CASTE IN INDIAN POLITICS

Project submitted to:

Dr. Avinash Samal

(Faculty of Political science)

Project submitted by:

Devendra Dhruw
Section: C, Semester III
Roll no. 59

23.10.2017

HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

UPARWARA, NEW RAIPUR, C.G.
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the project work entitled ‘Caste In Indian Politics ’ submitted to HNLU,
Raipur, is record of an original work done by me under the able guidance of Dr. Avinash
Samal ,Faculty Member Political science, HNLU Raipur.

Devendra Dhruw

ROLL NO.: 59

SEMESTER – III

B.A.L.L.B (Hons.)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I feel highly elated to work on the topic “Caste In Indian Politics”.

Thanks to the Almighty who gave me the strength to accomplish the project with sheer
hard work and honesty. This research venture has been made possible due to the
generous co-operation of various persons. To list them all is not practicable, even to
repay them in words is beyond the domain of my lexicon.

I express my deepest regard and gratitude for, Dr. Avinash Samal, Faculty of Political
science. His consistent supervision, constant inspiration and invaluable guidance have
been of immense help in understanding and carrying out the nuances of the project
report.

I take this opportunity to also thank the University and the Vice Chancellor for
providing extensive database resources in the Library and access to Internet.

Some printing errors might have crept in, which are deeply regretted. I would be
grateful to receive comments and suggestions to further improve this project report.

Devendra Dhruw
Semester III
Roll no: 59
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction………………………………………………................. 1

2. Objectives .............................................................................................2

3. Research Methodology ........................................................................2

4. Caste system in India...........................................................................3

7. Relation between caste and politics …………………………….......6

8. Role of caste and politics…………………………………………….8

9. Conclusion ...........................................................................................15

10. References ..........................................................................................16

 Introduction

The caste system in India is the British Raj transformed a system of social stratification,
which has pre-modern origins,, and is today the basis of reservation in India. Caste system is a
predominant feature of the social structure in India. It is an inscriptive system of status and
hierarchy. It is pervasive and all embracing and controls and defines all social, economic and
political relationships for the individual. The present political System encourages the use of
caste as a means of mustering support as well as a means to enable the illiterate and politically
ignorant masses of India to participate in the modern democratic process where the caste
structure provides one of the most important organizational clusters in which the population is
bound to live, politics must-strive to organize through such a structure. The political behavior
of the people of the members of different political parties and of the members of the
government is caste oriented. Their attitudes and values are caste based. The Indian
government officially recognizes historically discriminated communities of India such as the
Untouchables under the designation of Scheduled Castes, and certain economically backward
Shudra castes as Other Backward Castes. The Mandal Commission was established in 1979 to
"identify the socially or educationally backward" and to consider the question of seat
reservations and quotas for people to redress caste discrimination.
 OBJECTIVE

 To know about caste system in India

 Relation between caste and politics
 Understand the role of caste in Indian politics
 Recognition of social backward communities, Mandal Commission, Affirmative
actions.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The project talks about the caste system prevailing in India and the role that caste play in
politics. Interdependence of politics on caste. Mandal commission role in securing reservation
for socially exploited people and the result of such reservation in politics.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The method of research adopted for the project is the analytical and descriptive method.
Secondary and electronic resources have been used extensively to gather data about the topic.
Websites, dictionaries and articles have also been referred to. Footnotes have been provided
wherever needed to acknowledge the sources. The texts that were used for the project include
articles, research papers and news given in various websites as well as online journals.
 CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA

The caste system in India is the British Raj transformed a system of social stratification,
which has pre-modern origins,, and is today the basis of reservation in India. It consists of two
different concepts, varna and jāti, which may be regarded as different levels of analysis of this
system. Thus what would now be called Hindu society is conceived of as being divisible into
four very large units which transcend specific regional associations. These are: Brāhmana,
Kstriya, Vaisya and Sudra. They are commonly understood as a ranked order of precedence.
Then there is another caste called the ‘fifth’ one(called Pañcama), the so-called ‘untouchable’
(the hill and forest population who are called tribals, inclusive). This group occupies a place
below, outside this Varna scheme.
 The Brāhmanas are commonly identified with those who fulfil the calling of priests
and spiritual preceptors.
 The Ksatriyas (etymologically, the ‘protectors’) are usually rulers and warriors.
 The Vaishya those who have commercial livelihood, and are associated with other
producers and wealth-creators as well.
 The Sudras are toilers and artisans.
 People belonging to the ‘fifth’ group perform ‘unclean’ services such as cremation,
killing animals for food, etc.
.
Caste system is a predominant feature of the social structure in India. It is an inscriptive
system of status and hierarchy. It is pervasive and all embracing and controls and defines all
social, economic and political relationships for the individual.1

Although the varnas and jatis have pre-modern origins, the caste system as it exists today is
the result of developments during the Islamic rule (from 13 th century), particularly during the
collapse of Mughal era and over the British colonial regime in India. The collapse of Mughal
era saw the rise of powerful men who associated themselves with kings, priests and ascetics,
1
M Narasimhachary, The Caste System: An Overview, ‘Indian Culture in the Modern World’. 23rd October
2002, London
affirming the regal and martial form of the caste ideal, and it also reshaped many apparently
casteless social groups into differentiated caste communities. The British Raj furthered this
development, making rigid caste organization a central mechanism of administration.
Between 1860 and 1920, the British segregated Indians by caste, granting administrative jobs
and senior appointments only to the upper castes. Social unrest during 1920s led to a change
in this policy. From then on, the colonial administration began a policy of positive
discrimination by reserving a certain percentage of government jobs for the lower castes.
New developments took place after India achieved independence, when the policy of caste-
based reservation of jobs was formalized with lists of Scheduled Castes (Dalit) and Scheduled
Tribes (Adivasi). Since 1950, the country has enacted many laws and social initiatives to
protect and improve the socioeconomic conditions of its lower caste population. These caste
classifications for college admission quotas, job reservations and other affirmative action
initiatives, according to the Supreme Court of India, are based on heredity and are not
changeable. Discrimination against lower castes is illegal in India under Article 15 of its
constitution, and India tracks violence against Dalits nationwide.

Nature of Caste:

In India caste identity and solidarities are the primary channels through which electoral and
political support is mobilized within the political system.

The caste plank is used more extensively in rural areas and the political parties find it easier to
mobilize support directly from the members of a caste community by appealing to them.

The present political System encourages the use of caste as a means of mustering support as
well as a means to enable the illiterate and politically ignorant masses of India to participate
in the modern democratic process where the caste structure provides one of the most
important organizational clusters in which the population is bound to live, politics must-strive
to organize through such a structure.
Politics finds material for its articulation by drawing the caste system into its web and
moulding it into its own design. Caste by making politics their sphere of activity asserts their
identity. Politicians mobilize caste groupings and identities in order to organize their power.

In the context of interactions between caste and politics Rajni Kothari has pointed out three
major aspects of caste system.

Firstly, the secular dimension by which it is evident that caste as a stratified system has not
received much attention. In fact caste system is predominated by factionalism and caste
cleavages, patterns of alignment and realignment among the various strata and a continuous
striving for social mobility.

Secondly, the integration dimension by which the caste system not only determines the
individual's social status on the basis of the group to which he is born but also differentials
and assigns occupational and economic roles. It thus gives a place to every individual from
the highest to the lowest and makes for a high degree of identification and integration.2

Thirdly, "It is not politics that gets caste ridden it is caste that gets politicized."

2
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/politics/relationship-between-caste-and-politics-
in-india/39169/
 CASTE AND POLITICS

Caste has always been central to modern Indian politics. Even the power structure of
mediaeval India was based on caste. Caste also operated as the central principle in the
distribution of power and material resources in the colonial period. Colonialism in India
created a democratic and modernist space; nevertheless upper-caste groups also
predominantly captured this space. The nationalist struggle against the imperial power was
aimed at establishing the caste-class hegemony. Non Brahmin and low-caste movements were
active during the colonial era, broadly pursuing two aims: achieving upward caste-class
mobility and annihilation of caste. The caste system played a significant role in determining
the content and direction of the processes of political socialization, political mobilization and
institutionalization within the framework of modern democracy.. The dynamics of caste and
class were at the root of the complexity of Indian politics in its functioning. Behind the
seemingly religious and communal movements in post-independent India, it was the dynamics
of caste-class hegemony that was the real operational factor. Both the anti-caste and the
upwardly mobile caste movements are guiding the pro reservation movement, which aims at
upward class mobility of the hitherto excluded castes. The pro-imperialist bourgeois policies
of the ruling class and the struggles against these policies are also influenced and shaped by
the tensions and contradictions in caste-class dynamics.
In the years following independence, the traditional upper castes continued to rule in
most parts of India. For example, until 1977, upper castes continued to hold prominent elected
positions in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in the Indian union . Untill 1962, as many
as 63% of ruling Congress members of the Legislative Assembly came from elite castes .
Soon, however, traditional peasant castes such as Ahirs, Kurmis, Koeri, LodhRajputs, and Jats
began to dominate the political scape of northern India. 3
In the North Indian Hindi speaking belt, upper caste members of parliament fell below 50%
for the first time in 1977.4 The challenge to the established Congress was mounted in Uttar
Pradesh rather effectively in the late 1960s by a coalition of peasant castes led by Charan
Singh. In Bihar, also, there was a significant decline of upper caste members of the legislative
assembly after 1977 .

3
Jain M. 1996. Backward caste and social change in UP and Bihar.

4
Manor J. 1997. Caste and class in a cohesive society.
Propagation of Casteism:

The election procedures done much to encourage the caste system because the candidates ant
to achieve their ends by propagating casteism among the others. People are asked to vote for
their caste candidate and the elected leaders maintain his casteism after elections are over.

The political behavior of the people of the members of different political parties and of the
members of the government is caste oriented. Their attitudes and values are caste based.

People of a caste vote embolic for a candidate of the same of different caste either in
pursuance of the decision of the caste panchayat or of a meeting of caste members or even
without a formal decision. Even when they do not vote en bloc, they prefer a candidate of
their own caste to other candidates irrespective of the merits or demerits of the candidates.

The selection of the candidates for a constituency is based on whether he will be able to get
the support of a particular caste or castes. Even the caste of those recommending a candidate
plays an important role.

When a single caste is not likely to be effective alliance are formed on caste basis by the
candidates or by the voters: Even the office bearers of a party are appointed on the basis of
caste to please a caste group in the party and in the constituency.

If the caste candidate happens to belongs to the caste in majority having large voters it is
presumed that he will be selected because of his association with such a caste.

Roles of Caste System” in Indian Politics

The role of caste in the Indian political system can be specifically discussed as under:

(1)  Caste Factor in Political Socialization and Leadership Recruitment:

Different caste groups have their loyalties behind different political parties and their
ideologies. Right from his birth, an Indian citizen inherits a caste and grows up as a member
of a particular caste group.

He belongs either to one of the High Castes or to Scheduled Castes. In the process of picking
up his political orientations, attitude and beliefs, he naturally comes under the influence of
caste groups and casteism.

‘Caste values’ and caste interests influence his socialisation and consequently his political
thinking, awareness and participation. He banks upon caste solidarity for occupying and
performing a leadership role.

Caste influences the process of leadership recruitment. This is particularly true of highly
‘caste conscious’ people of some states like Haryana, Bihar, UP, Tamil Nadu and Andhra
Pradesh. In Haryana, the leadership comes either from the Jats or from the Bishnois or
Brahmins. In Andhra Pradesh, the Reddys, Kammas and Valamas provide state leaders.

(2)  Caste and Party Politics:

Caste factor is a constituent of the Indian party system. Some political parties have a direct
caste basis while others indirectly bank upon particular caste groups. In particular, the
regional political parties stand predominantly influenced by the caste factor. The DMK and
AIADMK are non-Brahmin rather anti-Brahmin political parties of Tamil Nadu.

While the BSP banks upon the support of the Scheduled Castes, the BJP largely banks upon
its popularity among the high caste Hindus and the trading community. In fact, while
formulating its policies and decisions each political party of India in India almost always
keeps in vision the ‘Caste Angle’.
(3)  Caste and Elections:

The caste factor is an important factor of electoral politics in India. All political parties give
great weightage to the caste factor in selecting their candidates, in allocating constituencies to
their candidates and in canvassing support for their nominees in the election.

In constituencies predominated by Muslims, Muslim candidates are fielded and in areas

predominated by Jats, Jat candidates are fielded. Even avowedly secularist parties like the
Congress, the Janata Dal, the CPI and the CPM take into consideration the caste factor in
selecting their candidates.

In the election campaigns, votes are demanded in the name of caste. Caste groups are tapped
for committed support. No one can disagree with N.D. Palmer when he observes that “Caste
considerations are given great weight in the selection of candidates and in the appeals to
voters during election campaigns.” In elections, caste acts as the most important political
party.

(4)  Caste and the Exercise of Power by a Political party:

Since caste is a major feature of the Indian society and acts as an important factor in various
processes of politics, it also plays a big role in the decision-making process. Even the issue of
re-organisation of states is handled with an eye upon the prevention of undue predominance
of a caste group in a particular territory.

Caste factor influences the policies and decisions of the state governments. The party in
power always tries to use its decision-making power to win the favour of major caste groups.
The Congress has always tried to nurture people belonging to the Scheduled Castes as its vote
bank.

(5)  Caste Factor and the Local Government:

The role of caste in the working of the Panchayati Raj and other institutions of local self-
government has been a recognised reality. We can go to the extent of recording that caste
based factionalism in the rural areas of India has been one of the biggest hindering factors in
the organisation and effective working of the Panchayati Raj.
In the Indian rural context, caste has been a plank of mobilisation, a channel of
communication, representation and leadership and a linkage between the electorate and the
political process.

(6)  Caste and Indian Constitution:

Though the spirit of secularism stands clearly affirmed in the Constitution, yet in a limited
and indirect way, it recognises the caste system in the form of providing for caste based
reservations. Reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Union
Parliament and the state legislative assemblies (Art. 330 and 332) as well as in public services
reflects this feature.

Even the ‘Other Backward Classes—OBC’s—stand determined on caste basis. The

Consitution of India also provides for the office of the commissioner of Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes with the responsibility to investigate matters relating to the various
safeguards provided by the Constitution to these castes and tribes.

The provision for the appointment of a minister-in- charge for looking after the welfare of the
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes in the States of Bihar,
Madhya Pradesh and Orissa also reflects indirect recognition of the caste factor.

The reservation policy clearly reflects the role of caste factor in politics even the other
backward classes (OBCs) are basically caste based classes. Now, reservation in private sector
has been getting implemented and the quantum of reservation is going to be quite high.

(7)  Caste Violence:

Caste based violence very often finds its way into politics. The traditional differences between
the higher and lower castes have acquired a new vigour and have turned, at times, into a
violent and fierce struggle for power in society. The growing terrorisation of the lower castes
by the higher or even intermediary castes has been becoming a sad part of India’s political
reality.

In states like Maharashtra, Bihar, and Gujarat and UP, caste violence has raised its head even
in some urban areas. Existence of caste sena’s in Bihar has been an unfortunate reality of state
politics. Caste violence has been a source of big strain on social and political life of Bihar.
Recognition

The Indian government officially recognizes historically discriminated communities of India

such as the Untouchables under the designation of Scheduled Castes, and certain
economically backward Shudra castes as Other Backward Castes. The Scheduled Castes are
sometimes referred to as Dalit in contemporary literature. In 2001, Dalits comprised 16.2
percent of India's total population. Of the one billion Hindus in India, it is estimated that
Hindu Forward caste comprises 26%, Other Backward Class comprises 43%, Hindu
Scheduled Castes (Dalits) comprises 22% and Hindu Scheduled Tribes comprises 9%.

In addition to taking affirmative action for people of schedule castes and scheduled tribes,
India has expanded its effort to include people from poor, backward castes in its economic
and social mainstream. In 1990, the government reservation of 27% for Backward Classes on
the basis of the Mandal Commission’s recommendations. Since then, India has reserved 27
percent of job opportunities in government-owned enterprises and agencies for Socially and
Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs). The 27 percent reservation is in addition to 22.5
percent set aside for India's lowest castes for last 50 years.5

Mandal commission
The Mandal Commission was established in 1979 to "identify the socially or educationally
backward" and to consider the question of seat reservations and quotas for people to redress
caste discrimination. In 1980, the commission's report affirmed the affirmative action practice
under Indian law, whereby additional members of lower castes—the other backward classes
—were given exclusive access to another 27 percent of government jobs and slots in public
universities, in addition to the 23 percent already reserved for the Dalits and Tribals. When V.
P. Singh’s administration tried to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission
in 1989, massive protests were held in the country. Many alleged that the politicians were
trying to cash in on caste-based reservations for purely pragmatic electoral purposes.

Many political parties in India have indulged in caste-based votebank politics. Parties such

as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Samajwadi Party and the Janata Dal claim that they are

5
National Commission for Backward Classes, Government of India. 2009.
representing the backward castes, and rely on OBC support, often in alliance with Dalit and
Muslim support, to win elections. In Uttar Pradesh , the BSP was able to garner a majority in
the state assembly elections with the support of the high-caste Brahmin community.

Other Backward Classes (OBC)

The Mandal Commission covered more than 3000 castes under Other Backward Class (OBC)
category, regardless of their affluence or economic status and stated that OBCs form around
52% of the Indian population. However, the National Sample Survey puts the figure at
32%.6There is substantial debate over the exact number of OBCs in India; it is generally
estimated to be sizable, but many believe that it is lower than the figures quoted by either the
Mandal Commission or the National Sample Survey.

The reservation system has led to widespread protests, such as the 2006 Indian anti-
reservation protests, with many complaining of reverse discrimination against the Forward
Castes (the castes that do not qualify for the reservation).

In May 2011, the government approved a poverty, religion and caste census to identify
poverty in different social backgrounds. The census would also help the government to re-
examine and possibly undo some of the policies which were formed in haste such as the
Mandal Commission in order to bring more objectivity to the policies with respect to
contemporary realities. Critics of the reservation system believe that there is actually no social
stigma at all associated with belonging to a backward caste and that because of the huge
constitutional incentives in the form of educational and job reservations, a large number of
people will falsely identify with a backward caste to receive the benefits. This would not only
result in a marked inflation of the backward castes' numbers, but also lead to enormous
administrative and judicial resources being devoted to social unrest and litigation when such
dubious caste declarations are challenged.

Affirmative action
Article 15 of the Constitution of India prohibits discrimination based on caste and Article 17
declared the practice of untouchability to be illegal. In 1955, India enacted the Untouchability
6
(Offences) Act (renamed in 1976, as the Protection of Civil Rights Act). It extended the reach
of law, from intent to mandatory enforcement. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
(Prevention of Atrocities) Act was passed in India in 1989.

 The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was established
to investigate, monitor, advise, and evaluate the socio-economic progress of the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
 A reservation system for people classified as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
has existed for over 50 years. The presence of privately owned free market corporations in
India is limited and public sector jobs have dominated the percentage of jobs in its
economy. A 2000 report estimated that most jobs in India were in companies owned by
the government or agencies of the government. The reservation system implemented by
India over 50 years, has been partly successful, because of all jobs, nationwide, in 1995,
17.2 percent of the jobs were held by those in the lowest castes.
 The Indian government classifies government jobs in four groups. The Group A jobs
are senior most, high paying positions in the government, while Group D are junior most,
lowest paying positions. In Group D jobs, the percentage of positions held by lowest caste
classified people is 30% greater than their demographic percentage. In all jobs classified
as Group C positions, the percentage of jobs held by lowest caste people is about the same
as their demographic population distribution. In Group A and B jobs, the percentage of
positions held by lowest caste classified people is 30% lower than their demographic
percentage.
 The presence of lowest caste people in highest paying, senior most position jobs in
India has increased by ten-fold, from 1.18 percent of all jobs in 1959 to 10.12 percent of
all jobs in 1995.7
 In 2007, India elected K. G. Balakrishnan, a Dalit, to the office of Chief Justice.
 In 2007, Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India, elected Mayawati as the
Chief Minister, the highest elected office of the state. BBC claims, "Mayawati Kumari is
an icon for millions of India's Dalits, or untouchables as they used to be known."
 In 2009, the Indian parliament unanimously elected a Dalit, Meira Kumar , as the first
female speaker.8
7
"Caste-based Discrimination in International Human Rights Law", p. 257, by David Keane

8
 "Meira Kumar, a Dalit leader is the new Lok Sabha Speaker".NCHRO. 2009.
 Conclusion

Caste system is a predominant feature of the social structure in India. It is an inscriptive

system of status and hierarchy. It is pervasive and all embracing and controls and defines all
social, economic and political relationships for the individual.
Reservation was given to the socially backward communities in order to achieve equal
opportunities and show their representation in the Indian politics.

The Mandal Commission was established in 1979 to "identify the socially or educationally
backward" and to consider the question of seat reservations and quotas for people to redress
caste discrimination.

The election procedures done much to encourage the caste system because the candidates ant
to achieve their ends by propagating casteism among the others. People are asked to vote for
their caste candidate and the elected leaders maintain his casteism after elections are over.

Equals Should Be Treated Equally

And

Unequal’s Should Be Treated Differently

 REFERENCES

 "India: (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989; No. 33 of 1989’. Human Rights Watch. 1989.
 "About NCST" Government of India. 2011.
 "Central List of Other Backward Castes".National Commission in Backward Classes, Government
of India.

Webliography

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India#Mandal_commission
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India#Caste_politics_2
 http://www.preservearticles.com/2011100314449/short-essays-on-the-role-of-caste-in-indian-
politics.html

 http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/politics/relationship-between-caste-and-politics-in-india/39169 /