The Caste Question

The Caste Question

Indrajit Borah

Whether Rohith Vemula’s anti-Brahminical outburst is a resurrection of age-old caste movements or a convergence of Left and Ambedkarite politics; the pertinent question is, how Indian democracy could have further eradicated caste-based oppression since independence?

The Indian Caste System was a closed system of social stratification with four hierarchically ranked castes called Varnas covering over 4000 specialized occupational sub-castes, called Jatis as per the Anthropological Survey of India. Hereditary specialization, sacred hierarchy and mutual repulsion were the three main characteristics of the system behind ritualistic practising of endogamy, occupational restriction and restriction of caste mobility.

This trend is connected to India’s preferential policies and the implementation of these policies. In spite of debates and controversies over the preferential policies, they have still had a very significant impact on many groups among the lower and backward castes with an increase in representation in elected offices. They have also become an important element in electoral politics and have gone on to form strong political parties in various regions. People from these disadvantaged groups have largely made their way into government jobs as well as all levels of educational institutions. One survey in 2006 reveals that due to job reservation, the presence of Scheduled Castes and Tribes in regular employment is increased by about 5 percentage points. However, given the wide difference in educational standards between upper caste and these communities, greater emphasis must be given on improving the educational standards and the job-related attributes of persons from these communities. Access to quality education is increasingly becoming the most crucial determinant of subsequent life achievement for many socially and economically marginalised

The various safeguards built into the social structure of caste prevented progressive polarisation of class differences in India. The trickle-down based national growth policies after independence have also mostly benefited the elite and rich, leaving behind the deprived in partial stagnation like the huge agricultural sector on which the bulk of the people depend for livelihoods. Again, the Backward Castes have gained considerable economic advantage after Jamindary abolition in the post-independence land reforms. This new-found strength increased their political clout and impeded further tenancy reforms which can be seen as co-mingling of class and caste interests in an undeveloped capitalistic