Having lived and worked in this crucial region for several years as a sociologist, I believe it is both important and urgent to speak to the present commotion regarding the caste census in Bharat. This controversy, ironically enough, revolves around an institution that is, strangely enough, referred to barely at all, if ever, in the early Hindu scriptures. To be certain, the ancient texts like the Vedas, Puranas, and a complete list of other texts do not refer to “caste” in the way that we understand caste today.
Instead, these texts refer to the terms varna and jati, but in ways that are vastly different from the fixed and hereditary hierarchies that have long defined and constructed Bharatiya society for centuries. And yet, with all of this ancient history, here we are, in the year 2025, deeply embroiled in a grand political and social tempest regarding the number of castes—a word that has irrefutably become a defining feature of our shared identity as a nation.
The Paradox of History
The caste system, as we know it today, has evolved over a few centuries through a multi-dimensional process of social evolution, colonial codification effects, and the various dynamics of post-independence political situations. Far from being a fixed relic of the past, it is a dynamic and artificial reality that continues to evolve and shape lives today.
The last complete census to study caste in detail was conducted in the year 1931, and a total of 4,147 different castes were enumerated. In the intervening years since that exercise, the identities attached to caste have not only increased in numbers but also transformed significantly, driven by a variety of economic, political, and social forces in operation.
The recent move by the Modi government to include caste enumeration in the next national census is a milestone in this evolving saga, both marking the persistence of caste as a pertinent social reality and the urgent need to grapple with and address its many implications in society.
A Political Firestorm Complemented by the Intricacies of Social Reality
The declaration of the caste census has triggered a political storm. The Congress and opposition parties have been calling for it as an instrument of social justice for years, contending that reliable data are needed to make equitable policies and reservation. The BJP, historically suspicious of caste mobilizations that could undermine its vision of Hindu unity, has now taken a spectacular U-turn, seemingly under the pressure of electoral politics in states such as Bihar, where the fulcrum of political power revolves around caste. The results of the Bihar survey—OBCs making up 63% of the population—have already triggered demands for greater reservation, now trapped in legal and political logjams.
The Sociological Imperative
Sociologically speaking, it is important to recognize that the caste census is not just a political game or ploy but an extremely useful instrument for comprehending and redressing deeply rooted social inequalities that have persisted over decades in a comprehensive manner. The lack of reliable and hard data about the population of castes has, in turn, created fertile ground for a plethora of myths and misconceptions to go viral, which has, in turn, led to dominant castes grossly overestimating their respective populations.
Conversely, marginalized groups face huge challenges while they attempt to stake their rightful claim and place in society. The recent controversies that have cropped up in Karnataka and Bihar, where large communities have protested vigorously what they perceive as undercounting and unjust reclassification of their population, indicate the huge stakes involved in this very important exercise of correctly recording the caste identities.
But the caste census also has its detractors. Some feel that it will increase social fragmentation and stir demands for raising quotas, resulting in social unrest. Others refer to administrative and methodological issues, as witnessed in the scandal-tainted 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census, which was never formally released because its “unusable” findings were deemed fit for nothing. But these issues should not discourage us from trying to find out the truth. As sociologists, we are aware that authentic data is the foundation of well-informed policy and social justice.
Beyond the Political Realm: The Overriding Necessity to Form a New Social Compact
The recent furore surrounding the question of the caste census is in fact a mirror of a deeper conversation on the kind of society we want to create and cultivate in the years ahead. True, it is true that the ancient texts do not necessarily speak of the phenomenon of caste, but it must be understood that the facts and experiences of millions of Bharatiyas are deeply defined and shaped by it in the day-to-day life. Thus, the census is not to be viewed as an end or terminus in itself, but as a significant means to the end—a valuable tool capable of being used for dismantling and deconstruction of the deeply-rooted structures of inequality that, sadly, have persisted far too long in our society.
As a country, it is crucial that we all transcend the limited horizon of the politics of identity, which has the tendency to divide us, and instead adopt a broad vision for Bharat that is not merely inclusive but also just and equitable to all its citizens. The exercise of conducting a caste census, if done in a way that is at once transparent and rigorous, has the potential to go a long way in this vision for the country. It is truly time for us to face the uncomfortable and sometimes painful realities about the nature of our social order, and to work hard towards a future when no Bharatiya citizen is defined or limited by the accidents of birth, whether their background or identity.
Conclusion: An Appeal to Courage and Clarity
The caste census is not a political football. It is a mirror to Bharatiya society, reflecting both our divisions and our potential for change. As a sociologist, I call on all parties—politicians, policymakers, and the public—to meet this moment with courage and clarity. Let us not shy away from the truth, but use it as a basis for a more equal and integrated Bharat. The caste census isn’t about solidifying divisions, but rather dissolving them. It isn’t about the past, but about the future that we want to construct—together.
– Kushagra Garg
