Hindutva’s most formidable opponent — caste census. Why didn’t Congress govts push for it?

The caste census could result in a significant shift in the existing power dynamics, political representation. BJP, Congress may not be willing to risk such a change.

The 17-column form for the caste census used by enumerators in Bihar | Photo: Krishan Murari/ThePrint

The Indian Constitution outlaws caste-based discrimination, but it continues to be prevalent in various forms across the country. The recent debate on the caste census has revealed that the issue is as contentious as ever. My view is that the Congress and the BJP dither on the issue of caste census whenever they are in power.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated his stance on the issue during a visit to Bidar. He called for the lifting of the 50 per cent cap on reservations, the public release of the 2011 caste (SECC) data, and the enumeration of caste in the upcoming decadal census. Gandhi’s comments reflect the sentiments of many who see the caste census as a means of addressing historical injustices and ensuring better representation for marginalised communities.

One of the striking observations in this debate is the behaviour of the two main political parties in India — the Congress and the BJP. Both parties demand a caste census when they are in opposition, but once they come to power, they do not conduct it. This raises questions about the parties’ true intentions and their willingness to tackle the issue of caste-based discrimination and backwardness.

From 1996 to now

The demand for a caste-based census gained momentum in the 1990s, following the publication of the Mandal Commission report. The report recommended that a caste-based census be conducted to identify and quantify the backward castes and communities and provide them with appropriate representation and opportunities. The proposal for a caste-based census was a priority for the 1996 United Front government. The Deve Gowda government agreed to conduct a caste census as part of the decennial census in 2001. However, the plan was cancelled due to the change in leadership, to the Vajpayee-led NDA government, and concerns over potential conflicts.

In 2001, the Registrar General approved the caste census. But the Vajpayee government reversed this decision, citing potential for caste-based tensions and conflicts. The BJP’s opposition to the caste census was also linked to its ideology of Hindutva, which seeks to create a homogenous Hindu identity that transcends caste divisions.

Similarly, in 2010, the Manmohan Singh government did not take any concrete steps towards conducting a caste census, citing logistical and operational difficulties. To fulfil the mandate of the Lok Sabha to conduct a caste census, the government included caste in another ongoing exercise, the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011, which was primarily designed to identify households living below the poverty line and to provide data on various socio-economic indicators. While the SECC did collect data on caste, its methodology was criticised for being inadequate and incomplete, resulting in data that was not accurate or comprehensive.

SECC went on from 2011 till 2015 and the data was never revealed. Around Rs 5,000 crore was collectively spent by the Manmohan Singh government and the subsequent Narendra Modi government just for the caste data to never be released. The government could have just included a column in the decadal census to get the desired data.

These two instances reveal that both the Congress and the BJP have shied away from conducting a caste-based census when in power. The BJP is once again trying to conduct a census without enumerating caste. Interestingly both parties have no problem getting data on religion.

Disrupt status quo

The reluctance of the two main political parties to conduct a caste census could be attributed to the potential to disrupt the status quo in politics and society and shake the upper caste hold in the organisational structures of these parties. The caste census could result in a significant shift in the existing power dynamics and political representation, and the parties may not be willing to risk such a change.

Here are five possible reasons why the BJP and the Congress may be opposed to the idea of a caste census in India:

1.  Conducting a caste-based census could lead to significant political risks, especially if the data reveals that certain castes are underrepresented or marginalised. It could lead to demands for increased representation and reservations for these groups, potentially disrupting the existing power dynamics and political representation.

2. The BJP’s opposition to the caste census is linked to its ideology of Hindutva. The party believes that the caste census could undermine this goal by highlighting the differences between different caste groups.

3. A caste-based census could pose significant logistical challenges, including the need to accurately identify and count individuals from different castes and communities. This could require additional resources and expertise and could lead to delays and errors in the data.

4. The data obtained from a caste census could lead to demands for increased reservations for backward castes, which could be seen as a threat by other communities. The parties may be concerned about the potential for backlash from upper caste communities.

5. The parties may also be facing opposition from upper caste communities, who could see the caste census as a threat to their privileged position in society. The parties may be hesitant to alienate these communities, especially if they are a significant voter base.

However, the caste census is also a matter of social justice and addressing historical injustices. It could have numerous benefits, particularly in policymaking.

First, it could help in determining the actual proportion of various caste groups in the country, providing accurate data on their populations. Second, it could aid in identifying and quantifying the backward castes and communities, who are currently entitled to caste-based reservations in education and employment. Third, by revealing the extent of backwardness and discrimination, it could help in addressing historical injustices and caste-based discrimination. Fourth, the data obtained from a caste census could be useful in formulating appropriate policies to address the issues of caste-based discrimination and backwardness. Finally,  a caste census could assist in better targeting of government welfare schemes and policies, ensuring that they reach the intended beneficiaries.

The Congress and the BJP must prioritise the needs of marginalised communities over their own political interests and conduct a caste census to ensure a more equitable and just society.

Dilip Mandal is the former managing editor of India Today Hindi Magazine, and has authored books on media and sociology. He tweets @Profdilipmandal. Views are personal.

(Edited by Theres Sudeep)