Why in the News? The Push for a New Indian Caste Census

📰 Current Affairs Topic for Social Workers

Recently, political parties across India have been advocating for a fresh caste census. This call follows a significant Supreme Court ruling on sub-categorization within reserved castes, shedding light on the enduring complexity of caste in Indian society.

📜 Historical Context

The caste system, deeply ingrained in South Asian society, mirrors concepts like race in the US or class in Britain. The last comprehensive caste census in India was conducted in 1931 under British rule, marking a pivotal historical point.

🏛️ History of Caste Movements in India

Early Caste Dynamics

By the late 19th century, caste had a profound impact on daily life. Brahminical notions of purity and pollution were met with resistance from lower castes. Colonial policies, like the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, institutionalized these biases, further entrenching societal divisions.

Key Figures in the Caste Movements

Jyotiba Phule (1827-1890): A trailblazer in anti-caste ideology, Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj and introduced the term ‘Dalit’. His work laid the groundwork for future movements.
BR Ambedkar (1891-1956): An instrumental figure, Ambedkar fought for Dalit rights and advocated for constitutional reforms. His leadership in movements like the Mahad Satyagraha and the founding of the All India Depressed Classes Association were crucial in the struggle against caste discrimination.
M C Rajah (1880-1943): His leadership in the All India Depressed Classes Association was pivotal in uniting Dalit voices.
Periyar E.V. Ramasamy (1879-1973): Founding the Self-Respect Movement, Periyar challenged Brahminical dominance and worked towards social reform in the Madras Presidency.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948): Gandhi’s approach to caste was complex. While he opposed untouchability, his focus on 'Gramraj' was criticized by Ambedkar for perpetuating caste-based inequalities.

🔄 Gandhi vs. Ambedkar: Ideological Divergences

Freedom:

🌟 Mahatma Gandhi: Believed freedom must be fought for by the people.
🌟 B.R. Ambedkar: Expected freedom to be granted by the rulers.

Democracy:

🌟 Mahatma Gandhi: Preferred limited government and local self-rule.
🌟 B.R. Ambedkar: Advocated for parliamentary democracy to push for progress.

Political Ideology:

🌟 Mahatma Gandhi: Focused on non-violence and practical, moral solutions.
🌟 B.R. Ambedkar: Emphasized legal and institutional reforms with a liberal approach.

Village System:

🌟 Mahatma Gandhi: Supported 'Gramraj' (village self-rule) as true independence.
🌟 B.R. Ambedkar: Criticized 'Gramraj' for perpetuating social inequalities.

Approach to Social Reform:

🌟 Mahatma Gandhi: Used moral persuasion and non-violent methods.
🌟 B.R. Ambedkar: Preferred legal and constitutional methods, opposed force.

View on Untouchability:

🌟 Mahatma Gandhi: Addressed untouchability as a moral issue, promoted the term 'Harijan'.
🌟 B.R. Ambedkar: Criticized Gandhi’s approach; viewed untouchability as a major issue needing legal solutions.

Religion and Caste System:

🌟 Mahatma Gandhi: Viewed caste system as a degeneration of varna, not a religious mandate.
🌟 B.R. Ambedkar: Denounced Hindu scriptures for perpetuating caste and untouchability.

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Historical Context of Caste Movements

Q1: When did the last national-level caste census in India occur?

A. 1931
B. 1947
C. 1952
D. 1961

Answer: A. 1931
Explanation: The last national-level caste census in India occurred during British rule in 1931.

Q2: Which colonial legislation was introduced to designate entire communities as criminals?

A. Criminal Tribes Act, 1871
B. Habitual Offenders Act, 1952
C. Indian Penal Code, 1860
D. Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

Answer: A. Criminal Tribes Act, 1871
Explanation: The Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, was introduced to designate certain communities as criminals, reinforcing negative stereotypes.

2. Key Figures in Caste Movements

Q3: Who was the founder of the Self-Respect Movement in the Madras Presidency?

A. BR Ambedkar
B. Jyotiba Phule
C. Periyar
D. Mahatma Gandhi

Answer: C. Periyar
Explanation: Periyar (Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy) founded the Self-Respect Movement in the Madras Presidency.

Q4: What was the significant act by BR Ambedkar in December 1927?

A. Founding the All India Depressed Classes Association
B. Leading the Mahad Satyagraha
C. Setting fire to the Manusmriti
D. Establishing the Independent Labour Party

Answer: C. Setting fire to the Manusmriti
Explanation: BR Ambedkar publicly set fire to the Manusmriti in December 1927 as a protest against its role in perpetuating the caste system.

3. Ideological Divergences

Q5: Which leader was skeptical of mass democracy and preferred local self-rule?

A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. BR Ambedkar
C. Periyar
D. Jyotiba Phule

Answer: A. Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Mahatma Gandhi was skeptical of mass democracy and preferred limited government and local self-rule.

Q6: Which approach did BR Ambedkar favor for social reform?

A. Moral persuasion
B. Non-violent methods
C. Legal and constitutional reforms
D. Religious teachings

Answer: C. Legal and constitutional reforms
Explanation: BR Ambedkar emphasized legal and constitutional reforms for social change.

Assertion and Reason Statements

1.

Assertion (A): The caste system in India has been influenced by Brahminical notions of purity and pollution.
Reason (R): Lower castes often resisted these notions, leading to social compartmentalization.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.

Answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: Brahminical notions of purity and pollution influenced the caste system, and resistance from lower castes contributed to its rigid structure.

2.

Assertion (A): The Poona Pact of 1932 was a result of the negotiation between Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar.
Reason (R): The Poona Pact aimed to secure joint electorates for Hindus and provide reservations for depressed classes.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.

Answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: The Poona Pact was negotiated between Gandhi and Ambedkar to secure joint electorates and reservations for depressed classes.

Matching Pairs

Match the following leaders with their contributions:

Leaders

Jyotiba Phule
BR Ambedkar
Periyar
Mahatma Gandhi

Contributions
A. Founded the Self-Respect Movement
B. Led the Mahad Satyagraha
C. Set fire to the Manusmriti
D. Advocated for Harijan upliftment

A. 1-C, 2-B, 3-A, 4-D
B. 1-A, 2-C, 3-B, 4-D
C. 1-D, 2-A, 3-C, 4-B
D. 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C

Answer: B. 1-A, 2-C, 3-B, 4-D
Explanation: Jyotiba Phule founded the Self-Respect Movement, BR Ambedkar set fire to the Manusmriti, Periyar led the Mahad Satyagraha, and Gandhi advocated for Harijan upliftment.

Passage-Based Comprehension

Passage: The caste system in India has been a deeply entrenched social hierarchy with roots extending back to ancient times. During the British colonial period, legislation like the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, categorized entire communities as criminals based on prejudiced views, reinforcing social inequalities. Key figures such as BR Ambedkar and Jyotiba Phule played significant roles in challenging these injustices. Ambedkar’s initiatives, including the Mahad Satyagraha and the burning of Manusmriti, highlighted the plight of the Dalits and called for substantial legal reforms. Phule’s work, too, was instrumental in mobilizing anti-caste sentiments and introducing terms like ‘Dalit’ into the social discourse.

Q1: Which colonial legislation was used to categorize communities as criminals?

A. Habitual Offenders Act, 1952
B. Indian Penal Code, 1860
C. Criminal Tribes Act, 1871
D. Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

Answer: C. Criminal Tribes Act, 1871
Explanation: The Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, was used to designate entire communities as criminals.

Q2: What was a key contribution of BR Ambedkar in the fight against caste discrimination?

A. Founding the All India Scheduled Castes Federation
B. Leading the Self-Respect Movement
C. Establishing the Harijan Sevak Sangh
D. Promoting the Aryan invasion theory

Answer: A. Founding the All India Scheduled Castes Federation
Explanation: BR Ambedkar founded the All India Scheduled Castes Federation as part of his efforts to combat caste discrimination.

Q3: What term did Jyotiba Phule introduce into the lexicon of anti-caste movements?

A. Harijan
B. Dalit
C. Untouchable
D. Depressed Classes

Answer: B. Dalit
Explanation: Jyotiba Phule introduced the term ‘Dalit’ to describe the ‘untouchables’ in anti-caste movements.

Q4: Which leader’s approach was based on non-violence and moral persuasion?

A. BR Ambedkar
B. Periyar
C. Mahatma Gandhi
D. Jyotiba Phule

Answer: C. Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Mahatma Gandhi’s approach to social reform was based on non-violence and moral persuasion.

Why in the News? The Push for a New Indian Caste Census