Caste Census needs ethnographic insights-Telangana Today


Ethnography seeks to understand reality from the native point of view, offering a more nuanced understanding of social dynamics

Published Date – 29 October 2024, 11:59 PM


Opinion: Caste Census needs ethnographic insights


By Dr Ram Shepherd Bheenaveni

In India’s socio-political landscape, the demand for a caste census has become central to the fight for social justice. Subaltern voices argue that it is crucial to evaluate whether affirmative action policies are genuinely benefiting historically marginalised communities in relation to their population composition. Many believe that the refusal to conduct such a census is not just a political tactic, but a deliberate attempt to obscure the realities of development — or its absence — among disadvantaged groups.


Despite this, several political parties have included the caste census in their manifestoes. The Bihar government was the first to conduct and publish a caste census, but it triggered legal challenges due to concerns over the design of the survey tool, questions about its validity and reliability, and disputes over the potential creation of new quotas in the reservation system.

In its turn, the Telangana government has now issued GO MS No. 18, stating that “the house [Legislative Assembly] resolved to conduct a comprehensive door-to-door household survey (socio, economic, educational, employment, political, and caste survey) of the entire state” to plan and implement various opportunities for the amelioration of BC, SC, ST citizens and other weaker sections. The survey is to be completed within 60 days.

Sensitive System

While the government’s intentions may be commendable, caste is a complex and sensitive social system that requires careful handling. The data collection process necessitates a team of research experts, trained field investigators and a pilot study — elements that alone would require more than 60 days to execute effectively. Also, the variables must be scientifically validated and drawn from established research. Socioeconomic status (SES) scales, which measure an individual’s or household’s standing in society based on gender, age, income, education and occupation, are key tools in this process. Properly implementing these scales can provide valuable insights into the social dynamics and ensure that the survey reflects reality and yields meaningful results.

In fact, research typically serves three purposes: exploration, description and explanation. Based on these, the research design is framed. Studies are broadly classified into two types — qualitative and quantitative — based on the nature of data. Explorative research designs and qualitative studies aim to transform research questions into hypotheses, while quantitative surveys describe and explain realities using field data. However, caste surveys focus primarily on quantitative data, which may be insufficient to grasp the deeper, intrinsic realities of various communities. This is why, during the Census of India under British rule, qualitative information was also gathered and included in reports as ethnographic accounts. Ethnography, a qualitative method widely used in social science research, seeks to understand reality from the native point of view, offering a richer, more nuanced understanding of social dynamics.

Quantitative Data

Quantitative data possesses inherent limitations that impede its effectiveness in capturing data from India’s birth-based socially stratified system. For instance, while surveys may quantify poverty levels, they often overlook the lived experiences and subjective perceptions that define individuals’ sense of well-being. A survey indicating high unemployment rates within a specific demographic may reveal decisive statistics but fail to address underlying factors such as systemic discrimination or limited educational access. This overreliance on numbers can obscure the rich narratives that qualitative data provide, ultimately constraining our understanding of societal issues. Incorporating SES scales can mitigate these gaps by offering a structured framework to measure individuals’ positions across various indicators such as gender, caste, social status, family type and size, dependency, education, occupation, landholding and income.

The development of a tailored SES tool for Telangana is a prerequisite as it would provide an accurate reflection of the State’s intrinsic socio-cultural, educational, employment, economic and political conditions. Moreover, this caste census draws significant interest from both academicians and policymakers, enabling them to conduct research that will offer a treasure trove of socio-economic insights.

Qualitative Data

Despite numerous theories on the origin and evolution of caste, none has fully captured its on-the-ground intricacies. Take the Reddy caste, for example — how did it emerge, how many sub-castes does it encompass, and why have they adopted the role of Kshatriyas despite their Shudra classification? Questions about the Kakatiyas dynasty as well — are they linked to Reddys, Kammas, Gollakurumas, or Vaddaras? And why do Reddys and Gollakurumas share spiritual connections, while Kammas and Reddys align in the political arena? More critically, how are caste roles and practices continuing in a rapidly modernising India? What happens to caste identities as migration from rural to urban areas accelerates? These questions will enrich multiple disciplines by using qualitative methods.

Collecting data through ethnography, oral history, focus group interviews on lineage, descent, clans, surnames etc helps explore the persistence — or erosion — of caste-based history, identity, and practices

Collecting data through ethnography, oral history, focus group interviews on lineage, descent, clans, moieties, phratries, family deities, and surnames will provide a wealth of information to explore the persistence — or erosion — of caste-based history, identity and practices. For instance, the prevalence of surnames ending with ‘boina’ among Yadavs and Mudirajs suggests a shared lineage or cultural connection. Notably, the Mudiraj community venerates Peddama, a deity associated with the Yadava lineage, indicating an intertwined spiritual heritage. Similarly, the prefix ‘Are’ in community names like Are-Katika, Are-vallu, and Are-Marathi may point to a common ancestry or geographic origin. Furthermore, the nomadic Mandahechu caste’s practice of forming marriage alliances with Budiga Jangam is classified as a Scheduled Caste in Telugu-speaking States. Additionally, both Padmashalis, Devangas and Nethakanis are engaged in the weaving profession, highlighting occupational overlaps that reinforce caste boundaries rather than transcend them.

Measuring cultural poverty is another aspect of qualitative studies as it uncovers the barriers that limit access to cultural resources and opportunities, significantly impacting individuals’ identities, social mobility and overall well-being. Approaching cultural poverty requires a multidimensional framework that synergistically combines qualitative methods to capture the lived experiences of marginalised communities with quantitative measures that rigorously assess access to cultural resources and levels of community engagement. By integrating these diverse methodologies, researchers can glean involved insights into the complexities of cultural poverty and devise targeted interventions that not only empower communities but also foster cultural participation and enhance social cohesion.

Mixed Methods

In a nutshell, caste remains a deeply entrenched social determinant in India, influencing life choices from the moment of birth. The lack of detailed, current data on the caste system has long been a significant blind spot for scholars striving to understand the persistence of caste-based inequalities. A caste census could elevate this data from mere statistics to a powerful tool for examining how caste continues to affect education, employment, and social mobility.

Furthermore, integrating ethnographic accounts into the census would provide a unique opportunity to explore the intersections of caste from fresh perspectives, allowing for a deeper understanding of the complex social fabric that both binds and divides its citizens. Beyond structural analysis, the census has the potential to reveal significant socio-economic disparities along caste lines by integrating both qualitative and quantitative data.

 

Dr Ram Shepherd Bheenaveni

(The author is Vice Principal, Arts College, Osmania University)



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