The UPA government’s reported inclination to include an extra column in the 2011 census to enumerate caste, for the first time since 1931, has seen politicians and political parties close ranks, although the Union cabinet is said to have been divided on the issue.
But there has been an avalanche of criticism in the media. “A monumental travesty,” is one view in The Indian Express. “No sense in caste census,” declares the Financial Express. “Will it help reduce inequalities,” asks The Hindu. “No time to look behind,” is one view in The Telegraph.
On television, of course, it is as if the end is nigh upon us already, and they even quote the mighty Amitabh Bachchan—the son-in-law of a journalist—to bolster their view.
A similar dichotomy between the political class and the fourth estate greeted the implementation of the Mandal Commission report in 1989. And indeed when 27% reservation was announced for other backward classes in higher educational institutions in the first innings of the UPA government.
Could the media “disconnect” be because of the demographics of dominant sections of the Indian media, most of which are located in urban centres? Are there too many upper-caste, upper-class types and far too few of the other kind to understand and empathise with the logic, the dynamics, the imperative for a caste census or reservations?
In her Hindustan Times column, CNN-IBN senior editor Sagarika Ghose writes:
“In 1996 when B.N. Uniyal undertook a survey of national newspapers, he found that among 686 journalists accredited to the government, 454 were upper caste, the remaining 232 did not carry their caste names and in a random sample of 47, not a single one was a dalit.”
More recently, a 2006 survey of 300 senior journalists in 37 Hindi and English newspapers and TV stations found that “Hindu upper caste men”—who form eight per cent of the country’s population—hold 71 per cent of the top jobs in the national media.
“Dalits and Adivasis “are conspicuous by their absence among the decision- makers. Not even one of the 315 key decision-makers belonged to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.
“If men and women are taken together, the share of upper caste Hindus or dwijas in the upper echelons of the media is 85 per cent. These castes account for 16 per cent of the national population. Brahmins alone, the survey found, hold 49 per cent of the top jobs in national journalism.
“If non-dwija forward castes like Marathas, Patels, Jats and Reddys are added, the total forward caste share stands at 88 per cent.
“In contrast, OBCs, who are estimated to constitute around 40 per cent of the population, account for an “abysmally low” four per cent of top media jobs. In the English print media, OBCs account for just one per cent of top jobs and in the Hindi print media eight per cent.”
Read the full column: Caste off those blinkers
Photograph: the front page of Harijan, the weekly English newspaper published by Mahatma Gandhi
Also read: Why are they Tamils? Why are they all Brahmins?
Just 4% of population but 7 Brahmins in Indian team?
* with apologies to Edward Behr
Tags: Amitabh Bachchan, B.N. Uniyal, Brahmins, Churumuri, CNN-IBN, Congress, Harijan, Hindustan Times, Jats, Mahatma Gandhi, Marathas, Patels, PBCs, Reddys, Sagarika Ghose, Sans Serif, SCs, STs, The Financial Express, The Hindu, The Telegraph, UPA
13 May 2010 at 4:42 pm
As a dalit, why should I join private media or for that matter private sector where I need to work hard to get to to the top? I will join the public sector. As a student, I have marks relaxed, seats reserved. Then to appy for job, I have age relaxation, then again reservation, marks relaxed. I have reservation even for timely promotion.
13 May 2010 at 5:13 pm
Our governments focus is entirely on identifying vote banks and their percentages. If the govt. can create infrastructure and opportunities for all, then the meaningless ideas like Reservations will go away.
But, no. In India, the idea for one to come forward is to push someone backward. It is simply counter intutive, but there isn’t even one voice in Parliament who’d oppose this for the fear of loss of votes, and being kicked out of parties.
***
dinakar:
>As a dalit, why should I join private media or for that matter private sector
I don’t think that answers the lower representation of certain sections. OBCs historically didn’t have reservation, but still their representation in Journalism is less.
However, the national media suvey is exactly what is wrong with our world view. What it tries to say is – we are basically people of different castes and there has to be proportional representation of all castes in all spheres of life. They may as well call for a proportional representation in Parliament and in jobs etc. etc.
13 May 2010 at 5:39 pm
The gov’ts plan to include caste in the census is pretty simple. After the census they can claim to ‘justify’ increasing reservation and then extending it into each and every sphere of our lives, starting with reservation in the private sector.
***
@harkol,
>> If the govt. can create infrastructure and opportunities for all, then the meaningless ideas like Reservations will go away.
Hard way to get votes and stay in power. No guarantee even if you do well.
>> But, no. In India, the idea for one to come forward is to push someone backward. It is simply counter intutive, but there isn’t even one voice in Parliament who’d oppose this for the fear of loss of votes, and being kicked out of parties.
Easy way to stay in power. Heck it is so formulaic, that it is dumb to even think of anything else. It also comes with a 5 yr guarantee :)
13 May 2010 at 5:59 pm
i suggest.. make a complete caste and religion based census. and provide a TOTAL proportional based reservation for all castes and creeds. which will simply be an end to all the problems!
13 May 2010 at 6:24 pm
To Sagarika Ghose,
How many dalits have your group of channels including CNN IBN employed?
What measures have your group of channels including CNN IBN taken to give enough representation to dalits?
One more question:
When you interview a person for a position in your channel, do you ask him about his caste? And if he is a dalit, will he be given preference over others?
13 May 2010 at 7:09 pm
First You introduce reservation in CNN-IBN….then talk about others…………….
13 May 2010 at 7:38 pm
I work in the famous IT industry of Bangalore. I had been to one famed company for interview. After successfully clearing the technical rounds, before making the offer, the hiring manager wanted to know my background. After beating around the bush, he made me realize that he wanted to know my caste. When I told the caste I was born in, the pitch changed. He did a turncoat. He eulogized his company how they were fore front in technology breakthroughs, blah, etc and how I don’t fit there.
After few years, I applied again. Some stuff repeated. I lied about my caste. No surprise that I got the job offer. Needless to say, I rejected the offer and told them how my superior skills will be under utilized in their company.
13 May 2010 at 7:55 pm
This happened in my college. There was a guy ‘A’ who used to come to college driving a car. For him, almost all necessary items were given free of cost because he had reservation. In the same class there were people like ‘B’ who had to take loans because they could not afford the fees.
What might happen here? ‘A’ might take the reservation for granted and his competitive spirit may go down. On the other hand ‘B’ works very hard because there are only limited general category seats and his competitive spirit will always be high. And when people like ‘B’ become successful and reach the top, surveys are conducted and the “intellectuals” crib that there are not enough ‘A’s at the top. Only ‘B’s.
>>”Hindu upper caste men”—who form eight per cent of the country’s population—hold 71 per cent of the top jobs in the national media”
What has it got anything to do with them being only 8% of the population. This is as stupid as “Just 4% of population but 7 Brahmins in Indian team?”
13 May 2010 at 11:27 pm
It is not dalits are after Govt. jobs just because of there is a system of reservations. But corporates have no inclination in providing jobs to dalits. Dalits have been systematically sidelined by upper caste corporates. social equality is different than economic equality. Let first learn all our so called Hindus to treat and see all are equal. if that is going to be happen in India then dalits will not ask for reservations. Will it happen Mr Dinakar.
14 May 2010 at 12:27 am
I think the question should have been about the availability of opportunities for people of certain castes in a particular profession rather than the number of people belonging to a certain group that work in the media or any other field. As some have pointed out, merely counting the number of people falling under some category can be misleading and can lead to wrong conclusions.
14 May 2010 at 2:51 am
@Harkol
When you say this,
>>we are basically people of different castes and there has to be proportional representation of all castes in all spheres of life.<<
I just have to ask you this question, are you for eliminating the caste system or are you for redifining a neo-caste system with a new definition of upper class lower class OBC etc?
Looking to be optimistic, the way things see-saw in Indian politics and observing the way reservations work, and taking into consideration that i belong to one of the upper "privileged in society but underpriveleged in the job market" caste, i suppose by the time i am old, ur neo casteism will be firmly in place and by then i will belong to the neo low caste and hence all my problems will be solved by the then available reservations!
… And the cycle continues!!
p.s. privileged in society??? who am i kidding, try buying a plot of land to make a house without a SC/ST/OBC certificate and then try doing the same with one. You will know the difference! Bloody jokers and hypocrites in power and their media lapdogs!
14 May 2010 at 5:49 am
I made the mistake of clicking on the link directing the reader to the original column by Sagarika Ghose.
Here is an example of her eloquence.
“What we need is to count OBCs in the same manner as we count SCs and STs. We need to count Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) in order to get an accurate picture of their actual number. We are thus not counting all castes, but only backward communities. When reservations for OBCs have been provided for at the Union and state levels, surely a census is essential to find out what the actual hard numbers are and whether the quotas are accurate.”
So how does one go about counting “only backward communities”? How does one determine whether a particular caste is socially and educationally backward without counting all castes and ranking them by some index or the other? What does Ms. Ghose smoke?
Some bright-bulb here says we should count every single caste and ensure proportional representation for everyone. We should just go ahead and have separate electorates while we are at it and solve the problem once and for all. Like we did once 63 years ago.
14 May 2010 at 9:25 am
Get a few facts right. This caste census is not about SC/ST. They were always enumerated. This is about enumerating BCs. The numbers of BC is UNKNOWN.
Read the statement above:
‘ “In contrast, OBCs, who are estimated to constitute around 40 per cent of the population, account for an “abysmally low” ….’
Second, Jats are OBCs. How can they be counted as Forward Castes?
Third, More than 70% of the population in TN is considered OBC/MBC – excluding SC/STs and Brahmins, every other caste in TN is considered either OBC/MBC. If you take the employee census in Sun TV or other TN based media organisation, the OBC percentage would definitely shoot up.
Please don’t mix-up OBC reservations (highly political and undeserving in majority of cases) with SC/ST reservations (deserving for a few more years).
14 May 2010 at 9:30 am
>provide a TOTAL proportional based reservation for all castes and creeds.
Will it be?
How do we do it? A Cricket team that has representation as per the castes and religions? A business community that is fairly represented by various castes, even if they don’t have one decent business idea?
What about medical community? Should it be proportionally represented too? A Christian doctor for christians, a muslim for muslims, brahmin for brahmin so on??
Proportional representation was discussed and ruled out by our founding fathers. In fact, it was one of the demands Jinnah made for avoiding partition of this country.
Do we want to do what Jinnah couldn’t manage??
**
Pacifier:
>When I told the caste I was born in, the pitch changed. He did a turncoat.
Most IT companies deal with US/Europe which have stringent non-discriminatory and non-harassment policies and thus adopt similar HR policies to avoid any litigations.
If an individual violated such policy – then you could complain to their HR. We have had a situation where a director was removed for bringing in his prejudices in to play in an interview..
**
Pagan:
>This is as stupid as “Just 4% of population but 7 Brahmins in Indian team?”
Exactly!! These folks will ask for proportional representation in Indian team! Not that it would impact the team in anyway – They’ll still keep loosing in Bouncy tracks, and keep winning in India. ;-)
But the idea is ridiculous.
>“intellectuals” crib that there are not enough ‘A’s at the top. Only ‘B’s.
I think this example is a bit out of sync with reality. It isn’t the case that there is some inequality within our society, and it is quite possible that “A” was very poor and needed reservations to get anywhere, and “B” was very rich and could buy his seats.
The point is just that – Economic position rather than accident of birth should determine Govt. assistance in the form of Reservation. A 20-30% seats reserved for poorest wouldn’t draw any ire from anyone. It is routine reservation that goes to the sons of Rich & powerful that seems so unjust.
***
Prajwal:
>are you for eliminating the caste system or are you for redifining a neo-caste system with a new definition of upper class lower class OBC etc?
Ideally abolish the caste system, and make it illegal to ever ask for ones caste irrespective of circumstance.
But I know that’s not possible for the simple reason that it’s been drilled in to our society. Marriages don’t happen between castes. Mobility between castes is not permitted.
So, do the next best thing. Since, being a lower caste/outcase is a stigma, make upward mobility within hindu caste system possible!
All Hindu religious heads should formulate a religious process thru which anyone who chooses, should be allowed to become a Dwija (Twice born) and an upper caste. This is already being done in cases of adoption by an upper caste. Our religious books also say the caste is not by birth, so it must be through process (Sanskara).
There will be resistance from some initially, but then people will come around. Over a few generations caste system will go away. It won’t happen overnight.
14 May 2010 at 10:53 am
What next – Reservations for OBCs and SC/STs in the media? Why is it so hard to understand that access to quality education needs to be made available and affordable esp to the poor (who are overwhelmingly from the lower castes) right from nursery schools. Thousands more schools, colleges, institutes and universities need to be therefore set up. This is the only way caste based debates will cease to remain prominent in the years to come. That there are a disproportionate number of people from the upper castes in various professions is because of the education and the access they’ve recd. This is what needs to be provided on a war footing to all.
14 May 2010 at 11:33 am
@paciFier
Very hard to believe. No IT company would ask about caste. It’s only merit and relevant experience which matters.
Those who’re cribbing that inefficient people get into govt orgs, please check the IAS/KAS selection lists. Backward caste candidates are getting selected in GM lists. IN KPSC exams, there’s very negligible difference in the marks scored by GM and backward class candidates. That speaks it all.
Only worry is, even among Dalits, it’s the creamy layer people who’re moving up. Gradually, they might help their clan to come to the main stream.
14 May 2010 at 1:50 pm
Is this BREAKING NEWS??
I don’t know how many times I said the same, you just have to open your eyes to see that. Be it reservation, Muslim “issues”, passing muck to BC leaders yadavs, mayavati, gowda… This self grandiose has consume ed to such an extant that now GADAkari is calling others gada.
But then again he is from RSS, raised on the diet of high born–lowly born etched from the beginning, so no surprises.
14 May 2010 at 2:36 pm
The concept that a downtrodden caste can make progress only if one of its members holds high position in public or private, is very tribal and unimaginative. I don’t want to quote names of political leaders of the past and present who never contributed to uplift their caste as whole, except showing some nepotism.
I would like to quote the example of Abe Lincoln, former president of USA, who abolished the system of slavery based on race and color. He even sent US armies to liberate slaves from the clutches of American citizens and businesses resisting the legislation. Lincoln was not a member of the oppressed race to which the slaves in USA belonged, in fact he was white.
Reports like this only make the caste system to perpetuate rather than helping in it’s eradication. Resorting to charter system to dole out Government and private jobs and college seats based on proportional caste numbers is even worse. Whatever system we have in place now is good enough and extending it to private sector is plain foolish. It creates barriers to growth and opportunities based on the caste one is born into.
14 May 2010 at 3:16 pm
The first comment by dinkar is a real howler- hard work and private media and private sector – yes working hard at getting a brown nose:)
14 May 2010 at 4:12 pm
The discussion so far on this thread suggests
- When left to ourselves on a normal day (ie when Mamata is cribbing, DG is snoring, birds are chirping, no bomb-blasts/terrorist attacks, non election times, IPL is on etc etc), we (Hindus…assuming most of the pseudonyms answer to that description) are gloriously divided along the caste lines.
- We need a supra element, a ‘common enemy’ for us to show some unity. In the absence of such an entity it will be business as usual ie each one of us at some body else’s throat.
Thus it will be interesting to see what form of society we would be – if and when the ‘common enemy’ is marched and sent across the Wagah border or Sir creek lock,stock and barrel.
What we will do as the villain of the piece would be missing? Create new villain/s? We will have to. Now, who will they be is a billion rupee question.
14 May 2010 at 8:50 pm
Divide and sub-divide is the name of the game keeping electoral politics.
14 May 2010 at 10:08 pm
Anshuman:
>gloriously divided along the caste lines.
Can you sight a single large country that wasn’t hopelessly divided at some point in their history?
US was divided in to Red-Indians, Africans and then sub-nationalities of various types. A referendum (Qubec) in Canada almost succeeded in dividing that country in to two on the basis of language. England had its Irish problems till recently.
All these countries have had longer existence as unified nation under single constitution than India.
Isn’t there hope for optimism for us as well?
15 May 2010 at 8:24 pm
i like gandhiji’s terminology, “harijan.” it makes me want to be a harijan.
15 May 2010 at 9:13 pm
@harkol,
i cannot agree with u on the intercaste marriage as quite a few of my relatives and friends are into intercaste relationships.
about the possibility of advancement in the caste system, i had an argument about the same issue with my grand dad who is very well read in all aspects. Apparently there are indeed possibilities for the advancement along the caste system lines, in fact he did mention examples. Unfortunately i do not remember them as the argument was quite some time ago.
Theoretically advancement is possible, but the problem is that it is socially rather difficult. The problem is that we are brought up to expect everything to be handed to us on golden trays! As a tangible example, we have many many professionals today who have high levels of education. If you took a person who has a master’s and years of experience in making electronic chips and ask him to make a carpentry masterpiece, he/she will not be able to do it outright, but with perseverence i suppose one will be successful. The way i see it, it is this need/this want to succeed that lacks in us.
Many Indians in India expect things to be easy, else it is casteism and social stigma. Many indians abroad expect everything to be easy and the same as it is for the native europeans/americans/africans/brazilians etc. When it is not, then it is racism. Do u see a pattern here? I do, the fact is, we expect everyone else to accept us as we are and to make things easier for us, but we would never consider striving to get to our goals or striving to make others’ lives easier for them!(unless of course tonnes of money are involved!)
16 May 2010 at 6:31 pm
@Khan: Your mind stinks man! No hope left! FYI, you muslims and christians are also casteist! Read todays ToI for more…. oh, dont jump the gun and call them Brahmins and RSS wallas!
17 May 2010 at 11:20 am
After reading all the comments one can understand how Hindus (ill)treat fellow Hindus and (dis) respect. (I am not used words like caste hindus..etc)
17 May 2010 at 5:01 pm
>making electronic chips and ask him to make a carpentry masterpiece
Sir, entirely two different domain. One is purely a highly educated mental work, with very little physical exertion (click of mouse buttons). Another involves a lot of physical exertion, perspiration and skilled handiwork.
If a Chip designer ever has to do carpentry, he’d probably have a higher learning curve than a plumber or a tailor.
>Many Indians in India expect things to be easy, else it is casteism
Din’t get this at all! Wanting things to be easy is a human trait all over the world. But, casteism isn’t connected to that.
Casteism is just a class system, that was prevalent in most societies till 20th century. India or Hinduism isn’t unique in this.
**
Sahana:
>how Hindus (ill)treat fellow Hindus and (dis) respect.
If you really had Sahane (patience), you’d have realized there is no ‘disrespect’ in any messages above..
If you study history you’ll realize – Hindus have rarely done mass murders on the scale of Muslims and Christians crusaders in the name of religion/faith or ideology.
There have been Indian wars with large casualties, but those wars weren’t fought on religion or race. It was largely political ambitions of the kings of the day.
As examples – Consider the Australian Murder of Aborigins, American murder of Red-Indians, Muslim murders in Hindu-Kush and in India in the name of Religion or race.
17 May 2010 at 9:56 pm
Anshuman,
‘What we will do as the villain of the piece would be missing? Create new villain/s? We will have to. Now, who will they be is a billion rupee question.’
Some suggestions:
1. Adivasis, untouchables and poor people who dare to stand up and fight for their rights. Anyone who does not fear their superiors as laid down by the ancient order of things and is taken in by new fangled ideas of demanding what is due to them.
2. Neighbouring countries – China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal. We could attach other names to each of them too – Communists, Muslims/terrorists, Non-hindus, communists in that order.
But is likely it is just a wet dream that we can unite to hate someone else. Why should we when we hate people from other castes so much?
20 May 2010 at 12:10 pm
By their own frequent retarded and moronic arguments, greed and a complete lack of honor in public life, coupled with asinine support from their ‘friends’, I am sorry to say Dalits have truly become the untouchables!
20 May 2010 at 6:43 pm
>I am sorry to say Dalits have truly become the untouchables!
Why are you sorry?
Atleast a few Dalits are untouchable! A.Raja, Mayawati etc. prove that!
No law or Moral obligation seems to touch them!!