Should caste be included in Indian census?

An expert in population genetics warns that caste-based census would divide the Indian society

For the first time since 1931, as India hotly debates whether to include caste in the census, many experts say it will yield a wealth of information that can be used for better governance. But those against it say it will harm the concept of India.

Gautam K Kshatriya, who has specialised in population genetics, warned that caste-based census would divide Indian society.u00a0

"It is anti-constitutional. This will create a lot of division in society. It will harm the concept of India... our unity in diversity," the teacher in Delhi University's Department of Anthropology told IANS.u00a0

But M.R. Gangadhar, an associate professor in the department of anthropology in the University of Mysore, said nothing would go wrong if people were asked to reveal their caste. "It will help the government in implementing its socio-economic development programmes," he said.u00a0

Pius Malekandathil of the New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University's history department said caste-based census would help identify the strength of socially backward communities.u00a0

The census is the largest single source of a variety of statistical information on different characteristics of the Indian people. The census operation, held once in 10 years, will cover 1.2 billion people -- and more -- in one single database.u00a0

"With a history of more than 130 years, this reliable, time-tested exercise has been bringing out a veritable wealth of statistics every 10 years, beginning from 1872," says the Census Organisation of India, which reports to the home ministry.u00a0

The first census that sought out people's caste was conducted in 1931 when the British ruled India.u00a0

According to political scientist Laura Dudley Jenkins, the need for an abbreviated census during World War II forced the authorities to give up caste tabulations. Moreover, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first home minister of India, was a strong critic of counting the caste.u00a0

Today's politicians have a different viewpoint.u00a0

Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav said that the caste system "is a reality" in India and warned of a "volcanic eruption" if caste-based enumeration was not undertaken.u00a0

Catholic Christian community leader Rev. Babu Joseph said the decision to enumerate the caste was meaningful in the context of the reservation policy in education and employment.u00a0

All India Muslim Personal Law Board member S.Q.R. Illyas agreed. "We support caste-based census because caste is a factor on the basis of which reservations in jobs and educational institutions are determined."u00a0

"Even if one changes one's religious faith, his/her caste affiliation remain much the same," said Babu Joseph, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), told IANS.u00a0

For the first time since 1931, the government has said it will consider, mainly under political pressure, whether census enumerators will ask people, among other things, what their caste is. A decision is expected to be taken by the cabinet soon, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told parliament.

The decision followed vocal demands from Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad who argued that the strength of every caste needed to be known so that their members make use of caste-based quotas in education and employment.u00a0

The Yadavs quickly gained the support of other political actors, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopinath Munde and the Communists.