11 delegations led by Nitish Kumar of Bihar have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the caste census. They say that the census should now be done on the basis of caste. At present, there is no statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding this. Let’s see what he decides on it.
History of Caste census
Census was started in the British era. These are colonial gifts by the British. When British colonialism established rule in India, they started a large-scale census for the first time in India with the policy of Know who you want to govern. It was through census, records, and figures that the British strengthened their hegemony in India. Then after some time, they started the caste census to strengthen this further. When the British started the caste census, some people wanted to raise their caste, while some people opposed them. In this way, people started having tensions and fights over caste. Violence and lawsuits also started about this caste system. For various similar reasons, the British stopped the caste census.
Before the caste census, mobility was found in the ethnic location of the people. Many historians say that ever since the caste census was conducted, the caste position within the people became rigid and firm. Once the names were registered in the census, the change of people was not possible.
Why did we tell you about the Census history of India here?
Because everything can be learned from history itself. The present and the future can be handled only by knowing the history. From this, it can be understood that the mistake which has happened in history should not be repeated in the present. What we do in the present, what we should not do. We get the lessons of all these from the past. Any census gives that data of governance and power which can make development effective in the society. Based on which development policies are helping.
Will caste census help in making policies in today’s context?
There are about 3000 castes and sub-castes in India. How is the adjustment of democratic resources and development plans possible for such large numbers of castes? It is true that with caste-based statistics, democrats will be able to move forward in the direction of the distribution of electoral opportunities and development prospects. But it also raises some ethical questions. The one whose number is bigger gets the share on the basis of that number, then what will happen to the one who has less number? We know that there are many castes and Some of them have done something similar where democratic benefits are not available according to their dominant caste.
Effect of caste census
It is possible that the caste census will provide the data of the people belonging to the most neglected and most backward classes so that the benefits and opportunities given to them can be carried forward. This will enable them to understand their comparative backwardness and development. This will be possible when questions about the socioeconomic location are included in the direction and vision of the census. Such questions should be given more importance. This importance should also be given while interpreting the census. It should not be that only on the basis of numerical strength, electoral democracy and power share of power should be claimed.
After independence, it was expected from Indian democracy that the caste system would be weak. Dr. Ambedkar had dreamed of the abolition of caste, but it is felt by all of us that in many ways, modernity weakens caste barriers while electoral democracies increase this caste burden.
In a country with such a large ethnic population, the development and sharing of an army on the basis of caste would not be easy. Even if there is a caste census, it should be considered as a medium of equal distribution of social justice.
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