Dt: 13/3/19
Populism Promotes and Perpetuates Caste
Dr T H Chowdary*
The Constitution enabled the provision of reservations for SCs (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism) and STs and also envisaged reservations for backward classes. The Mandal Commission (1970-‘80) could not find any reasonable basis for social and educational backwardness recommended caste itself class. The 3,743 castes constituting 52% of population as per 1931 census were termed backward classes. Since equating class with caste, numerous non-SC, non-ST caste populations have been agitating to be classified as backward castes and even as schedule castes and are demanding to increase the reservation quota. Castes were based upon profession. Now every citizen is free to choose his profession. If one is continuing in the traditional profession related to his caste, it is because he has not equipped himself to take any other profession, whether it be government service or any business or art.
2. However, with the rise and rise of regional parties, many of them based on caste groups (some entirely on the basis of caste) are demanding and getting caste-designated welfare and other benefits and entitlements. Political parties ever hungry for votes, are yielding to these pressures and therefore taking the numerical strength of the caste as the basis for putting up candidates for elective posts. Governments are creating state -funded welfare corporations for
specific castes. And this is in addition to special welfare funding to non-Hindus ie Muslims and Christians. Converts to Christianity are taking their former caste into their new religion. And despite conversion, they are wanting the benefits of their pre-conversion caste. These measures espoused and practised by parties and governments run by such parties are perpetuating castes. Those who could not quit their traditional profession, are helped by providing them tools, implements and subsidies and pensions. The Telugu states, Andhra Pradesh especially, are examples of state-aid for perpetuation of castes .
3. Notwithstanding movements by Ramanujacharya (1100AD) and subsequent saintly persons from different castes and political leaders like Dr Ambedkar and Gandhi striving to eradicate caste, the present crop of political leaders are resorting to every possible measure to perpetuate caste, although caste is no barrier for the choice of profession. One new development is rivalry between the castes for what they consider as adequate welfare and representation and so inter-caste strife. Perpetuation of caste is the tragic consequence of populist politics and instability and strife in the society. Islam and Christianity which profess that there are no castes in their religions are also asserting that among their followers there are castee. And so they want to be included in the caste classification to merit reservation. The continuation of reservations depends solely on perpetuation of caste. (437 words) .
END
NB: What remain to be promised:
a) AP government will fix a spouse (wife or husband) for every person who is not getting one
b) AP government will establish Santana Saafalya Kendras to help infertile couples to have children
c) AP government will establish “Surrogacy Farms” to help working women to have children outside their womb
d) AP government will establish Langars-free food centers for all poor people(voters)
e) AP government will distribute degree certificates for people