Why are some people objecting to caste census? The fabric of Indian society is based on the caste system.

Caste does not unite but breaks the society. The very nature of caste is fragmentation and division. Caste system has existed in India since ancient times. Today it has turned into chaos. At present the problem of caste is a huge problem. The nation cannot progress on the basis of caste. The caste system tarnishes the national consciousness. Still, it is not so easy to get rid of it. The fabric of Indian society is based on the caste system. As long as there is discrimination on the basis of caste in the society, an ideal society cannot be built. If the caste system is wrong then it should not be covered up. Caste census should be conducted across the country and true figures should be revealed. BJP will also support it if not today or tomorrow. Untouchability still exists in the society. There should not be injustice and oppression to any section of the society. The members of the Scheduled Castes have endured a lot of atrocities and hardships, yet they have not given up their religion. They should be treated equally and they should be provided opportunities to move forward.

If seen at present, the brothers of backward and Dalit society do not want anyone’s favor. He wants equal place and respect in the society. The backward and extremely backward people are still backward because they did not get all kinds of facilities and opportunities. All persons are children of God. A part of God is present in everyone, hence there should be no feeling of hatred towards them. If they are economically backward then it is not they who are responsible for this but the capable society.

The caste census data conducted in Bihar has attracted the attention of the country. Bihar has become the first state in the country to conduct caste census. In Bihar, maximum 63 percent population belongs to backward class. Hindu upper castes have relatively decreased while the number of backward classes and scheduled castes has increased. Currently 15.52 percent are upper caste. Whereas Scheduled Caste is 19.65 percent and Scheduled Tribe is 01.68 percent. Whereas Muslims are 18 percent. Earlier caste census was conducted in 1931. According to the 1931 census, the Hindu population decreased from 85 percent to 82 percent. At the same time, Muslim population has increased from 14 percent to 17 percent. If we look at Hindu castes, only the population of Yadavs has increased by two percent. Whereas there has been an increase of 01 percent in Mallah, Musahar and Chamar, the percentage of population of all the remaining Hindu castes has declined. This decline is worrying.

People are writing on social media that if you are in Bihar, then be careful, or leave Bihar. At least send the children outside. Bihar is no longer worth living in. Such people want to promote social disintegration. Hindus have become a minority in nine states of India. Muslim population is increasing rapidly in the country. They are not worried about it. There should be consideration of how to end the caste system. For this it is necessary that first of all the sub-castes should be eliminated. Because there is more similarity in their mutual style and level. But political parties are searching for sub-castes among castes.

If seen at present, the social and political organizations that oppose casteism are also suffering from casteism. All political parties, including BJP, select candidates on the basis of caste equation during assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Political parties look for sub-castes among castes. Organize caste conferences for votes. They are looking for the most backward among the backward. Caste system is not justified in any way. But reservation on the basis of caste, formation of commission on the basis of caste, constitutional institutions on the basis of caste, recognition of caste organizations, participation in politics on the basis of caste, formation of fronts and cells on the basis of caste, schemes on the basis of caste. If the census is made then there should be no objection to the caste census.

Today Congress is also demanding caste census. Congress party has never been a supporter of backward people. Congress did not even work for the upliftment of backward people. Whenever Mandal Commission was implemented, Rajiv Gandhi, as the leader of the opposition, had protested. The previous Congress government in Karnataka had also conducted caste census but did not release its details. In Rajasthan also, in 2011, the then Congress government had conducted caste census but its figures were not made public. In the last census conducted in 2011 when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, caste data was also recorded, but this data was not made public.

Bihar government has released caste statistics. Now it remains to be seen whether the Bihar government makes any policy for the upliftment of those castes or this issue will remain just a political stunt. BJP’s allies are also demanding that caste census be conducted. This will definitely increase the pressure on BJP because such a large population cannot be ignored. Upper caste Hindus have always been against caste census. Caste system is the biggest problem of the country. The solution has to be found from the problem itself. This truth had to be revealed. Despite their share being very less, they are still being discriminated against. If the caste census data is correct then it will be easier to implement the schemes run for their welfare. This will make it easier to take decisions about their educational and economic condition and what kind of policies are required for them in the future. If seen, there would be no other country other than India which would have so many castes and sub-castes. Still, there was unity among all the castes and social unity exists even today.

However, the anti-BJP parties are not going to benefit much from the caste census. Self-respect for Hindutva and the feeling that I am also a Hindu has developed among the backward, extremely backward and Dalits. BJP has the highest number of MPs and MLAs from backward communities in the country. Due to the influential personality of Narendra Modi, the majority of votes from backward communities go to BJP. He is not going to go to anti-BJP parties because of caste census. There is now a large number of youth who dislike talking about caste. These youth are in every community and influence the opinion of the society. This will make BJP stronger.

-Brijnandan Raju

(The author is associated with journalism)