1)      KABIR’s  "It is needless to ask of a saint the caste to which he belongs"

Kabir ranks among the world's greatest poets. In India, he is perhaps the most quoted author, with the exception of Tulsidas.  Kabir has criticized perhaps all existing sects in India, still he is mentioned with respect by even orthodox authors. Vaishnav author Nabhadas in hisBhakta-Mal (1585) writes: He lived perhaps during 1398-1448. He is thought to have lived longer than 100 years. He had enormous influence on Indian philosophy and on Hindi poetry. His birth and death are surrounded by legends. He grew up in a Muslim weaver family, but some say he was really son of a Brahmin widow who was adopted by a childless couple. When he died, his Hindu and Muslim followers started fighting about the last rites. The legend is that when they lifted the cloth covering his body, they found flowers instead. The Muslim followers buried their half and the Hindu cremated thier half. In Maghar, his tomb and samadhi still stand side by side.

It is needless to ask of a saint the caste to which he belongs;
For the priest, the warrior. the tradesman, and all the
thirty-six castes, alike are seeking for God.
It is but folly to ask what the caste of a saint may be;
The barber has sought God, the washerwoman, and the carpenter-
Even Raidas was a seeker after God.
The Rishi Swapacha was a tanner by caste.
Hindus and Moslems alike have achieved that End, where remains no mark of distinction.

Saint Kabir is very important figure of Indian society which enlightens the reformation process in the society in the positive way.  It is needless to ask the saint which he belongs. Caste system is blot on humanism due to its people of the country lost much more things. In this poem poet criticises the mentalities which strengthen the caste system.

Dominance classes always keep attention for the development and growth of the established social system because it preserves their ideology. Society is civilized group, which works for the common interest, but in case of the Indian society the spirit of integrated society had vanished, Indian society has divided into different castes, creed, region etc, the people of the society have not equal rights, and then how can we call it a society? If the people have not equally treated, then how can say society has   concrete shape?  Social discrimination, economic disparity, political suppression etc. are the part and parcel of the society then how can we say the society is developing in progressive direction. So therefore the poet says people should not ask about caste to saint.

21^st century is century of human rights which always fight for the basic fundamental rights of human being, it closely related to the all types of freedom. This poem has broken down the boundaries of casteism and all social evils. People are coming to close to each other for the betterment. India is shining, its economy is roaring in the world economic scenario, still there are some places are in India, people are subject to get punishment of higher caste or authority. There are many atrocities are being happened against these marginalized people of country. This poem compels to think about the abandoned people by the society, and it decides new social order for the betterment of the society. Still casteism becomes the dermatological wound for the society , the intellectuals , academicians , author, administrative officers should come forward and  must pay an attention for the sustainable development of the society ,then we can have dream of India as a super power, otherwise it will remain just as a hallucination……..