Dt: 26/6/14
Backwardness as a badge of power
Dr T.H.Chowdary*
There was a time if any person or class of persons were called backward great offence would be taken and the glories of that persons’ family and his class would be recounted with great pride. But alas! For the past few decades, especially since the INC has been taken over by a lady of foreign origin, backwardness has become a badge of pride and right to privilege and power. Muslims who ruled this country in parts for hundreds of years, who pride in saying that they brought culture to this country are saying that they are backward. Almost every caste in Hinduism is also stridently demanding that it should be classified as a backward class and given the special privileges of reservation in government jobs, legislatures an admission to educational institutions and so on. Backwardness has become so respectful that Brahmanis in Andhra Pradesh represented to Js. Puttappa Commission that their caste be classified as backward . When asked in wonderment how, while everybody is denouncing Brahminism, Brahimns could claim to be backward, their answer was that all those among them who were “forward” had migrated to the USA and only the backwards among them are left in India and so they are entitled to be classified as a backward caste.
2. Jats in North India, Marathas in Maharashtra and Kammas, Reddys, Velamas and Kapus in Telugunadu are sturdy, well to do farming classes. As land lords, they had been wielding cnsderbale power in rural areas and in the past few decades they had also taken to education and are coming abreast of the traditionally educated Brahmins. Now they are also wanting to be classified as backward.
3. Political parties are very unwisely yielding to this shameful claim of backwardness. In view of the coming elections (late 2014) to the state Legislative Assembly, Maharashtra government has decided to give 20% reservation for Marathas and 5% for Muslims . In UP,
competition for Muslims votes put the figure of reservations for Muslims from 5% to 18%. In Telengana the regional party has promised 12% reservation for Muslims who until the liberation of the Hyderabad state from the Nizam, while constituting 9% of the population had 90% of government jobs. Regional parties in Tamilnadu have classified more than 70% of the people as backward and put Muslims also in that category. In West Bengal, the regional party TMC is also promising between 15% to 18% to the ever increasing Muslim population in that state.
4. Backwardness in India is thus growing inspite of 12 Five Year Plans to get out of poverty and backwardness. This is despite the garibhi hatao and such populist programs from Indira Gandhi days onwards and despite claims of great development, the UPA-II government enacted the Food Security law putting 65% of India’s population Below Poverty Line (BPL) to be given almost free food grains. Backwardness conceded to every caste and commitment to give free to the poor now become the dominant discourse of political parties and social justice warriors. If continued this will spell ruin to this country. We should hope that this unwise populist discourse and demands will be put an end to by the no nonsense Bharatiya Pradhana Manthri who should place work ethic over welfare ethic; self improvement instead of dependency ; education and skills above entitlement .
5. Poverty could never be eliminated absolutely; it could be ameliorated by well-designed measures like motivating the poor to work, acquire skills in demand and have limited families. Backwardness can likewise be left behind by education and help to enterprise. Preservation of the poor and backward by promoting dependency in them is no virtue.
END