Caste Count: On the Census and Partisan Political Gains

The demand for a fresh caste census is gaining momentum in the country. Chief minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar led the delegation 10 political parties of the state will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. No political party in the country has yet publicly opposed this demand, and most have supported the call. Mr. Modi listened to the delegation but did not open his mind on the subject. Obviously, there will be more political mobilization on this issue. The Bharatiya Janata Party has the advantage of being in the saddle and can make the most appropriate announcement for itself. The last time India’s population was calculated on the basis of caste was in 1931, when it was under colonial rule. There is a strong argument that the colonial census was about creating and consolidating caste and religious categories in India rather than softly recording them. Effective governance requires strong data on the governed. The creation of categories is a political act in itself. Indian politics and governance structure are all based on categories that were strengthened during colonialism. But the importance of caste as a basic marker of identity for an Indian has increased since independence.

As the democratization of society deepens, questions are being raised on the status of Dalits, tribal communities and a large section of the population, which are described in the Constitution as socially and educationally backward classes. Political representation of these communities has increased and their participation in government jobs has increased. It is recognized that particular groups of each category have benefited disproportionately from political and job reservations, and there is a demand for sub-quotas. Many communities are demanding inclusion in one category or the other. Some are feeling under-converted by the community affirmative action State steps. As the government’s role as a major employer is declining, affirmative action is being sought in the private sector. All of these questions are being debated without sufficient and reliable data, leading to conflicting and often misleading claims. Supporters of the caste census cite these reasons, while skeptics fear that it will only widen social rifts. They also point to a number of practical problems facing such a practice. However, what is not debatable is that the unequal distribution of power and wealth threatens the stability of any society. Party political gains should not be the impetus for the new census. A new vision for a just and united India, where all divisions are reduced, should guide the discussion on the caste census.