కులం తక్కువని కూడెట్టనన్నారట

kulam takkuvani kudettanannarata

Translation

They said they wouldn't serve food because the caste is lower.

Meaning

This expression is used to highlight hypocrisy or situations where people use flimsy, discriminatory, or irrelevant excuses to avoid fulfilling a basic responsibility or showing hospitality. It points out how social prejudices are often weaponized to deny others their basic needs.

Related Phrases

Little sense, great appetite. Eating one's senses away.

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks the common sense or skill to earn a living or work efficiently, yet has high demands or appetites. It highlights the irony of someone who cannot contribute much but expects a lot in return.

When someone offers their daughter in marriage voluntarily, the other person insults them by saying they are of a lower caste.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone rejects or demeans a generous offer or a valuable favor simply because it was offered freely or easily. It highlights human nature's tendency to undervalue things that come without struggle or to find petty excuses to decline an act of kindness.

Low intelligence, high hunger.

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks common sense or productivity but has excessive demands or needs. It highlights a mismatch between one's capabilities and their consumption or expectations, often used sarcastically to mock laziness or incompetence combined with greed.

A person of lower status is the first to come for food

This proverb is used to criticize people who lack dignity or social grace, particularly those who exhibit greed or eagerness for material benefits (like food) despite not having earned a place of honor. It suggests that those who do not value their reputation are often the most impatient for rewards.

The father has much anxiety but little struggle.

This proverb is used to describe a person who talks a lot, worries excessively, or shows great enthusiasm outwardly, but lacks the actual effort, courage, or action to achieve the goal. It refers to someone who is 'all talk and no action'.

Less than an annual ceremony, more than a monthly ceremony.

This expression is used to describe something that is mediocre, awkward, or in an indeterminate state. It refers to something that doesn't fit into a specific category or standard—being neither significant enough to be considered important (like a 'Taddinam') nor small enough to be ignored (like a 'Masikam'). It often describes a person's height, the scale of an event, or the quality of a piece of work that is neither here nor there.

Low-priced gold has more impurities.

This proverb is used to indicate that when something is sold at an unusually low price, it is often of poor quality or has many defects. It is a cautionary saying used to remind people that 'you get what you pay for' and that cheap goods often come with hidden costs or flaws.

If you lose your food/livelihood for the sake of caste, your caste will not come and feed you.

This proverb highlights the folly of prioritizing caste-based pride or prejudices over one's own survival and basic needs. It warns that while a person might sacrifice their livelihood (koodu) to uphold caste rigidity, the caste community as an entity will not provide for them when they are hungry. It is used to advise people to prioritize practical necessities and humanity over social divisions.

Less work, more struggle (fidgeting/hustle)

This proverb is used to describe a person who does very little actual work but makes a huge fuss, creates unnecessary commotion, or tries too hard to appear busy. It characterizes someone who lacks efficiency but excels in pretending to be overwhelmed or ambitious.

Even if poor in food, is one poor in caste/status?

This proverb is used to express that even if someone lacks financial resources or basic necessities like food, they still maintain their self-respect, dignity, or social standing. It highlights the idea that poverty does not equate to a loss of character or heritage.