• Dr. Udit Raj, former M.P

RSS has also said yes to caste census, but also said that political advantage should not be taken from it. Till now, BJP and Sangh were adamant that caste census will spread casteism, so it should not happen. Ever since Rahul Gandhi ji sharpened the issue of social justice, the politics of the country has started moving in the direction of Hindutva vs social justice. There is a need to take a look at how caste census will reduce casteism.

In the past, India could not win a single war and whoever attacked India, won easily. Some looted wealth and some ruled. The reason given was always that the defeat was due to deceit and lack of modern weapons. Sometimes heavy storms and rains and sometimes betrayal by the commander were the reasons given. Again, an attempt is being made to fabricate history that we were great and conquerors of the world.Nothing is lost in writing and speaking and this gives self-satisfaction. In such a situation, where is the point of trying to learn? It is said that in the past, plastic surgery, atom bombs, missiles, airplanes and internet were all there but foreigners stole them. As soon as a new invention is made in the world and as soon as it is known, some knowledgeable person comes and says that it belongs to our ancestors. That is where the curiosity and the thought of doing something ends. Such thinking is spread only by some particular caste.

In 612, Mir Qasim attacks King Dahir of Sindh province with a small army and wins. Clive won the Battle of Plassey easily. When the British army was marching, thousands and lakhs of people were watching from both sides and the British were afraid that if they even picked up stones, their army would be destroyed. When the responsibility of fighting rested with only one caste, then the rest would just watch the spectacle. The washerman had to wash clothes, the oilman had to extract oil, the cobbler had to make shoes, the blacksmith had to make tools and, in this way, ‘As many castes, So many pieces’. The fighters belonged to one caste and this also helped the invaders because they made Dalits and backward people their allies. We have a saying, “kounrip hoi, hamein ka haani. Cheri chhaandi, ki hoib rani”. This is the real casteism.

If there was no Constitution and everyone was not given participation in governance and administration, it is quite possible that India would have been enslaved again. Even though some castes have more participation in high positions and posts, now everyone believes that this is our country. Even though marriages happen within the caste and the groups are different, everyone has started believing that the country belongs to everyone. Now it is not the responsibility of a particular caste to protect the country. Caste census means social justice and the country can move forward by following this path. In 1921, the Justice Party implemented reservation in Madras and today Tamil Nadu is far ahead of North India. In Kerala, the King of Travancore implemented reservation in 1921 and he also moved ahead, so did the Mysore state. In 1902, Shahuji Maharaj of Kolhapur state implemented 50 percent reservation and today these four states are miles ahead of North India in education, health and per capita income. Can there be any better proof than this that India will progress through caste census and social justice?

There was no movement for social justice in North India and this is the reason why they are lagging behind. Dr. Ambedkar wanted to create a casteless society by adopting Buddhism. He has crores of followers, but no one is with the destruction of caste. Educational and economic data will be collected through caste census and the government will be able to make plans according to the need so that backward people also get an opportunity to progress. In the event of less or no proper representation, casteism will increase. The backward will have a feeling of revenge and jealousy and this will increase caste mobilization. This is the reason why caste conflicts are increasing today.

If the economists of the country are not extreme casteists, then they should first come forward and support reservation and it is also possible that they have not noticed or have not thought from this perspective. Only a few people of the country have resources, so how much goods can they consume. Even if we assume that they spend extravagantly, they can still consume up to a certain limit. The person who gets a job through reservation will spend more because he already has less consumer goods. Due to this, people of his family and caste will also study and do jobs or do some business, agriculture or other profession, which will increase their purchasing power. They will buy consumer goods like clothes, concrete house, jewellery, car, mobile, TV, fridge etc. and ultimately the country’s trade, industry, market etc. will grow. China is reducing international dependence and is trying to increase the income of common people, so that production, market and service sectors are not affected. Rahul Gandhi ji is a visionary and is talking about social justice in the same context. Reservation has proved to be the biggest catalyst for getting education. When one person in the family is educated and gets a job, the message spread in the family, relatives and caste and everybody started studying. People in the family and the neighbourhood start competing that only if they study, they will be able to do something.

‘Caste Census’ is useful for human welfare, national interest and development. Birth, marriage, family, happiness and sorrow, group, living and dying all happen basically in the caste, so it would be foolish to deny it. If it is not looked at with prejudice and the census is done properly, then it will not harm anyone.

(The author is a former MP, National Chairman of Unorganised Workers and Employees Congress (KKC) and Dalit, OBC, Minority and Adivasi Sangh (DOMA Sangh))