CASTE CENSUS IN INDIA.

 

BY K P PASWAN.

Caste census has been initiated by a few Indian states and  supported indirectly by the ruling party at the centre. There is sinister design in this type of caste census, After every decade there is general Census which can be used to know the number of castes and the progress made by them. Since Indian politics is caste oriented and the society is divided on the basis of caste so the motive behind the caste census ultimately may prove detrimental to the sovereignty of India

India is only country in the world where Apartheid is officially recognized.High Court has stayed the caste census , this certainly good news.

The caste census has been initiated by a state named Bihar which is notorious for preaching the virtues of caste system. One former Chief Minister of Bihar is in prison for amassing wealth and he was known as the worst politician favouring a particular caste. This particular caste was identified as the government caste. His successor has pioneered three industries in Bihar, Kidnapping, Bootlegging and Extortion. These industries are taking the forms of MNC. This fellow has brought high ranking officers of his caste from all over India and allowed them to plunder Bihar. This man enjoys the support of the ruling party. This chief minister recently released a large number of dreaded criminals and one of them was convicted for killing a Dalit District Magistrate. The objective is to prevent the Dalits and other marginalized castes from casting their votes in the ensuing general election in India. Surprisingly a few rootless Dalits politicians are supporting the moves of releasing the dreaded criminals.

 UNITING POLITICAL CRIMINALS. Chief Minister of Bihar is engaged in uniting the oppositions against the current PM but in reality, criminals are being united. One of the most corrupt Chief Minister from South India has expressed his support for the Caste Census. Diversity and multiculturalism are being cited as the binding forces, if it is so than the logic of caste census may be debated. One of the famous American Nobel Laureate in physics is convinced that diversity has destroyed the mighty nation. But in India situation is somewhat different. Every body is conscious of his caste identity. It is also a fact that while most of the Brahmins hate Dalits but murder of Dalits are being carried by the so called backward castes along with a particular caste who connived with the Mughals for enjoying political power. General Ra heel Sharif is the former Army Chief of Pakistan, now he is in Saudi Arabia where he proudly declares himself a true Rajput belonging to Jodhpur royalty. His claims have been supported by the government of Uzbekistan. But in India most of the Rajput,  are not oppressing the Dalits.

 PRO CASTE LOBBY. There are large number of men and women clamoring for Caste Census but the reasons appear to be without any logic. These groups argue that even the upper castes were oppressed in the paste it is true that with the comings of foreign rulers there was widespread oppression of Indians who refused to accept new religion. But the so-called upper caste were occupying higher status than really oppressed groups among them. However it appears that the current Prime Minister of India, despite of shortcomings cannot be removed by fair means so strong castiest lobby is being created by a group of corrupt politicians to create political and social tensions so that a coalition government may be formed at the centre. But the past records of such type government show dismal performance, so caste census must be discarded. Interestingly the highest court has refused to  declare caste census as opposed to basic structures of the constitution. The highest court however agreed to  hear case related to same sex marriages on strange grounds.

 Origin of caste system is shrouded in mystery. Ancient Vedic religion reveals four Varnas, Brahmins, Kshatriya ( Warriors) Vaishyas (trading cases) and Shudra were supposed to render services to others but it is doubtful if untouchability prevailed. With passage of time lower castes emerged to suffer. Their lives did not matter and as per several ancient scriptures murder and oppression of lower castes were common and without system of justice. Original varna system disappeared. Several foreign invaders like Scythian Huns Kushans merged with followers of Vedic religion and they were recognized as upper castes, Untouchables suffered further at the hands of new warriors, Priestly classes like Brahmins prevented lower castes from reading Vedas and other important religious scriptures.

  Bihar is one of the states of India and is notorious for caste-oriented politics. This state is the poorest state in India. Surprisingly Bihar is producing largest number of groups one officers like Indian Foreign Services, Indian Administrative services etc. Bihar has taken the initiative of  development of all castes, which is against the constitution.   Caste census is likely to increase social tension and Dalits are going to suffer. In India nearly ninety nine percent of Brahmins are supporters of untouchability but atrocities against Dalits are being committed by the backward classes while a particular community Thakurs are still thinking that the Dalits are slaves. So Bihar is in news for wrong reasons. Indian constitution declares equality as the fundamental right of the people, Caste system is not recognized by the constitution but it cannot be erased as majority of Indians believe in sticking to caste system. When certain people approached the Apex court with a plea to declare the caste census as illegal, the Apex Court threw away the petition and the supporters of caste census in Bihar started dancing.

INTERFAITH MARRIAGE is becoming very common in India and generally in such type of marriage brides accept the religion of their husbands. India is a highly polarized society and one lady in an English platform wrongly stated that lower castes were against interfaith marriages. In realty lower castes had no social identity and rape of girls belonging to lower castes were common. So, inter castes  and interfaith among Dalits hardly matters. Dalits girls are marrying outside their religion out of compulsion. In a diverse culture, interfaith marriage has become common and nothing can be done to erase this.Girls belonging to higher castes generally prefer interfaith marriages.

CONCLUSION,Caste census may tarnish the image of India in the world.