Is a casteless society possible in India?

‘India can’t be a casteless society’, my friend uttered disgustingly.

He is a Dalit activist and certified anti-upper caste personality. Somehow, he is a bit liberal with me despite I am a Brahmin by birth (and don’t know what by karma). He says appreciating me that I don’t follow ‘Brahminical ideologies’ although I am yet to know what exactly ‘Brahmanical ideology’ is. If he means that Brahmins devised the caste system, I am against it. Caste is never made by Brahmins nor mentioned in any of the scriptures. Vedas talk about ‘Varna-System’ which is clearly a division of labour in society. Varna is always mobile, unlike Caste which is immobile. Further, no Varna (especially Shudra) is ever untouchable. I don’t believe in the caste as defined by the British. Also, I don’t agree that Caste means ‘Jaati’. In 1860 British did a census of Indians as per livelihood. They make Caste as a clan having a particular livelihood, thus there are thousands of castes exist in society since that census. In a manner, we can say that Britisher’s are inventors of the caste system in India. Anyway, for that, I would be talking a lot in my upcoming articles. Let’s deal now whether casteless society is possible in India.

‘Do you really want a casteless society?’ I asked my friend in response to his question.

‘Definitely yes!’ My friend replied, ‘In fact, the movement of a casteless society had begun in Tamil Nadu in the early nineteenth century by Periyar and none in Tamil Nadu mentions their caste (or titles that identify caste) in their certificates?’

‘Do you want to end caste-based reservation?’ I said slowly but firmly.

‘Why caste-based reservation to be ended?’ He immediately responded in agitating voice, ‘You Brahminical lobby tortured the lower caste people for thousands of years and yet you want to end the reservation?’

I smiled and didn’t react to his angry outburst. This duality is very common in our society especially among the activists who are although doing much work for the weaker section but have hatred to the upper caste people.

Point is simple. If you seek a casteless society, then you must end caste-based reservation. If there’s caste-based reservation how can India be a casteless society? Isn’t it a paradox? But such duality is very common. If there’s a dam project, the activist will come and protest. They will oppose the construction of a dam in the name of displacement, environment, and many other reasons (which are valid too). But then if there’s no irrigation, they will question the government. If there’s no electricity, they will do the street protest. If there’s no employment, they will say the government is inefficient. Now can anyone tell me if irrigation is possible without a dam and canal network? Is electricity available without a hydro-electricity project or a thermal project? Is employment can be generated without industries or infrastructure project? But then people will oppose both the side without caring that fact that they indulge in hypocrisy. What the activists should realize that there should be a balancing act by the government which should ensure development with minimal damage to the environment and other aspects.

Let’s return to caste ignoring what the activists (especially those who are a victim of paradox) say. Caste is a reality in Indian society. The lower castes were subjected to a lot of oppression, alienation, and tortures. Just imagine, you can touch an animal (even worship an animal like Cow) but can’t touch a human (lower caste) even though scriptures say that human is the best life form in the universe. The caste system needs to go. In no civilized society, a human can be treated as untouchable.

Let’s come to the reservation. The Constitution makers rightly made provision of reservation as an affirmative action to bring the alienated communities into the mainstream. SCs were treated untouchable and not made part of society because of their caste. Thus, the reservation was one of affirmative action which along with various other legislation and acts worked well for society. ST although not treated as untouchable but the reservation was necessary because they remain alienated from the society due to their indifferent language and remoteness of settlement. Over the years, in fact, many SC communities already became a part of the mainstream but STs are yet to be part of mainstream fully. The linguistic difference is the barrier for that, I guess.

Should the reservation go? No, I would say as I don’t feel the entire SC and ST community is brought to mainstream society.

However, my question is why OBC made caste based? Backwardness is two types. One is social and another is economical. SCs weren’t given reservation because they are poor, rather they had been provided reservation because they are socially discriminated. The same can be said about the Scheduled Tribes who couldn’t become part of mainstream society because of their different culture, language, and remoteness in living.

Question is what for OBC reservation? Isn’t OBC is another backward class because of either financial reason or their rural settlements where they don’t have infrastructures to compete with people settled in urban or semi-urban centres. If that’s the reason why then caste is made identity of OBC? Isn’t it establishing s a two-tier caste reservation system? Isn’t it again establishing that there’s now three-tier caste system as per present provisions? Such as lower caste who is listed in SC. A middle caste which is higher to SCs but lower to Upper caste (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, etc) and then an upper caste!) Are we going to end caste system, or we are establishing a hierarchical caste system with reward and privilege or reservation and other concessions? Don’t that cause social tensions? Isn’t that the reason for which violent agitations like Jats in Haryana, Gujjars in Rajasthan, Patils in Gujarat, Kappus in Andhra demanding for being listed in the privilege caste group (reserved category) are occurring frequently?

In one of the cases of Dalit atrocity, I asked the oppressor as to why they attack poor Dalits. I was stunned to hear the argument. They are angry and frustrated because they think Dalits are ‘Sarkari Brahmins’ and upper castes as if ‘Sarkari Shudra’. ‘Why should we be treated as a second-class citizen for so-called sins committed allegedly by our forefathers?’ is the frustrated response of the upper caste people/oppressor in this case. I don’t endorse discrimination and atrocities. But isn’t it a fact that instead of bringing alienated sections into mainstream society, we have created a divide/gap between reserved castes and unreserved castes because of the privilege of reservation? I have two friends with the same title of ‘Mohanty’ and the same financial status. One is ‘Karana’ by caste and belongs to upper caste whereas another is ‘Khandayat’ a sub-section of Kshatriya’ but now belongs to OBC. Now there’s a gap between two because one Mohanty is considering other Mohanty as a privileged class (caste).

Fact is simple that there’s tension between castes and communities because of reservation. The Constitution makers intended to make India as one society but that’s failing. What’s the reason? The reason is simple. The politicization of caste and vote bank politics. When politicians started vote bank politics on caste groups then some important and potent vote banks like Jats, Gujjars, and others started demanding reservation or privileges through agitation. The friction in the society started and it appears to be a never-ending story.

Shouldn’t we want a peacefully society with peace between sections, classes, and castes (or say communities)? Shouldn’t there be a casteless society? If yes, what should be way out? Should we end the reservation?

I have my opinion. Reservation for SC and ST must be there for both social and historical reason. Very few people from SC/ST community are benefitted till now. Remaining communities till date not fully brought to mainstream society. However, OBC must not be made caste based. If there are some castes which is excluded from SCs, then they need to be incorporated into SCs and the quota may be increased proportionately. OBCs should be made purely on economic/financial ground. Poverty and hunger have neither caste nor religion. Thus, poor irrespective of caste or religion must be part of OBC (Other Backward Class). If the economic condition is made the criteria, I don’t think there would be any caste friction., Of course first the politicization of castes, vote bank politics must end. What is a vote bank politics, It’s simple? Divide people in the name of caste, religion, or communities by offering different privileged concessions and its deprivation to those who are not a vote bank yet.

There’s another issue too. One of my friends who belongs to SC category but didn’t opt for caste quota got IRSE (Indian Railway Service-Engineering) with top numbers. At present, he is placed in a top post in RVNL. He is a very competent engineer. In private he uses to express his frustration and hurt sentiments in front of me. Despite his knowledge and competence, people call in his back as ‘quota product’. Many people with vast knowledge many a time criticized as ‘quota product’ although they are much better technocrats and obtained more numbers than the general category in competitive examinations.

What we seek for India in the future? Isn’t that India should have a united society with peace among different caste, community, religion, etc. Shouldn’t we want that no section or community should have a feeling that they are being ignored or treated not at par (or as a second-class citizen?’

Is it possible? Or say is the present political class able to do it now? Well, I don’t think political class ever will forego the opportunity of divide and rule. But then political class survives if we remain divided. Let us start a movement for unity and casteless society ending two-tire caste-based reservation. Let’s consider and support the reservation for SC and ST is to bring our fellow citizens to at par level for the national interest. But we are to oppose caste based OBC reservation. In fact, we don’t need an extra 10% reservation for the general category on financial ground. Fifty per cent reservation is enough for government jobs. Those who are meritorious they will get private jobs. In fact, the number of jobs available in the private sector is much more than that of the government sector. We can’t progress as a nation if a sizable population remain undeveloped, backward, deprived and oppressed. A developed society or nation means all sections are equally progressing. That’s why supporting SCs and STs is our national duty. Let us never come under the trap of politicians who try to divide us creating hatred between castes, communities, and religions. If we can push the politicians through strong resolve then in a democracy everything is possible. But if we remain divided looking for caste-specific interest, then I am sorry we have to wait until eternity to get a united society.

Lastly, let me answer to my friend’s Tamil Nadu reference. Yes, it’s a fact that in Tamil Nadu degree certificates names don’t have titles which indicate caste. That means in Tamil Nadu people don’t use titles that makes caste identity. But then it’s also true that those people have a caste certificate obtained from competent authority stapled with those degree certificates to avail the privilege of reservation.

Casteless society along with caste-based reservation- Isn’t it sound hypocritical?