Protests Against UGC Regulations
The Supreme Court has paused the implementation of the new UGC regulations due to concerns over potential societal division. While public debates focus on the regulations' specific merits and flaws, a deeper, more fundamental issue remains: the persistent backlash against measures aimed at addressing historical caste-based inequities.
Enduring Caste Challenges
- Caste Perception: Indian society, supported by socio-political institutions, often views caste as an outdated relic, leading to the downplaying of its contemporary impact.
- Caste Atrocities: These are often seen as isolated incidents rather than signs of a persistent, unchallenged social order.
UGC Regulations and Caste
- Objective: The draft aimed to eradicate discrimination and promote inclusion, but predominantly focused on reporting discrimination rather than addressing caste privilege.
- Policy Shortcomings: The regulations depict caste issues as exclusive to disadvantaged groups, neglecting the need for educational initiatives about privilege.
Neutrality Assumption
Sociologist Satish Deshpande highlights that the supposed neutrality of advantaged castes' privileges perpetuates caste's invisibility and persistence in modern India. Policy responses remain narrowly legalistic, failing to name caste privilege or challenge caste pride effectively.
Resistance to Protections
Resistance to caste-based protections and equity measures like reservations reflect continued institutional failures. Without addressing these, symbolic power shifts will be perceived as threats to the "general category."
Lessons from Gender Policy
- Gender Success: Indian policies on gender have succeeded by combining legal protections with public sensitization campaigns, enhancing societal acknowledgment of women's disadvantages.
- Lack in Caste Policy: Comparable efforts are lacking for caste, impeding the normalization of discourse on caste privilege.
Call to Action
- Comprehensive Approach: The state must address caste as a comprehensive institution, with educational reforms from basic schooling levels, and public campaigns challenging dominant-caste norms.
- Need for Social Reform: B R Ambedkar emphasized that political reform without social reform will not lead to lasting change.
