OPINION: Attempts at unity without bridging the gap of inequality will only lead to discontent

arun Posted On December 8, 2024

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A major base of opposition to this among Bahujan intellectuals has arisen due to the fear of its misuse.

Arun Narayan

New Delhi- On August 1 this year, a bench of 7 judges of the Supreme Court directed in the context of SC/ST reservation that all categories can be made for reservation. After this decision, passed by a 6:1 decision after Bela Trivedi’s dissenting note, now the state governments will be free to implement it so that the gap of inequality prevailing among these caste groups can be bridged. It is true that even after the reservation being implemented for years within the Dalit society, there are some deprived castes who have not got its benefit. Many voices were raised from among this group regarding this, many times the court was approached, but till 2004 such attempts were declared unconstitutional by the court.

This time when the Supreme Court gave its verdict, it was faced with the case of former K.E.V. Chinaiya vs Andhra Pradesh and Punjab regarding giving sub-quota to Valmiki and Mazhabi Sikh. The Andhra government had created a sub-category by combining 57 scheduled castes and fixed a quota of 15 percent. Similarly, the Punjab government had decided to give 50 percent sub-quota to Valmiki and Mazhabi Sikh. Both these decisions were rejected by the High Courts of both the states. The Andhra case was also rejected by the Supreme Court, but when the government approached the Supreme Court on the Punjab case, a bench of 5 judges heard it and sent it to a bench of 7 judges. After a long hearing, the constitutional bench of 7 judges overturned the old decision in this context and justified the quota within the quota. Now that the Supreme Court has given the green signal to the division of sub-quotas pending for years with a majority of 6:1, state governments can also create sub-quotas on the basis of facts and evidence, if they have logical grounds for it. We have seen this basis of quota within quota in OBC reservation in many states. In Bihar, 55 years ago, two categories of backward and extremely backward classes were created, Annexure-1 and Annexure-2. But in the circumstances in which the Karpoori Thakur government had created these categories, the way Dangi, Teli and Tatma castes were included in this category in the subsequent governments, the motivation to gain their vote bank was more dominant than the actual status of the castes.

This was somewhere a tampering with the basic concept of reservation, which can be tried by any government in this sub-quota system as well. A major basis of opposition to it among Bahujan intellectuals has arisen due to the fear of its misuse. The state and its dominant Brahmin bureaucracy have always been prejudiced against reservation. It is quite possible that by dividing the quota into two parts, candidates from the lower class may not be found for jobs like UPSC, doctors, engineers and by declaring them not suitable, the reserved seat may be brought to the unreserved quota. This is what has been happening in our country till now in the case of reservation. Therefore, efforts should be made to curb the misuse that has been happening till now. Almost all the politicians of South India have supported this decision of the court. On the other hand, many parties and almost all Dalit leaders in North India have strongly refuted it. BJP is silent on this, while two types of reactions are being seen within the NDA. While TDP is in favor of it, LJP is against it. BSP and Azad Samaj Party are also against it.

It is true that for the most backward Dalit tribals of the society, a separate sub-quota was needed, on which the court has given its approval. This decision of the Supreme Court is extremely important for the Ambedkarite movement, the struggle against Brahmanism and Dalit politics because it contains the necessary and essential task of uplifting the person and group standing at the lowest rung of the society, but it is unfortunate that the Dalit politics of North India is seeing it as a dividing line of Dalit politics. In a society where the gap of inequality is deep, any attempt to create unity will ultimately give rise to discontent.

If there is a gap between high and low in a society, will unity be established by bridging that gap or by suppressing that gap? A group of Dalit leaders and organizers argue that this will break the unity among the Dalit castes. This is a strange argument which is not logical under any circumstances. Many people are arguing that this is not possible without caste census but the truth is that this data about the Dalit community has been present in the general census report and all the indicators make it clear that all of them need quota. Today, if we do not understand this real demand, then indirectly our stand against reservation will be the same as what the Dwij people have done in our case till now.

The truth is that this development has come as an opportunity for Dalit politics. They should move forward and use this opportunity to advance their politics so that the dividing line within them can be bridged. This will happen only when our Dalit politics accepts the gap of inequality within itself, and fearlessly develops the courage to say that yes, we stand with our own people who have been left behind. After this, the strength of unity that will develop within them will be a real strength and will be in accordance with the dreams of Baba Saheb Ambedkar. While discussing the matter of castes, we should always remember this sentence of Ambedkar that hierarchical inequality among castes is the soul of the caste system and our ultimate goal should be the elimination of the caste system. Sub quota fulfills this goal. Therefore, we should support it in every situation. –