COUNTING CASTE TO BE OR NOT TO BE – Prof. K. Nageshwar

The nation is debating whether or not to count caste in the ongoing census. There are divergent opinions on this sensitive subject. Even the cabinet seems to be divided on accepting this proposal put forth by several opposition parties. In fact, there are valid reasons on both sides. The government of India though resisted in the beginning, however conceded to the demand owing to political ramifications.

The caste based census was for the last time conducted in 1931. Since then, this practice was discontinued. Even after independence the caste census was not resumed though information about SC and ST population is counted. The founding fathers of Indian constitution and the leaders of early phase of post independent India must have had valid reasons for not taking up the caste census. But, this logic would not suffice to reject the demand. Yet an another explanation offered is that the 2011 census operations have already commenced and therefore it is not possible to attempt caste count now. But still this defense seems to be not convincing the advocates of caste census. The actual enumerations has not been taken up yet.

The most important fear expressed by those who are opposing the caste census is such an exercise shall perpetuate caste system. The caste polarization in the polity shall intensify. The post Mandal politics has seen caste assertion and census shall further fragment the political space in India. There are even doubts over the accuracy of the information thus collected. The enumerators, as pointed out by Home minister, lack the sociological sensitivity to collect and classify such information. Even the some people may deliberately give inaccurate information to boost up their caste constituencies. Any such inaccuracies will vitiate the entire census data. Indian census data is considered as authentic information even internationally. The census data is the basis for socio-economic planning and political activities. Therefore inaccurate census data has dangerous implications for the nation. Even if the government concedes to this demand, many advise that such an exercise should be delinked from census and should be taken up separately.

There is no uniformity in the status of caste in India. There is innumerable number of castes, sub castes, gotras, and clans. The nomenclature also varies significantly. Given this enormous diversity, caste data shall be a nightmare for those who compile and analyze the census data.

The caste is a highly subjective category. It can not be quantified. It is related to identity. Such perceptions change from time to time and place to place. For instance, the toddy tapping caste has different name in Telangana and Andhra regions. Even the pre-independent census that counted the caste did not yield uniform data due to these reasons. Therefore, the caste data collected through census can not be standardized and relied upon.

Historically , the students demands found a prominent place in the all phases of Telangana movement. The Mulki rules , the six point formula , the presidential order, the 610 GO, the Girglani commission report and their non implementation and more recently the Hyderabad Free Zone issues were central to the interests of students. Unfortunately the mainstream student movement responded to these issues only when the telangana movement forced them on the political agenda. Therefore, the students of Osmania University have direct emotional stakes in the issues thrown up by the Telangana separate state movement.

ARE STING OPERATIONS ACCEPTABLE? – Prof.K.Nageshwar

Sting operations by various television channels are a subject of debate over media ethics with the number of news channels increasing day by day, one or other television channel conducts a sting operation across the country. Some target corrupt officials. Some other sting operations chase politicians in power. Some expose the wrong doings of public life. Many such operations invade private life of high and mighty. In an age of sensationalism the sting operations have become effective means of capturing the audience. The myriad hour, multi channel television boom is propelling the phenomenon of sting operations.

THE VAISHNAVI TRAGEDY: SOME REFLECTIONS ON SOCIETY – Prof.K.Nageshwar

The brutal murder of Vaishnavi and the death of her father due to heart attack subsequently sent shock waves across the state . The woebegone story of vaishnavi plunged Vijayawada into an ocean of sorrow and grief. What should the society learn from this most tragic episode. The manner in which the crime was carried out was simply unbelievable.

The early reports suggest that family feuds owing to property conflicts is the prime motivation for this crime. The police claims that the alacrity with which the crime was resorted to virtually makes it impossible to crack down on the criminals and save the abducted girl despite their best efforts. The society does not satisfy with police explanations for the failure to protect the child but rather they want an action that could have saved her from the clutches of criminals.

SHOULD INDIA SIGN NPT? – Prof.K.Nageshwar

Pressure is mounting on India again to sign Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty with the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopting resolution-1887. This resolution called upon all the member States to sign Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Infact, India has been resisting signing this treaty for last four decades calling it discriminatory. The US president Barack Obama authored this resolution. The NPT regime differentiates the world into two categories, those who signed the NPT and the Non NPT nations. As India refused to sign NPT, India was subjected to sanctions under the strict non-proliferation regime. As a result key nuclear technologies including uranium exports were denied to India all these years. The civil nuclear cooperation agreement which India entered into with US accorded special status to us. This Indo-US Nuclear Agreement recognized India as a responsible country with advanced nuclear technologies. This special status meant indirectly recognizing India as a country which does not need to comply with the NPT. Now, the US sponsored UN resolution raises fundamental questions over the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement. This resolution clearly aims at India and Pakistan which refused to sign the NPT and those countries which are planning to come out of the NPT regime owing to US black mail such as Iran and North Korea.

LOVE AS CRIME – Prof.K.Nageshwar

Andhra Pradesh has been witnessing a spate of acid attacks on girls for last several days. Some lost their lives while others were condemned to a life of perennial trauma. Society instantaneously responds. Politicians rush to the place, consoles the victims perhaps announces exgratia. Media debates for few days. Government confines to only quick jerk reaction. But, as the time passes, society forgets. New victims, new places, yet another round of similar emotional outburst, similar media blitz. But things remain as usual. Crimes are perpetrated against innocent girls again and again. The time has now come to look at the problem at its roots. These unending incidents raise few legal, administrative, social, cultural questions before the society.

LOVE AS CRIME – Prof.K.Nageshwar

Andhra Pradesh has been witnessing a spate of acid attacks on girls for last several days. Some lost their lives while others were condemned to a life of perennial trauma. Society instantaneously responds. Politicians rush to the place, consoles the victims perhaps announces exgratia. Media debates for few days. Government confines to only quick jerk reaction. But, as the time passes, society forgets. New victims, new places, yet another round of similar emotional outburst, similar media blitz. But things remain as usual. Crimes are perpetrated against innocent girls again and again. The time has now come to look at the problem at its roots. These unending incidents raise few legal, administrative, social, cultural questions before the society.

THE WAR OF SUCCESSION – Prof.K.Nageshwar

Even two weeks after the untimely demise of Y S Rajashekhar Reddy, the war of succession continues to take a heavy toll of politics and governance of Andhra Pradesh. Neither the political pundits nor seasoned congress politicians are in a position to predict the unfolding events with some degree of certainty. This is precisely because the congress high command on one side and Jaganmohan Reddy lobby on the other are caught in an unrelenting cold war with each side sticking to its position. Who will ultimately win this war of succession? The puzzle remains unanswered until one side gets a clear lead over the other. However this enigmatic situation need not deter us from making some valid observations on the developing political situation in the state.

Y.S.RAJASEKHAR REDDY AND AFTER: THE POLITICS OF CONGRESS – Comment, Prof.K.Nageshwar

The untimely demise of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy is bound to redefine politics in the state especially within the Congress. The impulses shall also be felt at the national level. All through the history Andhra Pradesh was crucial for Congress victory at the national elections. In 1977 Loksabha elections too, when the nation saw remarkable mandate against Congress, it was Andhra Pradesh that saved the face of congress though it could not help in retaining power. Rajashekhar Reddy played a stellar role in installing UPA government at the centre. Even this time too, AndhraPradesh provided as many as 33 seats to the tally of Congress. This enabled Congress to retain power. It has infact helped to adjust more ministerial berths to its allies as the state accepted least representation in the Union Cabinet despite giving a large number of Parliament members.

THE CRISIS CALLED THE BJP – Comment- Prof.K.Nageshwar

Jaswanth Singh, Sudeendra Kulakarni, Arun Shourie, the list perhaps goes on. Vasundara Raje rises in revolt, Arun Jaitley annoyed with Rajnath Singh, the ailing patriarch disappointed over the state of affairs in the party, rightly so, the spiritual force behind the BJP warns the party leadership to tackle indiscipline firmly. The party is not plagued with differences over tackling drought or price rise. It is rather baffling that the major opposition in Indian Parliament is battling with itself as the ghost of Jinnah haunts it. Instead of fighting with the government on the concerns of people, the party that ruled the country for so many years is caught in the quagmire of historical controversies that have little or no relevance with the contemporary India.