Muslim population caste census: The decision of caste census by the Narendra Modi government at the Center is being considered a historical and revolutionary step. This initiative will not only evaluate the social structure and status of Hindu castes, but for the first time the castes within the Muslim community will also be detailed. Till now Muslims have been recorded only as a religious group, which did not provide clear information on social and economic variations within them. This census will reveal concrete figures related to the social, economic and educational status of the castes of the Muslim community, which can become an important basis for policy making and social justice.
It is expected about the caste census that this will stop the tradition of seeing the Muslim community as uniform vote bank. Till now, political equations have been created by considering this community as a religious group, which has promoted the politics of appeasement, but now that caste diversity will be exposed within Muslim society like Hindu society, the perception of that uniformity will be broken. The biggest impact of this initiative can be on the Pasmanda Muslim community, which is about 85 percent of the Muslim society. Despite being socially and economically backward, Pasmanda Muslims have neither received enough political representation nor concrete steps towards social justice. His caste identity was never counted seriously. But through caste census, now the figures of their actual status will be revealed, which will make it difficult to ignore their voice.
A step that shook the equations of power
The tricks of politics are no longer limited to the debates. Now preparations are being made to shake the walls of power with the strength of the figures. There is a call for a new calculation in the eyes of the Center and the states – caste census within Muslim society. Once this calculation is completed, millions of Pasmanda Muslims of India who were still on the most margins of the society – they will be fully prepared to demand social and political stake on their numbers. The glimpse of this strategy has already been found. In Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma government conducted a caste survey within the Muslim community last year. outcome? A step announced to give the status of Scheduled Tribes (ST) to the “original Muslims” of Assam, which shook the equations of power.
Not one of the 32 Waqf boards of the country
Despite all this, the question arises, is it just an attempt for social justice, or a new political game? Can caste census also dig new gaps within Muslim society? The streets of power are whisper. Pasmanda society now wants rights, not just sympathy. And perhaps his count can become the biggest weapon in the upcoming elections. India, where every section is important in the politics of votes, a section is still marginalized Muslims. A truth that pricks. There is not a single Pasmanda Muslim voice in 32 Waqf boards of the country. Neither representation, nor partnership as if a unannounced lockout has been done on their rights.
Pasmanda no longer wants only counting stake
The Waqf Board which manages the properties and resources of Muslim society has decisions, but without Pasmanda society. But now this silence is broken. The Modi government recently made a major change in the Waqf Amendment Act. For the first time, it was legalized that Pasmanda society should also represent the Waqf boards. The law says that now it will be mandatory to have at least two Pasmanda representatives in every Waqf Board. As much as this decision is being considered a step towards social justice, the start of a new chapter of politics. Will this change take Pasmanda society to the door of Waqf’s power? Or will it remain just another showy promise? The questions are many, but the indication is clear that now Pasmanda wants a stake, not just counting.
