The caste system has played a decisive role in the complex social structure of India since ancient times. In ancient and medieval society, it played a decisive role in the social and economic system. In modern times, it weakened due to many reasons but changed itself according to the new challenges. In a democratic system where an equal socio-economic and political system was implemented for all citizens, how did the caste system make itself relevant?
After independence, democracy was conceived in India with the objective of eliminating all types of social inequalities and creating a society based on equality. Traditionally, Indian society was based on the caste system. The establishment of British rule in India weakened the basis of the caste system and democracy practically eliminated inequalities based on caste. However, the post-independence politics in UP offered a new opportunity to various castes and they started organising themselves, first on a regional basis and then across the state.
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Initially, dominant castes in UP’s politics were Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Kayasthas. Thereafter, there was a gradual change in the politics of the state and first backward and later Dalit castes became politically organized. From the beginning, the upper castes and economically prosperous castes have dominated the politics of the state.
After independence, the Jajmani system and the Zamindari system were abolished and many new schemes and programmes were launched. With improvement in the education system, changes in the agricultural system, development in irrigation facilities, and better connectivity with urban centres, the economic condition of the village changed drastically.
Backward castes got maximum benefits from the Green Revolution, land reforms, rural development schemes, decentralisation of power and adult franchise, and the economic dominance of these castes increased. Due to their large numbers, the backward castes have become politically important in the new situation. The backward castes have given maximum political importance to caste loyalties.
A new leadership developed due to democracy in UP. The power, administrative protection and economic opportunities provided by the new leadership made the castes effective in politics. Involvement of caste in politics had two consequences – first, the caste system provided the leadership with a structural and ideological basis for political mobilization and secondly, the leadership was forced to give importance to local castes and organise the castes for economic and political purposes.
Backward classes to the fore
The importance of backward castes in UP’s politics increased rapidly between 1950 and 1977, although upper castes still dominated political institutions. By 1977, backward castes got more mobilized in the politics of the state and the election result started getting determined by the caste factor.
Political parties started emphasizing on caste alliances. Each political party had its own social base and castes joined the parties on the basis of their interests. For the first time in 1967, backward classes played an important role in forming a coalition government.
During this time, backward castes became increasingly politicised and the political dominance of the traditionally dominant forward castes came under threat. In 1977, a non-Congress government was formed in the state, which was a clear indication of the change in society and politics. Those castes which till now had not been able to establish their strong identity, now came forward openly. The plan of 15% reservation for backward classes as per the report of Chhedilal Sathi Commission in 1977 rapidly mobilized the backward classes politically.
Upper castes united against the reservation scheme and now the struggle for political supremacy began among the castes. In the rural areas of UP, the peasant castes of Jat, Yadav, Kurmi and Kushwaha became increasingly strong. These backward classes benefited greatly from the Green Revolution and they developed mutual brotherhood and became politically mobilized under the leadership of Chaudhary Charan Singh.
The poor and landless castes joined forces with the dominant castes. In the rural areas of UP, the conflict between landless castes and land-rich castes is not economic but mainly political. Castes try to gain political control on the basis of common interests in the group. Social movements also played an important role in making backward castes important in politics. Ram Manohar Lohia gave the slogan ‘Backwards should get 60 out of 100’ and other backward caste leaders gave the slogan ‘Satta Ajgar Ki’, where AJGAR stands for Ahir (Yadav), Jat, Gurjar and Rajput, all with strong brawn power.
Social organizations of backward castes were formed and leaders like Shivdayal Singh Chaurasia and Swami Sachchidanand, Ramcharan Lal Nishad organized the backward classes through Adi Hindu Sabha. On December 5 1989, when Mulayam Singh Yadav became the chief minister of UP for the first time, it was not only the fall of the dominance of upper castes under the leadership of Congress, but the start of the political expression of backward castes’ aspirations. After 1989, the backward classes had stronger control over the politics of UP. Every political party started considering the support of backward classes as essential to gain power.
Rise of dalit politics
From 1950 to 1990, Dalit politics went through many phases. Dalits got reservation in government jobs and political institutions. Dalit castes benefited from welfare programs. The economic uplift of Dalit castes made them politically empowered. There were three distinct phases of Dalit politics. First, from 1956 to 1969, Dalits compromised with the Congress and formed their own party called Republican Party of India.
Then, till 1977, Dalits supported Congress because they benefited from government schemes. And third, since the beginning of the 1980s the Dalit movement has become more political than social. In the third phase, the movement moved forward through a party and ideology that is radical and critical of Hinduism. After independence, no major anti-caste movement took place in UP and the Dalits did not get any benefit from land reforms as they were landless.
Economic backwardness and oppression of Dalits gave rise to various extremist organisations. Agra Dalit Caste Federation was established in 1944 and Republican Party was formed in 1958. In 1978, Kanshiram started BAMCEF, an organization of government employees. Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS4) was established in 1981 as a social movement. The Bahujan Samaj Party was formed in 1984 as a political expression of the social struggle movement. The BSP started polarization against upper castes to capture political power.
The party began to grow in strength by criticizing Gandhi and the Congress. It started a movement for self-respect, freedom, equality, casteism and against injustice and exploitation in order to bring social awareness among the backward and Dalits. In 1993, the party formed an alliance with the backward class party Samajwadi Party. Although it formed govt in UP, the alliance couldn’t last long. The party rapidly increased its political power and made Dalits a significant political force. Dalit political movement ended the political and social dominance of the socially empowered castes. Now, the Dalit castes became empowered through political polarization.
Conclusion
It is evident from the functioning of the political institutions of Uttar Pradesh that they are greatly influenced by the caste system which, however, is a big obstacle on the path to their progressive evolution. Due to this, the principles of justice, capacity and fraternity which ensure the unity and integrity of the nation are often violated. As one caste gets pitted against the other, it corrupts the democratic system by promoting narrow loyalties.
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Courtesy : TOI
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