Second Assignment

Submitted By: Rachit Kumar

Roll No.: 21928 (CIC)

The word caste is derived from the Portuguese word ‘casta’ and it has been widely used for the
whole varna system of Hindu society, its various orders, and different units of an order. Caste
system in India is a hierarchical division of society based on birth, ritual purity, and group
identity. These group identities, status, and occupational rights are not acquired but inherited by
birth. It is a closed system which allows marriage within caste only, also termed as endogamy,
restrictions on feeding, and social intercourse to maintain ritual purity. It constitutes special
privileges to higher castes, religious disabilities like untouchability, rigid occupation system, and
obligations of groups or Jatis. Overall, it was an integral aspect of socio-economic life of
individual. Besides this, it also constituted a political system in which power structure in villages
was also hierarchical and elites enjoyed more power.

Caste has been playing a vital role in Indian politics since the colonial rule in India. Although
several changes have occurred in caste system and several studies have been conducted in
ancient and medieval India, for instance, the description of caste system in India by Duarte
Barbosa. Indian caste system has experienced major changes only during the colonial period and
post-colonial period. After the discovery of Hindu scriptures, caste became a prism for colonial
rulers to understand Indians and whole Indian society. When colonial rulers acquired legitimacy
to arbitrate and fix the status claims, enumerated caste, and highlighted differences of privileges
in caste system, lower strata classes began to demand special recognition by state. However,
some specific policies of the colonial regime aimed at delegitimizing the power of the traditional
social elites and creating support for its own rule. During the colonial rule, oppressed classes
emerged and the idea of ‘social justice’ became a matter of discourse, oppressed caste organize
themselves and several caste based associations formed and they attacked the ideological
foundation of the ritual hierarchy of castes. In terms of major changes, caste in Indian politics
can be divided in to three major phases- first phase from 1885 to 1960, second phase from 1960
to 1990 and third phase from 1980s to till date.

The first phase of Indian politics was majorly dominated by the upper castes since the formation
of Indian National Congress. The political leadership of the congress party was provided by
upper castes like Brahmanas and they were supported by huge masses of lower castes in national
freedom movement. During second phase from 1960s, middle and backward castes or OBCs
began to capture political power in Indian politics. These masses of OBCs changed the political
circumstances in India which still play a crucial role. After two decades i.e. from 1980s, Dalit
also acquired power and representation in politics having different goals and aspirations of
oppressed classes. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule and Ramaswamy Naicker were the
prominent leaders who gave rise to Dalit politics.

Indian caste system plays a crucial role in electoral politics of India since Independence. Voters
are largely till today mobilized on caste lines. Political parties make a caste calculation to
allocate seats in every election. They allocate seat to a Dalit contestant of a constituency where
Dalits are in majority to mobilize voters to vote for a member of their caste. Thus, caste
arithmetic becomes determining factor in choosing a candidate at constituency level. After
elections, sometimes portfolios are also allocated on caste lines to represent higher number of
castes in council of ministers to gain public support. Besides this, parties also build winning
caste alliances at state level. For instance, SP and BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh was an alliance
on caste lines. Therefore, since 1970s caste has become an important factor in electoral politics
of India.

Implementation of Mandal Commission further changed caste dynamics in politics. Reservation

became instrument for mobilization of voters around caste lines to acquire political power.
Gradually caste identities sharpened to gain reservation benefits like Jats, Gujjars, Patidars and
different other minor castes led movements. Several caste-based parties also formed such as
RJD, LJSP, RLSP in Bihar, SP, BSP, APNA DAL, RLD, etc. in UP, JD(S) in Karnataka.

With the emergence of caste in politics, political discourse changed from moral and normative
concern i.e. transformative and casteless society to more earthy and empirical concerns of
farmers, poor, caste status, identity and living standards. Along with this, Indian turned from
politics of ideology to politics of identity. In other words, voting behavior is majorly determined
by identity not by ideology at constituency level. Several policies are also formulated to address
the issues of disadvantaged castes like Right to Education, Mid-day meal, MGNREGA, and
food, fertilizers, and power subsidies. A major change is that now political leadership mainly
belongs to lower or backwards castes unlike first phase.