Youth fests turn caste-centric in Vijaywada

Vijayawada: Youth festivals and gatherings of youngsters, meant to unite young minds from different sections of society, are increasingly becoming caste-centric events in Vijayawada.

Youths of particular caste often call upon same caste members from across the state to take part in the fests here. One such case in point is the youth festival to be held here on October 5 by the organisation called “Kapu Youth Force,” inviting Kapu youths from the state.

This, for sure, does not bode well for a city that would soon be the state capital.

“Already youth are divided according to their castes and Vijayawada is best known for such groups since decades. It is an open secret that Vijayawada is dominated by people of particular caste and such caste centric meetings may provoke other caste members and this is not good by any means,” opined K. R. Krishna, a Professor.

He said that a capital city where people from different castes, creed and culture visit often, needs to portray a cosmopolitan image where people do not socialise keeping in mind the other person’s caste or creed.

The caste system in Vijayawada is deep seated and it is not just youths, who mindlessly adhere to it, but also politicians who use it as a platform to win elections.

“Everyone will have right on capital city, our event is not planned to provoke other caste groups. We used to have these youth festivals in Hyderabad every year but this time as Vijayawada is made capital we chose this city,” said G. Jagadish a member of Kapu Youth Force.

“The event contains some welfare and cultural programmes”, he added.

The Kapu Youth Force has around 21,000 members and Kamma Youth groups have around 20,000 members.

• The caste system in Vijayawada is deep seated and it is not just youths, who mindlessly adhere to it, but also politicians who use it as a platform to win elections.
• The Kapu Youth Force has around 21,000 members and Kamma Youth groups have around 20,000 members.
• “Already youth are divided according to their castes and Vijayawada is best known for such groups since decades. It is an open secret that Vijayawada is dominated by people of particular caste and such caste centric meetings may provoke other caste members and this is not good by any means,” opined K. R. Krishna, a Professor.