'I cannot change my caste'

Caste may not be annihilated, but caste-identity and caste-affinity can be weakened by sustained effort. If common citizens and social and political leaders make a determined effort, the impact of caste on the social and political life of India can certainly be diminished. If this is an idealist view of life, I am happy to be an idealist

CASTE AND RESERVATION are back in the headlines. Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution enabled 'reservation' for SC, ST and socially and educationally backward classes. Reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) was added in 2019. As long as 'reservation' is the policy, it is logical that caste must be counted to have accurate data.

In the midst of a clamour for reservation, the goal of a casteless society is fading. BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Fadnavis, was reported to have said, "I cannot change my caste". The statement was made in the context of his unenviable position in the middle of the agitation for reservation for the Maratha community. Prima facie, the statement is unexceptionable.

They transcended caste

On a closer examination, I wondered why the caste of Mr Fadnavis became an issue.

Without taking names, I maintain that the caste of some leaders is irrelevant to most Indians whereas the caste of some leaders is central to their politics and how people generally regarded them. I cannot recall anyone asking about the caste in which they were born of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru or Vallabhbhai Patel. I do not recall having read anywhere about the caste of Subhas Chandra Bose or Rajendra Prasad. They were respected as great human beings. No one - not even their political rivals - attempted to cage or crib them in a caste; that would have been blasphemous.

Unfortunately, in India, every one is born in a caste except those lucky ones who are offspring of inter-caste or inter-faith couples.