MANDAL VERSUS KAMANDAL POLITICS BEFOR 2024 LOK SABHA ELECTION
–JAY SINGH RAWAT
It is difficult to predict the role of Mandal and Kamandal politics in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, as it depends on various factors such as the political and social context at the time, the electoral strategies of different parties, and the mobilization of different caste and religious groups. But this is viewed as the main issue for coming Lok Sabha election.
Mandal and Kamandal politics emerged in the 1990s as two dominant strands of identity-based politics in India. Mandal politics refers to the assertion of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and their demand for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. Kamandal politics, on the other hand, refers to the assertion of Hindu identity and the demand for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
In recent years, these issues have remained relevant in Indian politics, with various political parties trying to mobilize OBC and Dalit voters through Mandal politics, and Hindu nationalist parties such as the BJP trying to consolidate Hindu votes through Kamandal politics.
Whether these issues will play an important role in the 2024 Lok Sabha election remains to be seen. However, it is likely that identity-based politics will continue to play a significant role in Indian politics, given the complex social and cultural diversity of the country.
The Mandal Commission, officially known as the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission, was a commission established in India in 1979 to identify socially and educationally backward classes of people and recommend measures to improve their status. The commission was chaired by B.P. Mandal, a former Chief Minister of Bihar, and was appointed by the then-Indian government led by Prime Minister Morarji Desai.
The Mandal Commission submitted its report in 1980, in which it identified a total of 3,743 castes and communities as socially and educationally backward classes, which were then categorized as Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The commission recommended that a certain percentage of government jobs and educational seats be reserved for OBCs, in order to improve their representation and address historical disadvantages and discrimination.
The implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations became a contentious issue in Indian politics, with some groups opposing the move as a threat to meritocracy and others supporting it as a necessary measure to address social inequality. The recommendations were implemented in 1990 by the government led by Prime Minister V.P. Singh, leading to widespread protests and violence by upper-caste groups.
The Mandal Commission and its recommendations have had a significant impact on Indian politics and society, with debates and controversies surrounding issues of caste, reservation, and social justice continuing to this day.
RATH YARA OF LK ADVANI
Lal Krishna Advani started his Rath Yatra on September 25, 1990, from Somnath in Gujarat.The Rath Yatra of Lal Krishna Advani was a political rally organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1990, in which a chariot (rath) carrying the then BJP president L.K. Advani was taken on a journey from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, with the aim of mobilizing support for the construction of a temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram.
The Rath Yatra was part of the larger Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which aimed to build a temple at the site of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, which had been destroyed by a mob of Hindu activists in 1992. The movement had gained momentum in the 1980s and had become a key issue for the BJP, which saw it as a way to mobilize the Hindu vote bank.
The Rath Yatra of Lal Krishna Advani is considered a significant event in the history of Indian politics, as it marked the emergence of the BJP as a major political force and set the stage for the party’s eventual rise to power in the 1990s and 2000s. However, it also remains a controversial event, as it was marked by communal tensions and violence that continue to affect Indian society to this day.
IMPACT OF RAM JANM BHUMI MOVEMENT ON BJP’S PROGRESS
The impact of Advani’s Rath Yatra on the Lok Sabha election of 1991 was significant. The Rath Yatra was part of the larger Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which had gained momentum in the 1980s and had become a key issue for the BJP, which saw it as a way to mobilize the Hindu vote bank. The Yatra was planned as a show of strength and support for the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and aimed to consolidate the Hindu vote bank.
The Rath Yatra was marked by massive public rallies and processions, and it was met with both support and opposition. The Yatra was also marked by communal tensions and violence, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where it led to communal clashes and riots.
Despite the opposition and violence, the Rath Yatra helped to galvanize the BJP’s support base, particularly among the Hindu community, and contributed to the party’s electoral success in the Lok Sabha election of 1991. The BJP won 120 seats in the Lok Sabha, up from 2 seats in the previous election, and emerged as the second-largest party in the Parliament, after the Congress.
The success of the BJP in the 1991 Lok Sabha election marked a significant shift in Indian politics, as it marked the emergence of the BJP as a major political force and set the stage for the party’s eventual rise to power in the 1990s and 2000s. The Rath Yatra and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement continue to be significant issues in Indian politics, shaping the political discourse around issues of identity, nationalism, and communalism.
CASTE-BASED CENSUSES SO FAR
The number of castes recorded in the caste-based censuses conducted in India varied across different time periods. In the first caste-based census conducted in 1872, about 1,800 castes were identified and classified into four broad categories, namely, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
In the second caste-based census conducted in 1931, more than 2,000 castes were identified and classified into several sub-castes and groups based on various criteria such as occupation, language, and region.
The latest caste-based census conducted in 2011, recorded the caste of the population along with other demographic information, but the data has not been made public yet.
It is important to note that the number and classification of castes in India are complex and often vary across different regions and communities. The caste system in India is a deeply rooted social and cultural institution that has been in existence for centuries and continues to have a significant impact on Indian society and politics.
OBC CASTES CLASSIFIED SO FAR
In India, the classification of Other Backward Classes (OBC) is determined by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which was set up under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
The NCBC has classified a total of 5,013 castes and communities as OBCs, as of September 2021. This classification is based on various criteria such as social, economic, and educational backwardness, and is subject to periodic review and revision by the NCBC.
It is important to note that the classification of OBCs is a complex and contentious issue in India, as it involves issues of social justice, political representation, and access to resources and opportunities. The classification of OBCs has been a subject of debate and controversy, with various political and social groups demanding changes to the existing classification criteria and quota system.
NUMBER OF SCHEDULED CASTES CLASSIFIED
In India, the classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) is determined by the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which lists the castes and communities that are considered as Scheduled Castes. The order was amended in 1976 to include certain additional castes and communities.
As of September 2021, there are 1,241 castes and communities that are classified as Scheduled Castes in India. These communities are considered as socially and educationally disadvantaged and are entitled to various constitutional safeguards and benefits, such as reservation in education, employment, and political representation.
The classification of Scheduled Castes is subject to periodic review and revision by the government, based on various criteria such as social, educational, and economic backwardness. However, any changes to the list of Scheduled Castes require a constitutional amendment, which is a complex and time-consuming process.
705 SCHEDULED TRIBES CLASSIFIED IN INDIA
In India, the classification of Scheduled Tribes (STs) is also determined by the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, which lists the tribes or tribal communities that are considered as Scheduled Tribes. The order was amended in 1976 to include certain additional tribes or tribal communities.
As of September 2021, there are 705 tribes or tribal communities that are classified as Scheduled Tribes in India. These communities are considered as socially and educationally disadvantaged and are entitled to various constitutional safeguards and benefits, such as reservation in education, employment, and political representation.
The classification of Scheduled Tribes is also subject to periodic review and revision by the government, based on various criteria such as social, educational, and economic backwardness. However, any changes to the list of Scheduled Tribes require a constitutional amendment, which is a complex and time-consuming process.