Social Justice Prevails When Caste Is Rendered Irrelevant And Harmony Is Ensured
Sometime last year, international cricketer Suresh Raina was trolled because he said in the context of Chennai’s cultural milieu that “he was a Brahmin”.
In another incident last year, Indian star Ravindra Jadeja was barraged with polarized responses, when he posted online: “Rajput Boy, Forever”.
On the face of it, an individual proclaiming that he is a Brahmin, or a Rajput, may appear as innocuous statements.
However, if someone makes assertions about “Brahmin pride” or “Rajput pride,” they are bound to be met with varied interpretations and reactions. For, many would read age-old Caste privileges inherent in such assertions.
Statements about Caste identity, however, would be read differently, say, from, a folksinger, who happens to be a Dalit. Here, the assertion will be read as one laced with rebellion, as also a quest for equality.
In today’s context, where the idea of New India has taken centrestage, the talk of making Caste identities irrelevant has also gained currency.
Today, it is acknowledged that all Caste groups and communities have contributed to Nation’s glory and national rejuvenation. The effort now is to showcase unsung heroes from all disadvantaged Caste groups and communities who have otherwise not got their due in Nation’s history. Whether it is Birsa Munda or Avantibai Lodhi or Raja Suhel Dev, all icons are truly representative of India.
Meanwhile, a concerted effort, through State intervention, as part of the “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” vision, is also underway to make Caste less relevant. In many states where Caste-based outfits acquire prominence, it is often seen that these specific Caste groups are preferred for government schemes and attendant privileges.
Under the present Narendra Modi government, with welfare schemes reaching the most disadvantaged, and now aiming for saturation, it is expected that Good Governance will make Caste divides redundant.
A lot has been discussed about the new class of “labharthrees” (the class of people who have been beneficiaries of Central Government social welfare schemes). This, perhaps, is an emerging pan-India category of neo-middle class.
Caste, in addition to Family and Religion, forms the foundation of social structures and institutions in India. A debate, however, must gain momentum in today’s context if Caste is relevant any longer.
UP, in the last few years, has witnessed some very interesting social interventions. When a political party represents diverse Caste groups, with various groups sharing power, more or less equally, it marks democratization of power. The state of UP is a textbook example of how BJP brought together all Caste groups and communities together, while ensuring in the process that social harmony was not compromised. Some call it social engineering. Some call it a larger project of Hindutva at work. Studies have documented BJP’s rise in UP owing to support from all Caste groups, including OBCs, MBCs, Dalits and Upper Castes.
But there are also instances where Caste divides get accentuated, often by Caste outfits. They have disastrous consequences on our social fabric and national unity.
Caste-based parties, like some in fray in Uttar Pradesh elections, often invoke particularistic identities and loyalties. They often also perpetuate dynasties. Sections of opinion writers are used to calling this brand of politics as “social justice” politics.
Truth, however, is that only when Caste is rendered irrelevant, and harmony is ensured that social justice politics prevails.
Our opinion writers and editorial writers often discuss how Caste “can be used to checkmate” Hindutva. This is a lazy argument. This also misses the larger point – the real quest should be of making India casteless.
While regional caste outfits have a vested interest in keeping Caste alive, it is, therefore, incumbent upon national parties and institutions with a national vision, to look at the big picture.
So, it is just not BJP, but every national formation and institution – Congress, to cite an example -- or popular media, or schools, colleges and universities, will have to begin a conversation on how to make Caste irrelevant. This must be every well-meaning Indian’s concern. Institutions like the judiciary have often invoked Ambedkar’s “Annihilation of Caste”.
The idea outlined above should also be supplemented by the efforts of spiritual gurus, for they, along with monasteries and mutts, wield enormous influence. Way back in 1969, in his presidential address at Bharatiya Jana Sangh’s 16th all-India convention, Atal Bihari Vajpayee made a fervent plea to spiritual and religious gurus to fight untouchability and give impetus to SCs’ / STs’ upliftment. He added: “If even today, a Dalit groom has to face opposition (by anti-social elements) while taking out his wedding procession, it only means that we have a long way to go in brining Hindus together, with ‘bandhutva’ as the unifying force”.
Of course, we have travelled a great distance since then. But the conversation must shift gears now. We should invoke Ambedkar, Phule, Savarkar, Sree Narayana Guru, Deendayal, Lohia, and countless others, who have campaigned relentlessly for equality, more often.
Even if it is going to be a real long-term project, stretching over decades, if not centuries, Vision 2047 must encourage ideas that render Caste irrelevant. A beginning has been made. Let the present election results give an impetus to the conversation.
To conclude with examples from the sporting world, M S Dhoni, a Singh, has never been known by his caste credentials. He remains one of the most admired leaders in the country’s sporting history because he is always identified with the India jersey, or the jersey of the IPL team that he represents.
To cite another example from the world of sports, the Indian hockey women’s team is a great example of New India’s aspirations. The Rani Rampal-led team is full of self-made girls, from very humble backgrounds, often from mofussils and pockets of rural India. It is not Caste, but the spirit of United India that makes them stars, on the field, off the field.
All of us, including those from the political class, have much to learn from New India’s shining stars.
(The writer, a JNU alumnus, is a political analyst. Views are personal)
