Author: Editorial
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: April 4, 2007
Say no to caste Census
The UPA Government's pernicious policy of
introducing 27 per cent quota for OBCs in institutions of higher learning
that has been stayed by the Supreme Court for the moment, has led to an equally
insidious demand for a caste Census. What is unfortunate is that this demand
has found support from many across the political spectrum, including nationalist
parties that are opposed to dividing society along caste and communal lines.
What is now being proposed is the proverbial thin edge of the wedge: The very
idea of a caste Census is so shocking that it ought to outrage the sensitivities
of every right-thinking Indian. It is entirely antithetical to all the principles
on which our republic is founded, especially those of unity, equality and
fraternity. The stalwarts who participated in the Constituent Assembly debates
and launched free India on its journey along the path of democracy, dreamt
of an inclusive society free of discrimination of any kind. The outdated and
discriminatory social hierarchy dictated by caste identity was rightly rejected
as a social evil and a barrier to national integration. India's struggle for
freedom was not only directed against the British; social reform was integral
to the movement against colonial rule. It is, therefore, not surprising that
the enlightened political leadership of those times, with Jawaharlal Nehru
leading the way, should have vehemently and unwaveringly opposed the idea
of continuing with the practice of enumerating caste as part of the decennial
Census exercise, as was the case till 1941. It was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
who, as Home Minister, took an even stronger stand by deciding against such
Census; he was of the firm view that caste enumeration as part of Census would
have a divisive impact on society instead of uniting the people. That logic
continues to be as relevant today as it was in 1951. Indeed, with the mushrooming
of parties that pander to caste-based vote-banks, a caste Census can only
strengthen those who wish to splinter India's society for electoral gains;
it may benefit a few unscrupulous politicians, but it shall harm India's social
unity and integrity.
Even otherwise, a caste Census can hardly
be said to be practical. Caste is not an objective category like education
or gender but is, to a large extent, subject to manipulation. In the pre-Independence
era, those who belonged to the so-called 'lower' castes would often tell enumerators
that they belong to the 'upper' castes. This was done to break free of the
limitations imposed by their caste identity. Today, we could see the reverse
of that process with members of the 'upward' castes, tempted by the possibility
of Government patronage, claiming they belong to the 'backward' castes. It
can be safely assumed that no caste Census can accurately reflect the real
strength of any one caste. What we will have is a grossly distorted picture
and a set of statistics that will lend themselves to abuse by politicians.
We must, therefore, ask ourselves: Must we let politicians inflict further
damage?
