Notes of Nagesh

Nagaland’s Lesson : Census 2011’s tribal homogeneity simplified data collection, but non-tribal areas required careful handling. Nationally, SECC 2011’s inconsistent caste reporting underscores the need for standardization. Application to Caste Census : A caste census must produce reliable, actionable data, avoiding SECC’s pitfalls of unverified or duplicative caste entries. Strategies : Legal Framework : Amend the Census Act, 1948, to mandate caste enumeration and standardize categories, as recommended by experts and supported by the 2025 approval. Predefined Categories : Develop a national caste database in consultation with state governments and caste associations, building on Nagaland’s consultation with tribal bodies. Pilot Surveys : Test enumeration in diverse states (e.g., Bihar for caste complexity, Nagaland for tribal focus) to refine methods, mirroring Nagaland’s phased approach.

By Nagesh Bhushan The Census 2011 in Nagaland stands as a model of effective data collection in a culturally unique and geographically challenging region, driven by robust community participation and strategic public awareness campaigns. With India’s government approving caste enumeration for the upcoming census—the first comprehensive caste count since 1931— Nagaland’s experience offers a blueprint for implementing a caste census nationwide.  Census 2011 in Nagaland: A Triumph of Community Engagement The Process Nagaland’s Census 2011, conducted in two phases—house listing (April–June 2010) and population enumeration (February–March 2011)—achieved remarkable success through community involvement. The state’s Directorate of Census Operations launched extensive pre-census awareness campaigns to educate its 1.98 million residents, 71% of whom live in rural areas. These campaigns were critical in a state dominated by Scheduled Tribes (STs, 86.5%) and characterized by linguistic divers...

By Sanjay Jha The entire country and the whole Opposition backed the NDA government led by the BJP on whatever options it exercised following the brutal massacre of 26 people in #Pahalgam by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists on April 22, 2025. I have rarely seen such unanimous backing, cutting across partisan party lines and political preferences. #OperationSindoor commenced in the wee hours of May 7 2025,  but within three days a formal #ceasefire was abruptly announced wef 1700 pm IST between India and Pakistan on May 10, 2025.  As an ordinary citizen of my country, based on my conversations with many well-meaning and concerned people, I feel it is my responsibility to raise these questions. I am keeping it extremely succinct. 1) Why did US President Donald #Trump (ironically, someone who wants to capture #Canada and annex #Greenland) have to make the announcement of a cease-fire from our side on X ( Twitter) ? Has India surrendered its avowed commitment to the #ShimlaAgreement ...

A robust public awareness campaign is critical for the success of a caste census, as it builds trust, clarifies objectives, and encourages participation. Below are detailed strategies to enhance public awareness, tailored to the context of a caste census in India, ensuring inclusivity, transparency, and engagement across diverse populations: 1. Multilingual and Localized Communication Strategy : Develop campaign materials in all major Indian languages (e.g., Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu) and regional dialects, ensuring accessibility for linguistic minorities. Execution : Translate key messages about the census’s purpose, process, and benefits into local languages. Use culturally relevant idioms and examples to resonate with regional audiences. Partner with local media outlets (radio, newspapers, TV) to disseminate messages in vernacular languages. Impact : Ensures comprehension and relatability, especially in rural and non-Hindi-speaking areas. 2. Multimedia Campaigns Strategy : Lever...

Why India must get the Caste Census right  Counting caste is a mirror to the lived realities of millions and a vital step toward evidence-based policymaking Updated - May 12, 2025 01:38 am IST K. ASHOK VARDHAN SHETTY ‘Collection of caste data must go beyond the decennial Census’ Source : https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/why-india-must-get-the-caste-census-right/article69564756.ece The Narendra Modi government’s decision to include caste enumeration in the next Census is one that is bold, transformative and commendable. Counting caste is not capitulation to identity politics. It is a mirror to the lived realities of millions. It marks a vital step towards evidence-based policymaking to build a more just and inclusive India. A nation that refuses to see itself cannot hope to heal itself. Post-Independence, India attempted to abolish caste while simultaneously pursuing social justice — a textbook example of policy schizophrenia, as the two goals are fundamentally incompatibl...

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-05-08/a-caste-census-will-reveal-india-s-worst-kept-secret The hierarchical identity system continues to divide society — nearly 100 years after calls for its abolition. May 9, 2025 at 1:30 AM GMT+5:30 By Andy Mukherjee Andy Mukherjee is a Bloomberg Opinion For the first time in nearly 100 years, India will get 1.4 billion people to name their caste in a census. Presenting the biggest obstacle to India’s embrace of modernity, the caste system divides Hindus into rigid categories that govern every aspect of life. The last successful exercise to record this ancient, hierarchical social identity, conducted by British colonial rulers in 1931, threw up more than 4,000 answers. (There was another attempt in 2011, but it didn’t quite work; an open-ended question generated 4.6 million replies. The government decided the caste data was worthless.) Bloomberg Opinion For people to discard this abhorrent marker, it’s important for the state ...

Example: The beauty of the mountain view was ineffable, beyond words. 📌#BeyondWords 📌#Indescribable 📌#TooBeautifulForWords 📌#Unexpressable Ineffable is typically great or extreme, but that is not the reason you cannot put it in words.  The reason is that the experience completely transcends what language can express. It basically feels like a moment out of this world. You are tongue-tied when you try to put it into words. Nothing you try works, every single word just outright fails. The phrase " Abhorringly Ineffable " evokes a powerful duality: something simultaneously repulsive and beyond the reach of language, stirring both visceral discomfort and an indescribable awe.  The decaying grandeur of an abandoned cathedral, its crumbling spires piercing a storm-laden sky, is abhorringly ineffable, repelling with its ruin yet mesmerizing in its silent majesty. The spectacle of a city’s underbelly, where poverty festers amid neon excess, strikes the observer as abhorringly in...