The Off Topic Topic

[Admiral Yi]

I'd be surprised if caste was officially in the application process (though I think India's got some sort of affirmative action for caste), but I'd also be amazed if caste didn't actually play a huge part in admissions.

I wonder what the status of these unis is in India given that very many Indian students study abroad.

These universities are geek mills, with math heavy admissions tests.  In order to fudge the admissions in favor of Brahmins you would need a pretty wide spread coverup.

[Admiral Yi]

That usually leads to too many universities, not too few.

Granted. 

I was thinking that until recently there weren't as many market opportunities for graduates.

[Sheilbh]

These universities are geek mills, with math heavy admissions tests.  In order to fudge the admissions in favor of Brahmins you would need a pretty wide spread coverup.

I don't see why you'd need a cover up.

You've got lots of admissions test that meet the grade.  Choose the ones with Brahmin surnames as a secondary.

Googling also says there's a huge market in Brahmins buying certificates saying they're from a 'backward caste or scheduled tribe' (I think that's the affirmative action language) so they can get in more easily on that quota too.  The articles I've read mention the surprise at people with clearly higher caste names getting approved in places reserved for backward castes.  Again you get a number of applications and certificates of people from backward castes and admissions tutors can pick the ones with higher caste names.

Edit:  Also from Google, India's largest university is called Lovely Professional University

[Admiral Yi]

I don't see why you'd need a cover up.

You've got lots of admissions test that meet the grade.  Choose the ones with Brahmin surnames as a secondary.

You're assuming test results are pass/fail.  Makes more sense that they're on a continuum.

If Srivinas Untouchable scores a 99 and Indira Priestdottir scores a 92 but gets in, somebody's got some splainin to do.

[Ideologue]

My guess is the admissions process is clean.  Small number of universities is probably a function of how long they held on to their dumb-ass socialism and market controls.

I'd be surprised if caste was officially in the application process (though I think India's got some sort of affirmative action for caste), but I'd also be amazed if caste didn't actually play a huge part in admissions.

They do; and I am profoundly certain it does, especially given that caste can often be determined by name.

Arguable theological superiority aside, it amazes me that the entire subcontinent didn't go Muslim.

[Sheilbh]

You're assuming test results are pass/fail.  Makes more sense that they're on a continuum.

If Srivinas Untouchable scores a 99 and Indira Priestdottir scores a 92 but gets in, somebody's got some splainin to do.

Say the cut-off point's 96% and they still have to choose from the top 4% of applicants, or if they've got a number of applicants to fill their quota with 95% and backward caste status.  Then you can pick very easily based on name.

[Admiral Yi]

Say the cut-off point's 96% and they still have to choose from the top 4% of applicants, or if they've got a number of applicants to fill their quota with 95% and backward caste status.  Then you can pick very easily based on name.

Let's not say the cut off point is 96.  Let's say they take the top X candidate's based on score.

[Ideologue]

I watched a movie once called Mr. and Mrs. Iyer about sectarian violence in India (a Tamil Brahmin woman was on a bus with his Muslim dude who looked like Hank Azaria, and pretended to be his wife--that he was "Mr. Iyer").  It convinced me that high-caste Hindus are basically awful and stupid ("can I have some of your bottled water?  oh, let me pour it from a foot over my fucking head and possibly spill a lot of our precious life-giving fluid because I can't drink after a non-Brahmin"), but I actually think that was the point.

Spoiler: in a bittersweet twist, they don't even fuck.

Also, this movie was made in like 2000 and shoots day for night with the world's worst blue filter.  Jesus, get with it, India.

[Sheilbh]

Arguable theological superiority aside, it amazes me that the entire subcontinent didn't go Muslim.

There was a 20th century movement for untouchables to convert to Buddhism.  It was led by Dr. Ambedkar, who was a leading figure in the drafting of India's constitution and whose birthday is national holiday.

Weirdly the Catholics in Goa have a caste system.  I think the Portuguese encouraged it as a way to get local elites to join.  It's officially disapproved of by the Church, and on his visit there JPII weighed against it and made a point of meeting 'untouchables', but it still survives.

[Ideologue]

Good work HVC.

I was reading something somewhere that untouchables that converted to Islam just kinda "stopped" being untouchable.  That is, Muslims were just entirely outside the caste system.  Maybe that's not entirely accurate (I doubt it is everywhere, I think this was talking specifically about Gujarat).

[Sheilbh]

Let's not say the cut off point is 96.  Let's say they take the top X candidate's based on score.

Is that the system then?  The article I read said the cut-off for some universities in Delhi was 100%, after that it's based on interview and application.
 
Although the places reserved for lower castes can have significantly lower scores, often with higher caste names.

I was reading something somewhere that untouchables that converted to Islam just kinda "stopped" being untouchable.  That is, Muslims were just entirely outside the caste system.  Maybe that's not entirely accurate (I doubt it is everywhere, I think this was talking specifically about Gujarat).

I think you're right.  Same goes for Sikhs, Buddhists and (most) Christians.  Though I think there may still have been lingering social problems though.  I remember reading about a plan to add poor Muslims (who were often once lower caste) to the list of groups with reservations, like the backwards castes and tribal groups.

[CountDeMoney]

I wonder what the status of these unis is in India given that very many Indian students study abroad.

The same reason why professional Indians thrive abroad.  Indians have always been more successful than India. 
It's a dysfunctional culture. That's one of the reasons why India will never be as strong as it could be; it suffers from a faulty premise:  being India.

[sbr]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AmrqM8NkuEaf7_x64ZjHf9O8vLYF?slug=ap-knicks-linheadline

NEW YORK (AP)—ESPN has apologized for using a racial slur in a headline for a story on Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin.

ESPN ran the headline "Chink in the Armor" after Lin had nine turnovers in New York's loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night on its mobile website that could be seen on phones and tablet computers.

Lin is the NBA's first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. He has captivated sports fans with unexpected dominance on the court that sparked a seven-game winning streak.

ESPN says in a statement Saturday it removed the headline 35 minutes after it was posted. The cable network says it is "conducting a complete review of our cross-platform editorial procedures and are determining appropriate disciplinary action to ensure this does not happen again. We regret and apologize for this mistake."

The story was first reported by Outsports.com.

[Eddie Teach]

ESPN ran the headline "Chink in the Armor" after Lin had nine turnovers in New York's loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night

[Ideologue]

Oh, now, it's all in good fun.

I like the idea of Republican Han Chinese being referred to as Taiwanese less.