Casteless , caste-ridden and caste-system based society
British rulers made caste and community tools for Indians to fight amongst themselves. They redefined caste-system and politicized it according to their administrative convenience. On surface, everything appeared fine, but in reality different communities were divided on the ground of race, religion, caste, creed, or place. British Raj spread its Empire and perpetuated its rule by taking the path of discrimination and adopting policy of ‘divide and rule’ through -
i Start of ‘Census operations’ - which instigated caste consciousness and caste animosities. Middleton, a Census Superintendent remarked, “We pigeonholed everyone by caste and community. We deplore its effect on social and economic problems. But we are largely responsible for the system…Our land records and official documents have added iron-bonds to the old rigidity of caste…. The government’s act for labels and pigeon-holes had led to a crystallization of the caste system, which, except amongst the aristocratic caste, was really very fluid under indigenous rule.”
ii Introduction of ‘Electoral Politics’ on communal basis - Minto-Morley Reforms known as Government of India Act of 1909 was the first effective dose of communalisation of Indian politics. British rulers successfully divided Hindu population into two uncompromising groups, viz. `We” Non-Brahmins vs `They” Brahmins and caste Hindus. It gave rise to “Power in numbers”..
iii ‘Policy of Reservations’ – British rulers devised a novel method to distribute and balance power on ‘preferential basis’. 1905 to 1940 was the period, when idea of Reservation/positive discrimination was conceived, experimented and established firmly. It opened up various channels of confrontation. Muslims and non-Brahmin castes resented dominance of Brahmins in education and administration. To restrict Brahmin’s entry in Government jobs and make it available to non-Brahmins communities, British rulers started practice of “Preferences” by giving them financial assistance and preferences in education and Government employment at local and provincial level. It served double purpose for them - getting credit for amelioration and protection of downtrodden and keeping natives busy in their in-fights.
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