Hollowness of casteism

Kabir had a daughter named Kamali. She also was his disciple. It is said that one day while she was drawing water from the well, a thirsty Brahmin, who was stranger to the city, asked for some water. Kamali gladly offered. After quenching his thirst, the young Brahmin asked Kamali about her. Learning that she was the daughter of low-caste weaver, he was much annoyed and said, ‘Has your father not taught you to reveal your caste, before offering water to a Brahmin? You have ruined my caste and spoiled my purity.’ Perplexed by the young man’s anger, Kamali asked him to talk to her father.

The Brahmin accompanied Kamali to Kabir’s cottage. Listening patiently to his complaints, Kabir said, ‘My friend, think well before you drink water. In the water frogs, fish, tortoise and crocodiles live, procreate and die. If the water is not contaminated by their blood, dead bodies and refuse, how can it be made impure by the mere touch of a human being? God has created all human beings from the same five elements; each body is filled with blood, flesh and bones and is equally pure or dirty; all are made of the same clay.

The Brahmin youth was much impressed and became a disciple of Kabir in due course.