学术成绩伴随等级固化 如此严苛的推荐信制度究竟有何必要？院校会认真审阅吗？近日，我们接到印度理工学院工作人员的紧 急电话，要求在截止日期前提供推荐信。对方声称无需长篇大论或规范格式，只需要推荐人某封邮件中 的简短文字即可。如此轻率对待推荐信的做法，令人不禁质疑其存在的意义——难道推荐信只是招聘流 程中的形式主义？ 学术成绩与排名决定着学术岗位的录取机会。在印度许多国立理工学院的招聘页面中，申请者需从下拉 菜单中选择"学位等级"，若非"第一等"则申请流程立即终止。这与种姓制度如出一辙——人伴随种姓出 生，也随着种姓终老。如同种姓等级的固化，学业分数也决定着学术机会是否可及。在这些由国家资金 资助却设置准入门槛的机构中，"第二等"或"第三等"的群体没有进入机会，更没有改变现状的可能。然 而，决定考试表现的社会文化、经济与地域因素，却被狭隘定义的"优异"悄然掩埋。 《印度快报》 9 月 19 日文章，原题：博士学位不足以进入学术界：推荐信如何成为边缘群体学生的障碍 印度的学术职位招募广告及申请流程，无时无刻不在提醒着种姓制度与社会文化资本的存在。尽管印度 大学的排他性特征及对边缘群体（即印度"表列种姓""表列部族" ...

【环球时报综合报道】印度内政部近期宣布将在2027年3月前完成新一轮全国人口普查，并同步进行种姓普查，此举引发印度社会的广泛关注。印度上一次 成功进行种姓普查，还是在1931年的英印统治时期。种姓普查是指在广泛的普查活动中收集和统计基于种姓的数据，旨在提供基于种姓划分的人口详细统计 数字，以解决歧视问题并制定相关政策。但在印度，人们对种姓分类标准、统计的科学性等方面仍存在重大争议，从1872年印度首次进行人口普查以来，种 姓普查一直是印度社会的"敏感点"，不少种姓群体因为种姓问题掀起社会运动，甚至在普查员到来时"闭门谢客"。 英属印度当局的统治工具 印度历史上曾进行过几次大规模种姓普查。19世纪中叶后，维系殖民秩序成为英属印度当局的核心关切。1857年反英大起义的冲击，不仅加剧了殖民当局的 统治焦虑，更推动其转变认知，开始系统性构建印度社会知识谱系，要进行人口普查，为其行政决策提供支撑。为提升普查科学性，英国引入"专业化治 理"，任命多位人类学家担任普查总监，将学科知识与统计实践相结合。 在行政管理方面，英国将种姓制度转化为治理工具。因种姓与印度人的社会地位、资源分配、职业类型等紧密关联，殖民当局便以此分类人 ...

Core Viewpoint - The historical context of India's industrial development compared to China's reveals a significant shift in economic power, with China now leading in industrial capabilities and GDP, despite India's initial advantages post-independence [1][3][6]. Historical Context - In 1949, China's steel production was only 15,800 tons, insufficient for large-scale construction, while India's was 1,347,000 tons, 8.5 times higher [1]. - India's industrial infrastructure was well-established due to British colonial investments, making it one of the world's eight major industrial nations by 1928 [1]. - The lack of a unified central government in India historically hindered its industrial growth, contrasting with China's more centralized governance [3][6]. Political Structure - India's political system is characterized by a federal structure with significant autonomy for states, leading to a weak central authority and persistent feudal land ownership [7][8]. - The division of India into 16 states at independence has now expanded to 28 states and 7 union territories, further complicating governance and economic development [8]. Economic Development - India's industrial sector contributes around 22% to its GDP, while China's industrial contribution is significantly higher at 33% [8]. - Despite receiving technological support from developed nations, India's military manufacturing has struggled, with projects like the LCA fighter jet and Arjun tank failing to meet quality standards [10][16]. Social Structure - The caste system in India has perpetuated social stratification, affecting education and workforce participation, with a significant portion of the population remaining illiterate [10][14]. - The disparity in educational resources leads to a shortage of skilled labor, which is critical for industrial advancement [14][16]. Manufacturing Challenges - Quality control issues plague India's manufacturing sector, with low production quality affecting both military and civilian products [16]. - The inability to produce high-quality goods has resulted in foreign brands dominating the market, limiting India's manufacturing profitability [16].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the historical context and implications of unusual tax policies in India, particularly focusing on the "breast tax" and its impact on marginalized communities during British colonial rule [1][3][9]. Historical Context - The "breast tax" was introduced in the mid-18th century when India was under British colonial rule, targeting low-caste women and reflecting the oppressive taxation practices of the time [3][4]. - This tax required low-caste women to expose their bodies, with the tax amount based on breast size, highlighting the severe exploitation and humiliation faced by these women [3][4]. Social Impact - The tax created a stark divide between high-caste and low-caste women, where high-caste women faced less burden and lived relatively dignified lives, while low-caste women struggled to pay the tax [4][8]. - The tragic story of a woman named Nagari, who protested against the tax and ultimately died from her injuries, sparked outrage and resistance among the low-caste community, leading to the eventual abolition of the tax [5][8]. Caste System Influence - The article explains how the rigid caste system in India contributed to the establishment of such humiliating tax policies, with the highest caste (Brahmins) holding power and the lowest caste (Shudras) facing extreme poverty and oppression [9][11]. Comparison with Other Historical Tax Policies - The article draws parallels with other bizarre tax policies in history, such as the "urine tax" in ancient Rome and high property taxes in ancient Egypt, illustrating a pattern of exploitative taxation by rulers [11][15]. Conclusion - The emergence of such unusual taxes reflects the ruthless nature of rulers prioritizing profit over the welfare of the populace, emphasizing the need for governance that considers the demands and rights of the people [15].