Raja Mihir Bhoja.The much awaited Bihar Caste Survey results were declared on October 2, 2023. The last caste census for India was done in 1931.
This survey includes Muslims under caste category and not by religion. Table 1 gives the difference in percentages.
Table 1 Caste Survey with and without Muslim Caste
|
Caste Category |
Including Muslim |
Excluding Muslim |
|
EBC |
36 |
32.5 |
|
BC |
27.1 |
25.2 |
|
SC |
19.7 |
19.7 |
|
Upper Caste so called |
15.5 |
10.7 |
|
ST |
1.7 |
1.7 |
When caste does not exist in Islam why have they done caste survey for Muslims? There could be possibly two reasons.
One, is to provide reservation to Muslims under the guise of they being EBC or BC. Two, is to understate the Muslim population in the state. As per the survey it stands at 17.7%.
Thus, EBC/BC are 57.9% of Bihar’s population and not 63.1% as is commonly spoken off.
The Constitution provides reservations for Scheduled Tribes who convert to Islam or Christianity. This needs to go. One cannot be Christian and ST both.
If you wonder why caste does not die in India, blame it on such surveys that make people constantly aware of their caste (a European word).
The deeper intent of campaigning by caste is to divide Hindu society and prevent consolidation of Hindu votes. There is an old saying ‘Divide and Rule’.
Bihar was ruled by two backward caste leaders Laloo Yadav for 15 years and Nitish Kumar, a Kurmi, is ruling since 2005 barring a short break. Wonder why they did not use their power to make the backward classes progress?
Raja Mihir Bhoja.
If Mihir Bhoja, the great king, were to live today he would belong to Other Backward Class category. So also would the Queen, who made Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Ahilyabai Holkar. Today, members of her Dhangar (shepherd) community want to move from OBC to Scheduled Tribe category.
Ahilyabai Holkar, outside Rajwada Indore. If you want caste wise break of each grouping in table1, see below table i.e. reproduced from Hindustan Times findings of Bihar’s Caste Survey. External link
Table 2 – Caste wise population courtesy Hindustan Times
|
% of Bihar Population |
|
|
EBC Economically Backward Class |
36 |
|
Momin(Muslim, Julaha/Ansari) |
3.5 |
|
Teli |
2.8 |
|
Malliah |
2.6 |
|
Dhanuk |
2.1 |
|
Noniya |
1.9 |
|
Other BC |
23 |
|
EBC excluding Muslim |
32.5 |
|
BC Backward Class |
27.1 |
|
Yadav |
14.3 |
|
Kushwaha |
4.2 |
|
Kurmi |
2.9 |
|
Baniya |
2.3 |
|
Surjapuri Muslim |
1.9 |
|
Other BC |
1.6 |
|
BC Excluding Muslim |
25.2 |
|
Scheduled Caste |
19.7 |
|
Dusadh, Dhari, Darahi |
5.3 |
|
Chamar, Mochi |
5.3 |
|
Mushar |
3.1 |
|
Pan, Sawasi, Panjar |
1.7 |
|
Paasi |
1.0 |
|
Other SC |
3.3 |
|
SC |
19.7 |
|
Upper C/Non-BC/EBC/SC/ST |
15.5 |
|
Shaikh Muslim |
3.8 |
|
Brahmin |
3.7 |
|
Rajpput |
3.5 |
|
Bhumihar |
2.9 |
|
Pathan (Khan) Muslim |
.8 |
|
Other |
1.0 |
|
Non-BC/EBC/SC/ST Excluding Muslim |
10.7 |
|
Scheduled Tribes |
1.7 |
|
Santal |
.4 |
|
Gond |
.4 |
|
Kharvar |
.2 |
|
Lohara, Lohra |
.2 |
|
Uraon, Dhangad (Uraon) |
.2 |
|
Others |
.3 |
|
ST |
1.7 |
Caste will divide India, weaken Indic Samaj and encourage conversions.
To read Bihar Caste Survey in PDF
Also read
1. Why Hindus should stop being defensive about caste?
2. A look at the complicated history of caste surveys