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May 29th, 2010 
Girish Nikam Girish Nikam
Once in a classroom of over 50 post graduate students, the discussion veered around to the issue of reservations. Being one of those private educational institutes, majority (95 percent) of the class seemed to be against the horribly unfair� system. As the discussions continued, one girl who was pretty vehement was asked what she thinks is the population of Brahmins in this country. Her reply without much hesitation was, �about 45 percent! It goes without saying that she was one of them.
It was quite amazing to me how she had come to that estimate. She had no answer either, except she didn’t seem to have much doubts about her numbers. Others in the classroom also veered around to her view, more or less, considering the confidence she displayed.
It is such misconceptions, borne of whatever reasons, which will be unmasked, if the ongoing Census exercise finally decides to do a caste-wise enumeration of the population of this country.
Today newspapers report that Dr.Murli Manohar Joshi, the leading Brahmin leader in the BJP, after Atal Behari Vajpayee�s retirement, has come out against the Caste census. His reason, �it will further divide the society�. Ajay Maken, the Congress� Young Turk, and a Union Minister of State for Home, under whom the Census operations come, has also expressed his views against the Caste-based census. There are several others like Kapil Sibal, M.S.Gill, and Anand Sharma among others who have also expressed similar views.
In every political party the opinion seems to be divided, more or less on the basis of their caste background. Though there are exceptions indeed in all parties. Some upper castes have supported it with conviction, while others have done it purely as a political strategy. For instance, Jaipal Reddy an upper caste Reddy is one of the more vocal supporters of the caste based census, out of conviction as well as on empirical grounds.
Now why is it that largely the upper castes are not in favour of it and why the OBCs or the lower castes are in its favour? Is it the fear among the upper castes that any factual enumeration of the castes may expose their numbers, which may be short in comparison to the non-upper castes? Is it their fear that the caste compilation may just expose how inequitably divided the society is when it comes to jobs and education and how majority of the jobs are cornered by a few? Or are they genuinely against it believing that it will indeed �further divide� the society?
On the other hand why are the OBCs pushing for it? Do they think that their numbers are far higher than the estimates being made out? Would this mean that if it indeed is, they will seek far higher reservation in jobs and education than what is made available to them presently? Is this the fear of the upper castes too?
Now let us take the argument about Caste Census leading to further divide in the society. For the last 70 years, or the last seven censuses, has not enumerated the population on the basis of caste. So has this resulted in any less caste conflicts or less division on caste lines in this country?
Take the last Sunday�s Delhi edition of the Times of India�s Matrimonial section. Under the �Wanted Brides� category people sought brides from the following castes specifically—–Agarwal�Bisa, Agarwal, Arora, Brahmin, Chaurasia, Chandravanshi Kshatriya, Gurjjar, Gujar(apparently the two are different!), Gujarati Vaishnav, Jaiswal, Khatri, Kumauni, Kashyap, Kshatriya, Kurmi, Kayastha, Kumbhakar, Marwaris, Rajput, Sahu-Teli, Swarnkar, Vishwakarma Panchal, Yadav, Maurya, Jatav, Jat, Vaish, Jain, Khandelwal. That is 29 different castes.
Now among the separate category of Scheduled castes and tribes you can see the demand for brides from — Chamar, Dohare, Jatav, Dhobi, Valmiki, Kori.
Wait this is not the only categorisation. There are specific demands for brides who are—-Bengali, and further sub-categorised as Bengali probasi, Barujibi, Bengali baidya, Kayastha Roy Chowdhury, Brahmin, Bengali bharadwaj and so on. Then there demands for Gujarati brides, Himachali brides, Malayali brides, Marathi/Konkani brides, Oriya brides, Punjabi brides, Sindhi brides, Tamil brides— sub-categorisation of course within all of them mentioned specifically.
All this has taken away over 20 columns over two full pages. Another page and half or 15 columns are taken away by categorisation under � Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikh. And then a small portion under the �cosmopolitan� category takes just about a column. And another two columns with demands for— Doctors, Engineers, Government/Defence, Software Professional, MBA/CA and IAS/Allied Services. You won�t believe there is just one ad under the �No Dowry/Spiritual category!
Similar is the story when it comes to the demand for grooms. Last Sunday, there were eight full pages of matrimonial ads, in the Times of India, spread over 80 columns, and nearly 75 columns referred to some caste or the other.
This is not all. Because the Delhi edition of the Times of India does not categorise the innumerable castes in South India or even in East India. So you need to do a reality check for this in The Hindu and the Telegraph. You will surely get another 100 different castes.
Go on the net and google �Matrimonial sites�caste wise� and you will get 167,000 results!
Now can there be a �further division� of the society, beyond this? Is it anybody�s argument that all these millions of people, who advertise for their own caste�s bride/groom, started doing it, after the Mulayams, Lalus, Sharads and Mayawatis, appeared on the Indian political scene?
Or is it anybody�s argument that all these people will stop seeking brides/grooms from among their own caste, if they are not asked during the Census, which caste they belong to? Is anybody seriously arguing that those poor school teachers who are going house to house enumerating, will actually arouse caste feelings among people, if they canvass for their caste?
Or is it anybody�s argument that once the caste is enumerated and the results put out, suddenly all hell will break loose and there will be caste clashes and mayhem all over the country? Are there no caste clashes, caste killings and caste rivalries in virtually every nook and corner of the country now?
If this is the case then there should be no caste census, and we should all live blissfully, unaware and unconcerned about our castes, and living happily ever after as one big family, the utopian vasudaiva kutumbakam!
But the reality unfortunately is different. Despite the noises made by the Joshis and the Makens and the Anand Sharmas and the entire top to bottom brass of the RSS, Indian politics only reflects the social reality. Fact of the matter is that every time the political pie is divided, it is done so, �only� on the basis of caste and region.
Show me one Cabinet in this country, ever since the Cabinet system has prevailed, in States or at the Centre, which was not formed on the basis of caste and religion and only on the basis of merit. Show me one list of candidates for an Assembly or a Lok Sabha election, why, even a Panchayat or a Muncipal corporation election, which has not been prepared on the basis of caste— regardless of party.
Can the Joshis and Sharmas touch their heart and say that they have become Ministers not on the basis of caste quota, but purely on merit?
So why is such a big deal being made out about caste Census?
Don�t the opponents of the caste Census believe that even religion is as much a dividing force as caste is? If so, have they ever tried not to associate themselves with religion when past Census was taken? If they had, it would have shown. But sadly it doesn�t. In the 2001 census, the number of persons, who did not or rather, did not want to state their religion, was a mere 7.27 lakhs. Yes there is an option for us �not to state our religion�. But only 7.27 lakhs did not do it, in a population of 102.86 crore, a mere 0.1 percent. So will the opponents of the caste census, if they are sincere about their belief that it would �further divide the society�, take a pledge that when they are asked about their caste (and religion) they would refuse to state it?
And more importantly, will they pledge that they will not insist on a bride or groom from their own caste/sub caste when their son/daughter is to be married?
Let�s wait and see when the outcome of the Census is published next year. Surely that girl in that classroom will also be eagerly waiting to know if her figure is right!
Post script: Do you know that the forms being used in the ongoing Census exercise does not mention even �Religion� in it, forget caste. But do you know that some enumerators are even recording caste as well as religion and some are not even asking religion? Why such anamolies? Can the Home Minister explain?
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With the best intention, perhaps, the article is written. But it does not take into consideration the true and compelling reasons why the censes should not make the caste as base. Just because the caste is prefered in Marriages and politics the two special subjects involving the sentiments of people, the caste can not be allowed to take the prime spot and every thing determined on that basis. What suppose if it is found out that the brahmins constiyude only 2% of the country. No more seat in collage and jobs for them overlooking and over riding the merit \\if it counts ?
The real purpose and effect of caste census will be anything –but the so cakked social justice
dear editor,
The hindu society is one that of diverse sub castes and not that of castes as described by manu.
How they came about and proliferated in the more modern society is utterely baffling. Take example of the 12 th century movement launched by Basaveshwara to secularise the caste within the Hindu community and the subsequent disintegration of the lingayat community in karnataka. There are over a hundred sub sects amongst the lingayat caste. How did the caste diversify so much that the very ideal envisioned by basaveshwara disintegrate to this extent.
Ultimately it is the pre independence interpretations by the british and the carry over amongst the contemporary political class has resulted in the proliferation of sub castes.
I am born into a brahmin family and married to a woman of lesser caste. By virtue of marraige , my progenies will be called brahmin due to our patriarchal beliefs, forcing us to compromise in our secular views.
One way or other, upper or lower caste it is a stigma that will continue in modern india, specially so by the political class. Those who advocate caste identies have no intentions to integrate the society but to keep it divided.
A census with or without caste identity will not have much bearing in our ingrained mind set and the debate only helps us in dividing further.
Finally, what about other religions who proclaim to be casteless. I refer to the terms “Dalit muslims”, Dalit Christians etc etc.
Vasant
Girish
Really incisive piece .. It is indeed a paradox to see the Indian middle classes , which have caste in all spheres of our lives , refuse to give it space and legitimacy in a vital demographic analysis .
Girish
I have been exposed to your school of thought as well as the contrarian view shared by upper caste fellows. I have not been entirely convinced by either of the schools.One reason being a thought-provoking article from Pratap Bhanu Mehta a few weeks back in the Indian Express. While I may not agree with all of Mehta’s arguments; he posited caste within the great modernity process of India, a line of thought which needs to be debated. In this regards, you may like to read my batchmate, Raj Sekhar Vundru’s article in the last week Outlook. His line of argument also needs to be explored.
Caste-census would recognise a citizen by his/her caste, an Indian way of social stratification, which cannot be overcome during one’s lifetime. However utopian may be the idea of casteless society in India, it has an appeal for many. Just as there are caste-minded people, there are people to whom caste, religion, region don’t matter. What matters is the comptability of ideas, life style, income status, and other criteria which are not related to one’s birth.
While you and others may take opposite views on caste census, your vociferous arguments (with latent prejudices) do need to take into account the modernity debate as well. I see hypocrisy here. Every caste is associated with certain traits, physiognomy and occupation (which is again an area where lot of perpetuation of prejudices constantly takes place). We also find increasing acceptability of offsprings following their fathers’ occupation: cinema, politics, business, trade and; as also upstarts/newcomers. If modernity is to mean the capability (merit) to transcend barriers (Obama being one supreme example), and to go beyond caste-based distinction, caste census puts a seal on the forehead of each of us: branded for ever. It then becomes a retrograde step. By not giving official status to castes, are we being ostriches? There are many sordid things happening in the society: black money, lobbying, agents in defence deals, minor weddings, bride killings, honour killing. It’s no one’s case that by legalsing these evils would cease to matter. Hence, I find some merit in the arguments of Mehta.
PC may be lampooned but his arguements need discussion as well. I would also consider equally significant the logistical details of the caste census. Whether it happens during the census exercise or during subsequent exercise when boimetrics are used, remains to be seen. Whether it has any impact on soundness of data is something to be explored. What about the status of half-castes, castes among Christians, Muslims, and converts. Is caste really so immutable in India? Why the current thinking on this topic is so fatalisitic? Why did I marry within my caste, religion and region (as well as occupation)?!
In the end, it is an issue which cannot be so easily branded as political opportunism.
I would continue to look around for articles which go beyond the obvious.
Atul Kumar Tiwari
Good to keep up with your column girish. Keeps me on touch with india
– best john mccarthy
In all the above articles and opinions, none is willing to ask the Govt the Ultimate objective of this enumeration based on caste. In it’s absense, all of us will speculate on the useage of data so obtained.
Many issues of castes are passed thru years within families/societies etc and hence will not be easily ignored. But, for future genarations, we owe it to be clear to create a society which does not discriminate in any form.
All political parties are willing to fight elections proclaiming/sloganing the upliftment. Only liting up we have seen is in their income!!. Small victories in some endeavour like eg:”Super 30″ group in Bihar provides a ray of hope-which facilitates entrance to IITs to lower strata of society. i am sure that the 30 (many from so called OBC/SC/ST) will comeup in life and their family progeny will, in future, have a much better life than what we society can offer them today.
If Govt really uses the data (authenticated) for betterment of society, we all should welcome the same. But, knowing our polity, I am sure that real data will not be published in our times-as it harms the current comfortable existence of Political parties..
rgds
Are we sure, given the kind of enumeration mechanism, the census of India, with the multitude of caste names and claims and manipuativeness, will be able to make even a near accurate assessment of caste numbers. Will it then serve any real purpose. Should not a separate survey better than census?
Wow this is a great resource.. Im enjoying it.. good article
nice post. thanks.
Ibne Insha a noted Pakistani writer had written that we are not Pakistanis but Punjabis, Sindhis, Baloch, Pakhtun etc.
Congratulations. We are heading towards the same. It will be just matter of time for us Indian. We will be proud to be from a particular caste. It will be shameful to call ourselves an Indian
ridiculous comparison. While caste preferences in marriage counts among people’s choice for same culture and age old identity compulsion, governing is a country is completely different subject. author claim that brahmin were dominating most cabinet birth and administrative post then we should look how they got there did tehy were selected in IAS/IPS merely because of their upper caste tag. answer is NO. they cleared entrance exam and got there purely on merit basis. Section of society had no previledge of good education and better economic condition to get this exam so they were offered reservation, as govt had no suffeciant resources to provide quality education. other reason was section of society suffered social oppression though unaccountability and discrimination since ages and that needed to be corrected through reservation but the same leaders who suggested reservation were in favor of complete annihilation of caste based discrimination. Someone may still free to find groom or bride on caste basis as caste was a class identity. one can not force that out of every 100 bramin girl 50 will be reserved for SC/St or minority or vice versa.
govt should work towards pushing caste system to level where it confine to family preference only and not affect any administrative, social functioning. people will always be free to form a group and make a class of their own but holding other lower and creating obstacle to their development should not be allowed. govt doing census on caste basis is acknowledgement of dividing people in different class and subjecting them to differential treatment. most people know brahmin is not in majority, census will find out same thing with number,so what if they come out 10% will they be forced not to occupy more than 10 % of seats in any job or education even if they are able to clear exam in enough to cover more seats. or they will be treated in minority, securing 10 % seats through reservation. every policy will judge people basis of which caste he belong, political party will be compelled to get candidate of majority caste even if some belonging to less number class is more active and talented. Govt will oficially getting into legalizing caste system which it once opposed. govt should treat all it citizen equal and should make sure that quality education reach to each and every citizen irrespective of his caste,religion. Reservation is one of the method for affermative action but its not the best method.
and for those who are guessing/cursing me for being pro brahmin, i belong to SC category
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so-do-you-really-think-caste-census-will-?further-divide?-society ……
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This article is far from other articles on this site which are critically well thought out. First, caste will always exist no matter what, these are choices people have made. And that is not only in India. Secondly, caste-based choices for marriage is not public policy. A census by caste is nearly a public policy. The motive behind seeking same caste for marriage is innocent and is not harmful to any other person. Whereas the caste-based census is bound to be (mis) used for policy making by the politicians. The seeds of perpetuation of the caste system were sown by politicians themselves when they stuck to the reservation policy, created caste-based seats for legislators and so on. Our schools dont educate children on the caste system, their text books dont list all the castes etc. It is unfortunately the politicians who complete that unwanted education. It is a matter of private triumph that many caste-following families have sacrificed that practice and not a triumph of national or public policy. Therefore, I can fairly conclude that this caste-based census is nothing but a further attempt to divide society. The so-called secular politicians have already divided the country by religions and now they will take up castes as their next project.
Great writing! I wish you could follow up to this topic!
Tammy
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so-do-you-really-think-caste-census-will-“further-divide”-society ……
Here at World Spinner we are debating the same thing……
I want to get my obc certificate
I am kumbhakar. I have’nt any documents to identify my caste proof. pls give my obc certificate