tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15602189.post7216892295753630090..comments2023-09-21T16:17:51.838+05:30Comments on Law and Other Things: Gail Omvedt on the need for a caste-based censusAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09348738084817273397noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15602189.post-48902302252562723182007-04-21T09:31:00.000+05:302007-04-21T09:31:00.000+05:30Mr. Srinivas, you point to very valid problems tha...Mr. Srinivas, you point to very valid problems that will have to be overcome if Omvedt's suggestion is to be acted upon, but I am unsure whether this by itself acts as an argument against undertaking a survey at all. It seems only logical that if the government is going to go about reserving seats on such a large scale, there should be data to back up its policy.<BR/><BR/>Even if one is opposed to quotas altogether, there may be independent value in having a good sense of the changing nature of caste patterns and stratification in Indian society. However much one would wish for erasing caste as a measure of social identity in India (and not everyone is agreed that that is a desirable objective, given that at least for some people caste identities are empowering), recent debates have shown that we are very far from that reality. <BR/><BR/>Because of the problems you highlight, actually conducting a survey rigorously will be a herculean task, and those tasked with conducting the survey should be provided with sufficient resources and expertise to be able to do their job well. At the very least, the surveyors will have to have the benefit of the expertise of sociologists and regional experts to assist and guide their work.Arun Thiruvengadamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15902119597448574508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15602189.post-50184292998553133012007-04-20T10:32:00.000+05:302007-04-20T10:32:00.000+05:30Caste in India means different things in different...Caste in India means different things in different contexts.The governments list(s) of caste and<BR/>what people perceive need not<BR/>(and I think will not) be the same.<BR/>Most people go to extent of identifying themselves with sub-caste/sub-groups although the<BR/>official nomenclature can be different. For example a person<BR/>can say that I am an Iyer and <BR/>refer to the sub-classification<BR/>within Iyers.Some castes have<BR/>many sub-castes/sub-groups,<BR/>perhaps too numerous to create<BR/>confusion.So where do we start<BR/>and stop.Should be collect data<BR/>only for Brahimns and end with<BR/>that or should we go to second<BR/>and third level classification<BR/>(e.g.Brahmin->iyer->vadama).<BR/><BR/>Many sub-castes may be identifying<BR/>themselves in terms of broader<BR/>classification for many reasons.<BR/>And how does one set the boundary<BR/>for that category 'caste'. Is there an uniform description<BR/>for caste.There are Hindu Nadars,<BR/>Christian Nadars, Hindu Reddys,<BR/>Christian Reddys.I am told that<BR/>in Goa there are Christian Brahmins.So where does religion<BR/>and caste begin/end in such classifications and categories.ரவி ஸ்ரீநிவாஸ்https://www.blogger.com/profile/10176389904737294055noreply@blogger.com