Hype around Patidar demand for reservation: Will India become confederation of castes?

By Martin Macwan*
The current agitation in Gujarat for the inclusion of Patidar, popularly known as Patel – a considered a ‘forward’ caste – in the list of other backward castes (OBCs) category has sanctioned the importance of caste in India once again. What is particularly important to note is that the agitation is supported by other ‘forward’ caste organizations, too.
The myth that the ‘higher caste’ status brings in privileges has shattered. For, it is clear, based on the experiential perception of the agitators, that caste offers an equal status to all its members but not the equal living conditions. Still more important, the agitation is led by the educated youth with prominent number of women participants.

Is the Ambedkarite dream for annihilation of caste a step closer where, after almost seven decades of national independence, recognizing the futility of the ‘higher’ caste status, the ‘forward’ caste has taken resort to the street agitation to be derecognized as ‘forward caste’ and be recognized as a backward caste by the state?

Patidar reservation agitators in North Gujarat projecting Sardar Patel as their hero

There is no doubt that, in the context of the Supreme Court ruling that reservation should not exceed 50% mark, the castes currently in the list of the OBC shall feel threatened for valid apprehensions that, in the event of the Patidar getting the OBC status, most seats in higher education and job opportunities under the concerned quota will be usurped by Patidars, given their social, economic and political clout in the state.
The ruling party in Gujarat with a Patidar chief minister and half a dozen ministers in the state cabinet is worried for a number of reasons: First of all, the agitation is born in their rule of the state of about one and half decades.
Secondly, Gujarat as the ‘model state’ in the country had the Patidar symbol as a dominant representation to showcase growth and development.
Thirdly, Patidars as a consolidated vote bank has been the chief pillar for the BJP’s own growth in the state. The Patidar agitation questions the state claim of growth and development, where even the higher caste status and higher representation in governance do not help the educated youth to fight unemployment.
And finally, given the claim of the Patidars that they constitute 40% of State population, should they be awarded the OBC status, the representation of SC, ST and OBC would rise to 85-90%.
Patidars have justified their agitation on the ground that they are merely following in the footsteps of Jains, the predominantly wealthy forward caste group in Gujarat, who constitute less than 1% of the state population, have been awarded a minority status. Sociologically, the new development signifies that, within the larger Hindu’ family, the Jains are a distinct minority, and to that extent they are not Hindus. The basis for their minority status is religious.

It is the same argument – ‘depressed classes (Dalits) are not Hindu’ – that Dr Ambedkar had used with the British to secure reservation for the scheduled castes (SCs). The chief difference in the case of Jains, besides being non-Hindu, is that they are not ‘untouchables’.
One wonders had Gandhi been alive what stand would he have taken; he went on indefinite fast against the demand of Dr Ambedkar for separate electorate on the ground that he would never allow division of Hindus.
Another important and chief difference to be recognized in comparison of the struggle of the scheduled castes and Patidars for securing reservation lies in its genesis. The rationale for the SC reservation were based on the “injustice meted out to the community in the past”, whereas in the case of Patidars, who rose from Sudra status in Gujarat to the forward caste status, the rationale is presented in the form of consequences for failure of the state-sponsored development.
The logic seems to become the basis of new caste-based consciousness emerging in Gujarat. Already a public rally has been organized by the Kshatriyas demanding reservation, and they are now planning a second rally. News coming in can be seen from other groups, such as the Brahmins, demanding reservation.

Reservation seems in the perception of the people, irrespective of their caste, as the only way to secure representation in higher education and jobs.
There is little doubt that a great deal of caste-based mobilization demanding reservation across country will intensify, once the data of caste census will become public. The hype over reservation is likely to become nail in the coffin of secularism in India, where division and caste consolidation are likely to become a dominant political discourse.
Does national planning deserve a relook?
—
*Founder, Navsarjan Trust, Ahmedabad; director, Dalit Shakti Kendra, Sanand

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

The Vande Mataram debate and the politics of manufactured controversy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

The cost of being Indian: How inequality and market logic redefine rights

By Vikas Gupta We, the people of India, are engaged in a daily tryst—read: struggle—for basic human rights. For the seemingly well-to-do, the wish list includes constant water supply, clean air, safe roads, punctual public transportation, and crime-free neighbourhoods. For those further down the ladder, the struggle is starker: food that fills the stomach, water that doesn’t sicken, medicines that don’t kill, houses that don’t flood, habitats at safe distances from polluted streams or garbage piles, and exploitation-free environments in the public institutions they are compelled to navigate.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Search This Blog