Controversy over “Christian castes” shrouds Karnataka census

The form for the census, which will begin on 22 September, includes a list of caste names associated with the adjective “Christian”. The BJP opposes the local Congress-led government: ‘This opens the door to the admission of Christians among disadvantaged groups.’ Archbishop Machado: ‘We have told the faithful to choose freely whether to identify with one of these groups or to declare themselves simply as Christians. But it is essential to cooperate with the census.’

Bangalore (AsiaNews) - The inclusion of a list of sub-castes associated with the adjective ‘Christian’ in the draft of a special census that will begin locally on 22 September is raising bitter political controversy in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Promoted by the local government, led by the Congress Party, the Social and Educational Survey – popularly known as the ‘caste census’ – aims to reach all 70 million inhabitants of this Indian state door-to-door by 7 October. And it is reviving the long-standing controversy over the right of Christians to be admitted to the rights guaranteed to economically disadvantaged groups.

The draft list published by the Karnataka State Commission for Disadvantaged Classes includes 47 ‘sub-castes’ that have the adjective Christian next to their traditional name (Kuruba Christian, Vokkaliga Christian, Billava Christian, Brahmin Christian, Ediga Christian, Maadiga Christian, Lambani Christian...). The list is seen as a step towards inclusion among the so-called Scheduled Castes, disadvantaged groups currently reserved only for people of the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faiths.

BJP leaders in Karnataka have submitted a memorandum to Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, calling for the removal of Christian sub-castes from the list.

They also requested that the head of the local government, Siddaramaiah, explicitly state that those who have converted to Christianity will not be entitled to the benefits of reservations, as provided for in the 1950 Presidential Ordinance, which excludes them as it does Muslims.

Siddaramaiah responded by downplaying the issue of Christians being associated with Hindu caste names in the census: ‘This census serves to identify the social and educational disadvantages of the population, including their religious affiliation.’ He added that the census will help to design ‘scientific and equitable’ welfare policies through specific actions, without clarifying whether the ‘new Christian castes’ will be entitled to the benefits of the reservations.

For his part, Madhusudhan Naik, current chairman of the Scheduled Caste Commission, said: ‘The census is based on self-declaration and we will record what people declare. We will not guide them in choosing their religion or caste. The commission will decide how to classify the data once the collection is complete.’

Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, vice-president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CCBI), comments to AsiaNews: ‘In India, caste consciousness and stigma remain a profound issue,’ he says.

"Being a system born in Hindu society, conversion to another religion should naturally have erased all traces of it. But religion and piety are one thing, living in society is another. The situation of groups previously classified as lower castes has not improved at all. Critics argue that including Christian converts in caste categories will deprive Hindus of their legitimate benefits. But this is not fair: Christians, being legitimate citizens of this country, cannot be discriminated against in social and economic benefits because of their religious faith. Everyone must be equal before the law."

Regarding the specific issue of the caste census in Karnataka, Bishop Machado explains that the local Church "has strongly recommended that the faithful not miss this census, which will report accurate data on the percentage of all citizens, including Christians, in the state. As for the registration of castes, individuals are free to declare themselves under the category they deem appropriate, or to avoid any identification with a specific group, simply defining themselves as “Christians”. We leave the choice to the people, but it is essential to cooperate with the census staff and register one's data."