"Share, Dignity, Power"(Quota, Self-respect, Authority)

"Share, Dignity, Power"

(Quota, Self-respect, Authority) – These are the slogans of the BC movement.

T. Chiranjivulu IAS (Retd)
President, BC Intellectuals Forum

In the poem Bharatavani, the renowned Telangana poet Alishetty Prabhakar wrote, “How many buildings adorned with ornaments, covered by green revolutions, Bharatavani is merely a cage of wealth, and the present is a cry of anguish.” This is true indeed. Even though India is the fifth-largest economy in the world today, the annual per capita income of the common person does not exceed 30,000 to 40,000 rupees. All the wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few. The lives of BCs, SCs, and STs have become unbearable due to the lack of food to eat. Here, along with state power, the caste system and varna system have physically, mentally, economically, culturally, and politically enslaved Shudras and Ati-Shudras, brutally suppressing them and destroying them in every way. Even though 75 years have passed since the Indian Constitution came into effect, there has been no significant social change in the lives of BCs. Social justice remains an unattainable dream for them.

In independent India, BCs—once known as Shudras—constitute 60% of the population, yet they remain backward in all fields. Despite being the majority, they are not partners in political power but have been reduced to beggars. Unlike the upper castes, BCs lack social status, economic strength, and political support. Similarly, unlike SCs and STs, they do not have constitutional protections. Caught in the middle, they are unable to progress and are suffering immensely. This deplorable condition must come to an end. That is why the BC movement has come to the forefront today.

In Telangana, the BC movement is creating ripples today. The primary reason for this is the suppression and marginalization of BCs in all fields in the state. It is a historical truth that movements arise from oppression. The BC movement is fundamentally tied to three aspects: existence, self-respect, and development.

BC Existence

This depends on the historical, social, economic, and political conditions of the country.

a) Social and Historical Background of BC Existence

In the hierarchical caste system of Indian society, castes were divided based on occupations. Historically, many castes were denied education and became socially backward. Brahmanical Manuvadi scriptures declared Shudras ineligible for education, keeping them away from it socially. With the state’s endorsement of this Brahmanical Manuvad, the lives of Dalits and Shudras were pushed into the abyss. After independence, the Constitution identified BCs as socially and educationally backward classes, providing reservations in education and jobs. However, these reservations were not implemented in central government jobs until 1993 and in state education and jobs until 1973. As a result, BCs could not secure many of the jobs created in the early years of independence. Even today, BCs do not occupy 27% of central government jobs; their share is only 23%. Reservations were not provided in central educational institutions until 2008. Thus, social justice remains an unattainable fruit for them. Schemes have not been implemented with sincerity, and BCs continue to face social discrimination, exploitation, and oppression by upper castes. While the prominence of BCs is increasing in some states, complete equality in society has not yet been achieved. The majority of the population remains backward and in a pitiable state.

b) Economic Sphere

Manu’s unjust scriptures taught that Shudras should not own property and must serve the other three varnas. As a result, BCs became a class dependent solely on labor. Post-independence, despite growing opportunities in industries, businesses, and self-employment, their share remains nominal. Most industries and businesses, supported by political power, have gone into the hands of upper and dominant castes. The majority of BCs have lost their traditional caste-based occupations and turned into daily wage laborers. Suicides have become a daily occurrence. While some BC groups have progressed economically, most live in a deplorable state.

c) Cultural Sphere

Every BC caste has its own unique culture. BCs are not a homogeneous group but a collection of diverse occupations. Over the past 77 years, industrialization, globalization, and technological advancements have destroyed their traditional occupations. Their artistic way of life and cultural beauty have been damaged. The relationships of labor, capital, and production have changed, forcing them to migrate to distant urban areas, abandon their traditional caste occupations, and take up daily wage work in dire circumstances. They have adapted to modern lifestyles, but joint family systems and communal living have been disrupted. Cultural destruction has occurred, and they struggle to fit into modern systems.

d) Political Sphere

In some states, BC leaders hold significant positions, but in the Telugu states, they have never received due importance. In today’s democratic system, BC representation in key legislative bodies like the Lok Sabha and state assemblies is negligible. They have become mere laborers carrying the flags and agendas of political parties dominated by upper castes. They have been reduced to beggars seeking positions. There is no unity among BC castes or even within castes, as they are divided along party lines. They have lost their identity and individuality. To reclaim this lost identity, they need a strong ideological foundation. This ideology must instill confidence in them, break their slave mentality, teach them to question, and eliminate their sense of inferiority. For this, the ideologies and thoughts of Phule, Ambedkar, and Kanshi Ram must be instilled in them. The history of struggles by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sahu Maharaj, Periyar, Narayana Guru, Sarvai Paparayudu, Panduga Sayanna Mudiraj, Chakali Ailamma, and Doddi Komarayya must be shared. Inspired by their heroic tales and sacrifices, they must awaken a new political consciousness to reclaim their lost identity and power. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar said that political power in a democracy is the solution to all problems. BCs must prepare for political struggles and develop BC consciousness. With this consciousness, wealthy BCs must enter politics. Only then will their existence gain recognition, and political power will come into their hands.

2. BC Self-Respect

Every human being has self-respect, but Hindu scriptures labeled Shudras as servants of the other three varnas, damaging their dignity. Even today, many BC groups are trapped in Manuvadi Brahmanical ideology, accustomed to physical and mental slavery. Their self-respect must be awakened. Education, economic independence, social unity, and political representation are key to this. Only when the BC community progresses in all fields will the nation benefit, a fact everyone must realize.

3. BC Development

Over the past 77 years, some schemes have been introduced for BC development, but the change in their lives has been minimal. With political power in the hands of upper castes, these schemes have not been implemented sincerely. BCs have been pushed into a state of dependency on handouts. The crumbs thrown by upper and dominant caste governments have become their lifeline. The reason is the lack of political power in BC hands. Therefore, BCs must vote for their own candidates, elect BC representatives, and seize political power. Only then will development be possible.

In any movement, slogans reflecting the people’s needs serve as its core, penetrating the masses and awakening them. These become the movement’s taglines. The armed struggle in Telangana was for land, livelihood, and liberation. Similarly, Komaram Bheem fought for water, forest, and land. The recent Telangana movement was for water, funds, and jobs. Today’s BC struggle is for Hissa (share), Izzat (dignity), and Hukumat (power).

Hissa (Share)

Suppressed in all fields, BCs are rising to demand their rightful share, saying, “What’s ours is ours.” Education lights up their lives and shows the way to eradicate poverty. Parents toil to educate their children, but today, these children either remain unemployed or take up petty jobs as gig workers. Privatization, globalization, and liberalization have reduced public sector jobs, severely affecting them. The lack of reservations proportional to their population has also contributed to their plight. While SCs and STs have reservations based on their population, and even the 12% upper castes have 10% EWS reservations, the 61% BCs (including Muslims) have only 27%. Where is the social justice in this? Population-based reservations for BCs are possible only with political power.

Funds

In today’s market economy, labor exploitation of BCs continues. While upper and dominant castes, with political backing, plunder natural resources and become billionaires, BCs depend on pensions and ration cards. Governments spend nominal amounts on welfare and development while boasting about it. For instance, in Telangana, over the past 10 years, Rs. 6,023 crore was allocated to 12 BC corporations, but only Rs. 319 crore was spent. The central government, with a Rs. 50 lakh crore budget, spends just Rs. 2,000 crore on BC economic development. This is why the lives of nomadic, semi-nomadic, service, and occupational BC castes have become unbearable.

Like SCs and STs, BCs need a sub-plan with funds allocated based on their population. They must demand and fight for their share in education, jobs, politics, economics, and justice.

Izzat (Dignity)

BC children say honor is more important than life. They possess a personality that keeps its word and a life of values. But how long will they live these enslaved lives, remain in a begging state, and tolerate injustices? The time to resist is near. Facing discrimination in all fields, BC children need to build mental strength and courage to enhance their dignity. It must be conveyed that BCs are not backward classes but brilliant castes. If there’s no one to resist, the oppressor rules. BC leaders in various political parties must question their party elders about the injustices faced by BCs. Instead of being slaves or tools of parties, live with dignity. Help if you can, but don’t become obstacles to BC development due to party ideologies. In a democracy, the majority should rule. BCs must unite, seize power from upper and dominant castes, live with dignity, and die with dignity. They must herald a social revolution and transformation. They must realize that if they fight, they lose nothing but their chains.

Hukumat (Power)

A society without representation in political power perishes. For too long, we’ve knocked on the system’s doors seeking justice but gained nothing. “Now is the time to break those doors,” said Kanshi Ram. Recognize that political power is the solution to all problems.

In 77 years, not a single BC has become Chief Minister in Telangana due to their negligible representation in the Assembly and the conspiracies of upper and dominant castes. Today, Hindu BCs are 51% in Telangana, but there are only 19 BC MLAs in the Assembly. Upper castes, less than 10%, have 62 MLAs. Without increased political representation, BCs cannot progress. They need their rightful political share, not just in assemblies but also in Parliament and local bodies. Leadership is crucial for BCs. Awakening them with the slogan “Our votes, our seats” and leading them to seize power is this movement’s goal.

“May all people be happy.”

(Sarvejana Sukhino Bhavantu)