The quest for data – I
Do you read that line "Satyameva Jayate" on the national emblem ? The government cannot deny us access to data because a policy built on falsehood and obfuscation is bound to fail. This is why an independent judical commission as demanded by the students is the only way to go for both sides. Will a new commission be appointed (or) will such a dramatic law be guided by rhetoric and personal feelings / life stories ? Only the Supreme Court can decide that.
In the meantime, here is something for concerned bloggers to read about in the interest of getting some data ourselves if the government wont show us.We really need to move the discussions beyond personal anecdotes and dronacharya stories. Luckily this is 2006, the age of information.
———
Where are the experts ?
It seems social scientists have abandoned their duty ? They are nowhere to be seen in the current controversy. Where are all the institutes, backward classes commissions, academicians, statisticians, social scholars, when you need them most ? Can we have a discussion in the USA about a new MARS mission without anyone from NASA being involved ? How interesting or relevant would that be ? That is exactly what is happening today.
Here is a starting point, a list of commission appointed over the years. Dig up details and conclusions of each of these reports and summarize them in your blogs.
BACKWARD CLASSES COMMISSONS
1918 – 1990
Source Dr Ghosh
BACKWARD CLASSES COMMISSONS
1918 – 1990
| All India Years since last study = 26 ! |
|
| Kaka Kalelkar Commission |
1953-55 |
| B.P. Mandal Commission | 1979-80 |
Special attention must be given to Tamilnadu, because it is being touted as a success story by various politicians. The two commissions however tell a totally different tale.
| Tamil Nadu Years since last study = 20 ! These two commissons came up with startling results, and strongly recommended removing the creamy layer. Ignored by the successive governments. |
|
| A.N Sattanathan Commission |
1969-70 |
J.M. Ambasankar Commission
|
1982-86 |
The Havanur and Venkataswamy commissions created quite a bit of political storm. A lot of data can be collected from old newspapers.
| Karnataka Years since last study = 16 ! |
|
| Justice L.C. Miller Committee (Mysore) – COLONIAL Colonial commissions are supposed to be the best and most complete, even if they are 80-100 years old ! We need access to these reports ! |
1918-1920 |
| Naganna Gowda Commission | 1960-61 |
| L.G. Havanur Commission | 1972-75 |
| T. Venkataswamy Commission | 1983-86 |
| Justice Chinappa Reddy Commission | 1989-90 |
Kerala has a very good colonial era report.
| Kerala Years since last study = 36 ! (second highest) |
|
| Justice C.D. Nokes Committee (Travancore-Cochin) – COLONIAL Colonial commissions are supposed to be the best and most complete, even if they are 80-100 years old ! We need access to these reports ! |
1935 |
| V.K. Vioshvanathan Commission | 1961-63 |
| G. Kumar Pillai Commission | 1964-66 |
| N.P. Damodaran Commission | 1967-70 |
AP's reports are quite good. Any experts ?
| Andhra Pradesh Years since last study = 24 ! |
|
| Manohar Pershad Committee | 1968-69 |
| Ananta Raman Commission | 1970 |
| Muralidhara Rao Commission | 1982 |
North Indian States (included for completeness)Treat these states differently because OBC quotas for these states are in effect for only 16 years. That is another fundamental problem with the current proposal to extend OBC quotas to AIIMS/ IITs/ IIMs. The OBCs from the south especially TN and KA are into their third of fourth generation of benefits and they will easily outperform the OBCs from the north in any entrance exam.
| Bihar Years since last study = 30 ! |
|
| Mungeri Lal Commission | 1971-76 |
| Gujarat Years since last study = 19 ! |
|
| A.R. Bakshi Commission |
1972-76 |
| Justice C.V. Rane Commission | 1981-83 |
| Justice R.C. Mankad Commission | 1987 |
| Haryana Years since last study = 16 ! |
|
| Justice Gajendragadkar Commission | 1967-68 |
| Justice J.N. Wazir Commission | 1969 |
| Justice Adarsh Anand Commission | 1976-77 |
| Gurnam Singh Commission | 1990 |
| Maharashtra Years since last study = 42 ! <- We have a winner ! |
|
| O.H.B. Starte Committee (Bombay Presidency)- COLONIAL | 1928-30 |
| B.D. Deshmukh Committee | 1961-64 |
| Punjab Years since last study = 40 ! Probably not relevant due to the majority Sikh religion |
|
| Brish Bhan Committee | 1965-66 |
| Uttar Pradesh Years since last study = 29 ! |
|
| Chhedi Lal Sathi Commission | 1975-77 |
good work.see my blog for articles
and notes on the reservation issue.
I am putting up a blog in english
on reservations issue.
ravisrinivas
June 2, 2006 at 5:04 pm
You are contradicting what P. Chidambaram’s life tells him. How dare you.
barbarindian
June 2, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Good work.
rbug
June 3, 2006 at 12:16 am
it’s heartening to see my peers take up this cause.
Ultimately, somebody has to stand up and fight for our basic rights.
Indica
June 3, 2006 at 4:14 am
Excellent work. let’s all join together to throw some light on the issue
Apollo
June 4, 2006 at 1:16 pm
RC,
In this post Yogendra Yadav seems to suggest some OBCs are actually Shudras.
http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/5704._.html
Your comment on this?
Barbarindian
June 5, 2006 at 2:42 am
Bar,
Yes, I guess some OBCs actually are shudras (but not untouchables – because then they would be automatically SC). The real issue is that these OBCs get absolutely nothing from the system. Almost all benefits are cornered by the wealthy and privileged OBCs, leaving the others high and dry.
What I am finding is that the OBC classification is so messed up – it is surreal ! The inter-OBC gap even within a state is so huge that a small number of privileged communities steamroller the really needy.
A case in point : Consider the Yadava (Konar) community of TN. This community is classified as BC along with Mudaliars, Pillais, Gounders, and others. They are 80 Lakh in strength but due to being classified with the powerful and privileged OBCs they are not able to get anything out of this quota system. Their leader M. Gopalakrishnan claims that only 4 (thats right FOUR!!) students from this community entered professinal colleges in 2003!.
The case is the same for Barbers, Washermen, Cooks, many Fishing communities, the list goes on.
The Ambasankar commission found 16 years ago that only 22 of the 230+ OBC communities cornered 75-80% of seats. That number is probably worse today, only a new commission can find that out.
Meanwhile the barbers still cut hair, the cowherds are still grazing, the quota system does NOTHING for them.
realitycheck
June 5, 2006 at 4:25 am
Cant believe this….
Sweta Ram
June 5, 2006 at 10:42 am
Sweta-
Yeah it is hard to believe, but there is some truth to it.
Here is a link.
http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/09/stories/2005070913540400.htm
There is no reason to believe that Mr Gopalakrishnan is lying. This alone would be sufficient grounds to ask for a detailed study about the system. Dont you think ?
The state owes not only the open competition but the sidelined backward classes as well the data.
Based on the study the government can formulate whatever policy it finds most suitable, and that includes the current quota system.
realitycheck
June 5, 2006 at 11:37 am
Interesting news:
http://www.newkerala.com/news3.php?action=fullnews&id=3615
Unless I am mistaken, it looks like the 27% is being considered as a given. So, what happened to the new surveys etc.?
barbarindian
June 5, 2006 at 5:13 pm
You may have read this:
http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/5705.html
Barbarindian
June 6, 2006 at 12:30 am
barb,
The first link (the new kerala website) doesnt make sense ?
About the second story, yes I read that. The story has incorrect information. The DMK chief and his community (Isai Vellalars) are actually classified as MBC (not BC). So the report is wrong on that count !
realitycheck
June 6, 2006 at 2:26 pm
Well, the first link from the New Kerala website gives some political insight. Quite obviously Congress is trying to make sure it wins 2009 elections. But it can not gain true majority. To rope in the regional parties it has to give different concessions. For instance, no creamy layer guarantee to TN parties, reservation in private sector to Meira Kumar’s Samta party etc.
barbarindian
June 6, 2006 at 3:07 pm
sir, i am a modern trishanku.i have no claim on any merit.i am one of those who deluded themselves by meaningless words like socialism.your blog exposes the casteism,opportunism,anti-indian feelings,cunning and wickedness of TN politicians.for obvious reasons,you have left out their motive.Which we all know springs from tamil nationalism and chauvinism.is it not time people in other parts of india know about this.after all,THEY can accuse US of being anti tamil.it is an extremely complex problem,that touches on our innermost selves.though this might seem extraneous to reservation,it is the root problem.i think the rest of india deserves to know this.we seem to be heading for a time similar to the pre-mauryan period.mauryan inscriptions are found everywhere except in TN.Thank you again for your wonderful work,meticulously exposing chid. and co
s.murali
June 15, 2006 at 5:41 pm
Murali-
The ultimate truth (hard data) is what we must get at. Everything else will fall in place.
I am very optimistic about the Supreme Court, it will insist on data – even from TN, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.
It is the UPAs fault for not having any control over these leaders from TN. The same DMK/PMK crowd was in the NDA government for 5 long years. They never stepped out of line.
realitycheck
June 15, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Hi,
is there different classification among OBCs in Bihar? I am starting a study on OBC politics in Bihar for my PhD. I am French and I’d like to learn more about castes.
thank you,
regards.
Robin
June 22, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Robin,
I believe OBCs in Bihar are classified into BC and EBC (Extremely Backward Classes). Within each of these groups there are dominant castes.
I think the quota system there is SC 14% ST 10% BC 10% EBC 14% Women 2% (Total = 50%)
realitycheck
June 22, 2006 at 3:21 pm
The Report of Dr. chhedi Lal Sathi since kaka kalelkar on most Backward classes commission should be bublished on the web and is the Important document must be linked with the NIC.gov.com. site.
Highly recommended
Abraham lincoln
June 28, 2006 at 5:27 pm
Dr chhedi lal Sathi has worked all his life for dalits and Backward classes and presented his extencive and detailed report on Most Backward Classes and advised for 27% reservation ,as a chairman of Most backward classes commision (1975-1977).What ever happenings we are seeing in this direction ,are the outcome of his lifelong hardwork in this direction.This is my advice to publish this very important report on web and should be linked to NIC.gov.com.site .Our shradhanjalli to people like Dr Chhedi lal Sathi ,who create revolution in the society at different times for the betterment of humanity
Thanks & Regards
Dr.Garima Vashistha,Chairman
Dr.Garima Vashistha
February 19, 2007 at 6:45 am
[...] To fix this problem, you must seek data – which is the truth. Truth will always set you free. (Isnt that our national motto ? Satyameva Jayate) Any takers for that today ? [...]
Stop picking on Raje « Reality Check India
May 31, 2007 at 7:40 am
I would like Robin to get in touch with me for his interest in OBC politics in Bihar as I share his interest as a practising political sociologist. Moreover, I know a smattering of French after having done my BA in French from JNU in 1993. So, it is a good deal: French lessons in exchange for insights into OBC politics.
Manish K Thakur
September 11, 2007 at 11:07 am