By: K.P. Poudel
IMPACT OF CASTE IN POLITICS
The influence of the caste permeates
(pervade) every area and level of political and clerical days of the country.
It begins with the electoral politics. [All parties including the so called lay
parties like the CPI and the CPM select their candidates for elections.
With an eye on the caste composition of the
constituencies alarmed]. Party tries to pick candidates from the numerically foremost
caste in the electoral area. In electoral campaign party leader make open or
disguise appeal to caste sentiments.
In some Castes casting one’s
vote is thought in a marriage. There is an electoral maxim in Haryina: Jaat ki
Beti Jaat ko and Jaat ki vote Jaat ko. (A Jat gives his daughter away in marriage
to a Jaat, so he gives his vote to a Jaat)
It is not in the electoral
politics alone the influence of caste is visible. When a ministry is formed (in
a state or at centre), caste consideration are constantly kept in mind. Every
chief Minister tries to ensure that all the leading castes in the state are effectively
represented in his council of ministers. It is considered to be obligatory that
every Union or state cabinet has one or more Harijan ministers. [In many states
reservations in the government jobs for backward classes have been provided.
The various form of assistance available under the community development
schemes are distributed on caste basis.]
It may noted that the brunt
of caste is not identical at all levels of politics. It is most widely spread
at local levels. In Panchayat raj institutions politics is entirely subject by
the caste factor. In the village and small towns illiteracy is widespread,
caste prejudices are deep-seated and the general outlook of the people is very
low. Besides, constituencies are small. Naturally, it becomes easy for the
politicians to mobilize voters on
caste basis. But the role of caste at the level of state and national
politics is not so prominent. Constituencies being very large, it is not
possible for the candidates to win election with the exclusive support of a
single caste or a single group of castes. They have to win the support of other
caste also. However it would be wrong to state that at the higher levels of
politics the caste factor disappears completely.
Another important fact about
the role of caste is that it is not uniform in all the states although no state
of the Indian Union is immune from the impact of caste politics.
(Conclusion)
It is difficult to evaluate
the role of caste in politics. Some political scholars hold the view that
casteism is playing a progressive role in modernizing Indian society. The primary function of the caste has been to
transfer authority from the higher to the lower and middle castes. Casteism has
become a means of leveling the old order of inequality and enriching the browbeaten
sections of people. It has created in them a sense of self-respect and
generated the consciousness that if they unite on caste basis they can
challenge the dominance of the higher castes and better their economic lot and
social standing. However, this view is highly untenable. In reality, castesim
is inimical (opposed, hostile) to the interest of the masses belonging to all
castes.
“ the existence of caste
consciousness, caste prejudices, discontent on the basis of caste inequalities-
all these are impediments in the way of the development of the country as a
whole, and therefore, of the development of ‘lower’ and ‘backward’ caste
themselves. Caste separatisms, therefore, hinders, rather than helps, the
advancement of the ‘lower’ caste themselves” wrote, ‘Namboodiripad’.
Factors responsible for the
dominance of caste in politics
Firstly, No party has clear
cut ideology or socio-economic programmed. (In practical politics, every
parties are guided only by one consideration, how to capture power)
Secondly, the Indian
political system is highly competitive. (In their pursuit of power, parties and
politicians leave no stones upturned to mobilize social to build up for
themselves as wide a support as possible)
Thirdly, special reservations and safeguards
made by the constitution for certain castes and classes. Cont...........see part III
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