Unit-4 Caste and Politics Notes | BA Hons Political Science Semester 5

Introduction

The term ‘caste’ refers to a social hierarchy based on birth, originally categorized into four varnas: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
Over time, jati (sub-castes) developed, creating complex social divisions.
British colonial rule formalized caste distinctions through policies like the caste-based census.
Post-independence, the Indian Constitution aimed to dismantle caste discrimination through affirmative action, but caste identities remain influential.

Historical Context

The caste system started as a division based on occupation during the Vedic period.
With the emergence of jatis, caste distinctions became hereditary and more rigid.
British rule reinforced caste through administrative practices, and social reformers like BR Ambedkar and Gandhi fought against untouchability and caste discrimination.
Despite constitutional provisions for equality, caste remains a significant social and political factor in contemporary India.

Nature of Caste as a Social Institution (Kothari’s View)

Caste as an Extended Family: Caste communities adhere to shared customs, norms, and roles, providing identity, social cohesion, and support.
Caste as a Social Control Mechanism: Caste enforces norms and regulates behavior within communities, maintaining social order and hierarchy.
Interdependence: Caste communities exhibit mutual reliance for social, cultural, and economic needs, reinforcing communal ties.
Preserver of Culture: Caste serves as a repository for cultural heritage, passing down traditions, rituals, and values across generations.
Endogamy and Caste Identity: Caste restricts marriage to within one’s group, preserving caste boundaries, status, and preventing upward mobility, functioning similarly to a class system.

Caste and Politics in Contemporary India

Electoral Politics: Political parties mobilize caste-based identities for votes, with parties like BSP and RJD focusing on Dalit and backward castes, and others (e.g., BJP) aiming for broader caste-based alliances.
Caste-Based Reservations: Affirmative action remains a key issue in politics, with debates over caste-based quotas in education, jobs, and political representation.
Caste-Based Violence and Discrimination: Despite legal measures, caste-based violence, untouchability, and discrimination persist in both rural and urban areas.
Caste and Modernization: Urbanization and globalization challenge caste boundaries but do not fully eliminate caste influences.

Caste and Politics

Political Mobilization of Caste: Caste is deeply ingrained in Indian society, and politicians often use caste identities to build their political base. Caste structures, though hierarchical, can be manipulated for political purposes.
Caste-Based Strategies: Politicians mobilize caste groups to consolidate support. They tailor their campaigns to appeal to specific caste groups, which helps in securing a reliable vote bank under India’s First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system.
Impact on Social Divisions: Caste-based mobilization can reinforce social divisions, focusing on caste identities instead of broader societal goals like economic development and social justice.
Rajni Kothari’s View: Kothari argues that caste is politicized rather than politics being caste-ridden, highlighting how caste identities are leveraged in the electoral process to shape political outcomes.

The Electoral System and Caste

First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) System: This system encourages parties to focus on securing votes from sizeable caste groups. As only a plurality of votes is needed, caste-based mobilization often targets the dominant caste or a coalition of castes within a constituency.
Consequences of Caste Mobilization: While effective for electoral success, this approach can deepen caste-based inequalities and prevent addressing universal issues like healthcare, education, and economic development.

Reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs)

Purpose of Reservation: Affirmative action, or reservation policies, aim to uplift SCs, STs, and OBCs by providing opportunities in education, employment, and political representation.
Constitutional Provisions Key provisions include
- Article 15(4) and 15(5): Allow special provisions for the advancement of SCs and STs in education.
- Article 16(4): Permits reservations in public employment.
- Article 17: Abolishes untouchability.
- Article 46: Promotes the welfare of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections.
- Articles 330 and 332: Reserve seats for SCs and STs in Parliament and State Assemblies.
Welfare Aspects: These provisions have helped improve the social, economic, and educational status of SCs, though challenges like economic disparity and social discrimination persist.

Reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

Mandal Commission: Established in 1979, the commission identified 3743 castes as socially and educationally backward and recommended:
- 27% Reservation in Public Employment: For OBCs.
- 27% Reservation in Education: To improve OBC access to quality education.
- Economic Criteria: Exclude the "creamy layer" of OBCs (wealthier members) from reservation benefits.
Implementation in 1990: The recommendations were implemented, marking a significant shift in political power, as OBCs gained better access to jobs, education, and political representation.

Impact of OBC Reservations

Political Shifts: OBC reservations led to the redistribution of political power from dominant castes to OBC communities, influencing government policies and social dynamics.
Coalition Politics: OBCs, being a large section of the electorate, became crucial for political parties, leading to coalition politics in India.
Social and Political Empowerment: OBC reservations helped empower these communities, although challenges related to meritocracy and social harmony remain.

Women and Reservation: Key Points

Constitutional Provisions for Women

Article 15(3): Empowers the state to make special provisions for women and children.
Articles 39(a) and (d): Direct the state to ensure equal rights to livelihood and equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
Directive Principles of State Policy: Promote the welfare and protection of women across various spheres.

Women’s Reservation Act (Constitution 128th Amendment Act, 2023)

Reservation in Legislatures: The Act reserves one-third of all seats in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, including SC and ST reserved seats, for women.
Commencement: The reservation will be implemented after the next census and the delimitation based on the census data. It will be in place for 15 years, with the possibility of extension by Parliament.
Rotation of Seats: Reserved seats for women will be rotated after each delimitation as per the provisions specified by Parliament.

Government Initiatives for Women’s Welfare

Various government schemes and policies aim to improve the socio-economic status of women across different sectors, supporting their empowerment and participation in all aspects of public life.

Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)

Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019

EWS Reservation: Introduced a 10% reservation in education and public employment for economically disadvantaged individuals in the general category, addressing economic inequalities.

Benefits of EWS Reservation

Inclusive Growth: Helps reduce economic disparities by extending affirmative action benefits to economically marginalized sections, irrespective of caste or religion.
Educational Opportunities: Provides meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds access to quality education, improving their job prospects and socio-economic status.
Employment Opportunities: Ensures fair chances for the economically disadvantaged in public sector jobs, contributing to stable employment and reduced economic inequalities.

Conclusion

Caste and Politics: The complex relationship between caste and politics shapes India's socio-political landscape, with reservation policies for SCs, STs, and OBCs being vital in addressing historical injustices.
Women’s Reservation: The Women’s Reservation Act aims to ensure greater participation of women in policy-making processes.
EWS Quota: The EWS reservation policy aims to promote economic inclusion and reduce disparities by providing opportunities to the economically disadvantaged in education and employment.