V. Kumaresan
Caste identity is undesirable but inevitable constituent of the present society.
To understand the reality of the Indian societies and to make it progress, the true perspective of caste must be known and realised. The basic structure of Indian Constitution emphasises equality of humans and equal opportunities to them. But in diagonal opposition, the caste system signifies inequality of humans in society; to say precisely graded inequalities. The caste identity of a very few signifies the overall supremacy of the rest; a few are superior and the rest lower. Some are between both. Majority in the society are the lower most. Still lower are the category, branded outcaste as per scriptures, in fact outcast, never let out from the religious clutches.
This peculiar system of social hierarchies with its unique bearing of continuing their family occupation in strict succession has been prevailing as divine dictum for many centuries. Just a few decades prior to independence from the British and afterwards, solutions for these social anomalies have been found. Their effect was with pitfalls in policies and programmes.
For cure from a disease, the foremost exercise is the exact diagnosis of the disease to find out the level of infection’s intensity. Without this prerequisite, any amount of treatment would not be of use to get rid of the disease.
What is the need for caste census?
For any policy formulation, scale of economy has to be assessed, when it is politically resolved to even out the social hierarchies and their accumulated disabilities.
The quantum of the socially disabled and the limited resources available to overcome it and phasing out the policy prescription has to be assessed. It is like entering the battlefield with powerful and adequate weapons. Without such weapons however much a warrior is brave, he cannot win the battle. The social hierarchies and the disabilities have been accumulated over a long period. The remedy for social malady is like a long drawn war in which many battles have to be won. The weapons required to fight against the social malady is the enumeration by caste census.
Economic disabilities
The social restrictions imposed historically have prohibited the lower hierarchies in choosing their jobs – it was more like assigning the occupation and not allowing to choose it – that created economic disparities among the hierarchies. Besides, the religious codes restricted the owning and possessing of properties by the lower hierarchies that also resulted in distancing the economic disparities between the hierarchies.
In British India till 1931, the caste census was carried on but later discontinued. The caste-wise details available in it continues to be the base with calculated projections to arrive at the latest levels. The details of upliftment attained by the lower hierarchies cannot be arrived at with the projections. The measures of upliftment do not reach the lower hierarchies. But to a few upper hierarchies the measures reach excessively. This imbalance must be set right for effective implementation of social, economic upliftment and development plans and policies.
Argument against caste census
The demand for anything must emanate from the needy. Only then it will be a real demand. Demanding for others has got its own inner agenda. The lower hierarchies in the society, who are in need of their upliftment and elevation must bother about the enumeration of caste census; whereas, the ‘supreme’ hierarchies who had enjoyed the privileges more, raise voice against caste census. The main reason, put forth by the opponents is that the enumeration of caste census would expose caste identities further. How can it be correct? The ‘supreme’ hierarchies are well aware that their argument is not correct. Why did they do it? Their very purpose is to weaken the pace of progress and adequacy of the development remedy. People have been discriminated and denied certain vital things due to their caste identity. The remedy has to be necessarily carried out based only on caste identity. Will those opponents come forward though not to eliminate but at least to weaken the caste discriminations that prevail in society? The arguments of the over enjoyed ‘supreme’ hierarchies are for identity politics to aggravate caste identity in that sense. Politics of caste identity has to be opposed tooth and nail. But upliftment development of the depressed hierarchies based on caste identity is welcome. The gullible oppressed hierarchies must not be carried away by the argument of the ‘supreme’ hierarchies against enumeration of caste census.
During the past strong but committed voices for the enumeration of caste census were raised. Based on that Union government conducted Socio-Economic Survey in 2011. The release of the report is very much required. Many a times, judiciary asks for caste-wise data whenever it deals with reservation dispute cases. For want of those data, reasonable allotment of reservation percentage could not be effected.
The social revolutionary Thanthai Periyar demanded as early as in 1920s communal representation in proposition to the population of the discriminated hierarchies. The solution lies in the enumeration of caste census and the political will of the rulers to act based on the census data.
Owing to COVID-19, the decennial census that had to be commenced in 2021 did not take place.
The oppressed hierarchies are numerically strong. The periodical general elections are forthcoming for the Union legislature and State legislatures. The political parties focus on vote bank. The major composition of that vote bank is with the oppressed sections. They should openly commit that their vote is for the political parties that declare the enumeration of caste census in their election manifesto with prominence. Rulers who are against the caste census must be weeded out.
In a few States, like Bihar and Odisha, enumeration of caste census has been commenced. It is a good starting point but not sufficient. The Union government has to enumerate like that in the pending decennial exercise.
The oppressed sections should not be carried away by the false promises. The past track records of political parties on the social and economic justice front have to be reckoned with. That is the right way.
Caste census is needed to ensure upliftment and development and to end discrimination!
