Nitin Pai’s Warning: How a Caste Census Could Split India Apart
You know how some debates just won’t die? The caste census is one of those. It’s back in the headlines, and Nitin Pai—that sharp political commentator who never minces words—is sounding the alarm. He thinks counting castes nationwide is like playing with fire. Sure, some say it’ll help social justice, but Pai? He calls it a straight-up bad idea that could divide the country. And honestly, it’s not just about numbers. It’s about whether we want to be known as Indians first or get stuck in endless caste politics.
1. Okay, But What Exactly Is a Caste Census?
Let me break it down simply. A caste census is when the government counts people not just by religion or region, but by caste—every single one. We already track Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). This would go further. The British did it way back to control us better. After independence? We mostly avoided it—until Mandal Commission happened in 1990 and OBC reservations kicked in. Now parties like Congress and some regional players are pushing hard for it. Their argument? “We need updated data.”
Here’s the thing: unlike surveys that check if people are poor or educated, this one’s all about identity. Supporters say it’ll make resource sharing fairer. But critics—Pai included—say it’s like taking a step back to colonial times when they labeled us by caste first, human beings second.
2. Why Nitin Pai Thinks This Is a Disaster
2.1. It’s Politics, Not Justice
Pai doesn’t buy the social justice angle. Not one bit. “This is pure vote bank math,” he says. And he’s got a point—look at parties like Samajwadi or RJD. They’ve built entire campaigns around caste data. If we make caste categories official, what happens? Merit takes a backseat, and quotas become the only game in town. Not exactly progress, right?
2.2. Making Caste Matter More
This is the irony no one talks about. We want to end caste discrimination, but Pai argues that counting castes just makes people more caste-conscious. “You can’t erase something by writing it bigger,” he says. Take Bihar—after their caste survey, every group started demanding bigger quotas. Instead of unity? More divisions. More “us vs them.”
2.3. The Unity Problem
Pai’s biggest fear? India breaking apart. He compares it to Lebanon—they did a sectarian census ages ago, and now their politics runs entirely on religious lines. “Imagine states fighting over caste numbers,” he writes. “That’s not democracy—that’s chaos waiting to happen.” Scary thought.
3. What the Other Side Says
3.1. “But We Need Data for Justice”
Fair point. Activists like Kancha Ilaiah ask, “How do you fix what you don’t measure?” Mandal’s OBC data did help reservations work better. Maybe new data could find groups still left out.
3.2. History Isn’t Fair
Here’s the uncomfortable truth—upper castes still dominate everything from boardrooms to bureaucracies. Economist Sukhadeo Thorat puts it bluntly: “Ignoring caste just protects privilege.” Transparency could force real change.
3.3. Pai’s Comeback
But Pai’s not convinced. “If this was about justice, we’d check how current reservations are working first,” he shoots back. His solution? Focus on class, not caste. Look at MGNREGA—it helps all poor people, no caste tags needed.
4. What Other Countries Teach Us
Ever heard about Rwanda after the genocide? They removed ethnicity from ID cards—smart move for unity. America counts race, which helps fight discrimination but also keeps racial tensions alive. For India? There’s no perfect answer, but one thing’s clear: counting castes might help some groups short-term, but could hurt everyone long-term.
5. Is There a Better Way?
5.1. Money Talks
Class-based policies might work better. As Pai says, “A poor Brahmin and poor Dalit both need food, not caste certificates.” The EWS quota’s already trying this.
5.2. Fix the System
Sociologist Dipankar Gupta nails it: “Reservations are painkillers. Good schools and courts are the real medicine.” Invest there, and caste slowly matters less.
5.3. Hold Politicians’ Feet to the Fire
Here’s what bugs me—Bihar did its caste survey. Where are the jobs they promised? Before we count more castes, let’s see results from existing policies.
The Bottom Line
Pai’s warning hits hard: a caste census might give politicians quick wins but could leave India permanently divided. Justice matters, but how we get there matters more. Do we want to be one country moving forward together? Or a bunch of castes pulling in different directions? That’s the real question nobody’s answering.
Source: Livemint – Opinion
