No History, No Theory — Just Talking About Caste

To know about caste, we have to understand first where caste comes from, and in the context of India, caste is in our society; we must understand that caste was not introduced by the British or by any outsider. It already existed within Indian society. We cannot completely reject or deny the theory of caste because caste is not just a social hierarchy. It is deeply rooted in society. It works as an identity.

Caste is not always something that is wrong by nature. Many times, its meaning and significance were miscommunicated or misunderstood, often because of emotions and social conflicts. But in reality, we cannot say that caste does not exist. Caste may not exist clearly on paper, but it definitely exists in real life. It plays a huge role in society.

If caste truly did not matter, then why does it appear so strongly in politics? Why does it matter so much in marriage? Why do different groups behave differently based on caste identity? Why do social divisions continue to exist? These questions show that caste is still active and influential.

Now, we talk about caste and census. The last full caste census was conducted in 1931 during British rule. After independence, no complete caste census has been conducted in India. Only Bihar has attempted a caste-based survey, and even at the national level, data is collected mainly for SC and ST communities, not for other caste groups.

To understand caste, we first need to understand reservation. Let us talk about this in a very simple way. Traditionally, Brahmins and  Jamindars were given land by rulers like the Mughals, the Peshwas, or other kings. Their duty was to take care of the land, manage it, or perform administrative and religious work. Because of this, they owned property.

On the other hand, lower castes were mostly workers for generations. They did not own land or property. Since they did not own land, they had nothing to pass on to the next generation.

Now, let us connect this to today’s world. If my grandparents owned property, my father could study because that property existed. Later, my father could sell that property and use the money to educate us. This gives us better opportunities in life.

But the lower castes did not have property in the past. They had no land to sell and no assets to support their children’s education. Because of this, they are behind others today. They often lack enough money and average educational opportunities.

This is why they need a reservation. Reservation is not about merit. It is about opportunity— who had access to resources and chances in the past and who did not. It is also important to understand caste because where we are today is connected to our caste. We should not say that we have no caste, because if we are in a certain position in society, it is often the case. After all, our caste identity exists with us. Our caste has shaped the opportunities we received, and that is why many of us are where we are today.

In conclusion, caste is not about saying we don’t have caste. We all have a caste, and we need to acknowledge that. Acknowledging caste is not a road that automatically leads to equality. Instead, it helps us understand who we are and how we can grow together as a society.

It was not important for discrimination. Rather, it was important because it helps us understand our population. When we know the actual figures, we can see the real structure of our society. These numbers become a mechanism through which we can identify existing problems.

Once we understand the scale and condition of different communities, we are able to connect those realities with our social situation. This awareness helps us recognize what kind of solutions are needed and how we should move forward. In this way, the purpose was not to divide people, but to understand society better so that its issues could be addressed more effectively, especially in the context of caste.