Caste Politics: The Eternal Game of Power

Nothing suits politicians and those in power more than the caste issue, a tool wielded with precision for millennia. From ancient times to British rule, where "divide and rule" thrived on caste divisions, it has been central to India's power dynamics. In modern politics, caste equations dictate electoral strategies, with parties exploiting them for gains. The Mandal Commission's aftermath intensified this, embedding caste deeper into the political fabric. Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for a caste-based census has outmanoeuvred the opposition, forcing them to recalibrate their strategies.

The latest volley in this unending battle comes from Rahul Gandhi, who has reignited the debate with his "Not Found Suitable" (NFS) allegation. He claims that SC, ST, and OBC candidates are being systematically excluded from education and leadership roles under this pretext. While his charges are polemical, they are not new. Leaders like Union Minister and Apna Dal (S) President Anupriya Patel have previously flagged similar biases in government jobs. Gandhi's rhetoric, however, amplifies the narrative of constitutional betrayal, framing NFS as a modern-day "Manuvaad" undermining social justice.

Yet, such accusations often overlook systemic complexities. The "not found suitable" tag may reflect institutional inefficiencies rather than deliberate exclusion. While vacant reserved posts in universities and IITs demand scrutiny, reducing the issue to a BJP-RSS conspiracy oversimplifies it. Reservation was conceived as a tool for empowerment, but its politicisation risks reducing it to a tokenistic battleground.

The reservation system in India, designed as affirmative action to uplift marginalised communities, has deep historical roots. Its genesis can be traced back to 1882, when William Hunter and Jyotirao Phule advocated for educational reservations. The British formalised this with the 1933 Communal Award, introducing separate electorates for various communities. However, the Poona Pact of 1932, an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, led to a unified Hindu electorate with reserved seats for the depressed classes. Post-independence, the Indian Constitution enshrined provisions to address historical injustices. Articles 15(4) and 16(4) empower the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backwards classes. Over time, amendments like the 77th, 81st, and 85th have expanded reservations to include promotions and address unfilled vacancies. The 103rd Amendment introduced a 10% quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the general category. These measures underscore the state's commitment to social justice, yet their implementation often grapples with systemic inefficiencies and political dynamics.

Caste remains the trump card in India's political playbook, with every party, regardless of ideology, leveraging it when convenient. The challenge lies in ensuring that caste-based policies translate into genuine empowerment rather than perpetual polarisation. Until then, the game will continue, with politicians as its eternal players.