Lalit Shastri

The Modi government’s decision to endorse a caste census has sent shockwaves through the country—not just politically, but civilizationally. The implications of this move go far beyond electoral calculations and social justice slogans. They strike at the very roots of our collective identity as a civilisational state built on the unifying philosophy of Sanatan Dharma. It is no exaggeration to say that this decision, if not revisited with clarity and courage, may go down in history as one of the most divisive and corrosive acts in Independent India.

The Poisonous Legacy of Caste Arithmetic
India’s caste-based reservation system originated in colonial times, shaped by the British strategy of divide and rule. Post-independence, it was meant to serve as a temporary corrective measure—a tool for uplifting the historically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Later, in 1990, the Mandal Commission extended it to include Other Backward Classes (OBCs), leading to a nationwide upheaval.

However, what began as affirmative action has metastasized into a full-fledged political industry. Today, more than 50% of India’s population is legally entitled to some form of reservation in jobs, education, or election to Parliament and the legislative Assemblies . And yet, instead of unifying the nation, this system has institutionalized grievance, legitimized caste as the principal identity marker, and laid the groundwork for perpetual fragmentation.

Caste Census: Institutionalising Division
A caste census will now provide new fuel to this fire. It risks entrenching caste identities as permanent categories sanctioned and measured by the state. While advocates argue it will ensure fair distribution of resources and representation, the deeper reality is more disturbing: it marks a return to caste consciousness as the organizing principle of Indian society, undoing decades of efforts to promote a casteless, merit-based national ethos.

The last time India conducted a caste-based census was under British rule in 1931. Post-independence, the Constituent Assembly wisely avoided this divisive route. Why now are we resurrecting this colonial relic?

Because short-term electoral gains now trump long-term national cohesion.

The Price of Appeasement: Sanatan Dharma at Stake

Let us be brutally honest: this relentless push for fragmenting Hindu society into caste-based vote banks is only weakening the spine of Sanatan Dharma. Those championing these policies fail to understand—or worse, wilfully ignore—that it is the so-called “forward” castes—Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas—who have historically shouldered the burden of preserving the sacred texts, defending dharma through centuries of invasions, and sustaining the spiritual and philosophical institutions of Hinduism.

From the 11th century onwards, wave after wave of invasions targeted temples, learning centres, and entire communities. The worst genocides and forced conversions under Islamic rule predominantly decimated the upper castes—those who refused to surrender or convert. A large segment of India’s current Muslim population traces its roots to forced conversions of other Hindu varnas. And yet, instead of recognizing this shared trauma, we are now pitting Hindu against Hindu in an endless race for quotas.

If the defenders of Sanatan Dharma, who have protected its philosophy and spirituality against all odds through several millennia, flee the country or convert out of frustration and exclusion, there will be no one left to uphold it. What follows will be civilisational suicide—like the Yadavas of Dwaraka after Krishna’s departure, the remaining factions will turn on each other, destroying themselves and what remains of their shared legacy.

Can those who reject the foundational texts of Hinduism, who see it only through the prism of oppression, ever truly uphold it? If the spiritual and intellectual stewards of Sanatan Dharma are marginalised and driven away—either abroad or into alien ideologies—who will remain to guard its eternal flame?

A Perilous Path: What Lies Ahead
The narrative being constructed today deliberately paints the so-called “forwards” as the oppressors and the rest as victims. But history is not so simplistic. The post-independence Indian state has made Herculean efforts to uplift marginalised communities—through scholarships, job reservations, legislative quotas, and welfare schemes. If after seven decades of such policies, the backwardness persists, the blame lies more with the corrupt political ecosystem than with any community.

The push toward an 80% reservation regime—openly being suggested in some quarters—leaves little room for merit, excellence, or aspiration. Worse, it sows resentment, fuels reverse discrimination, and alienates those who feel their only mistake is being born into the wrong family.

We are rapidly approaching a point of no return. If caste becomes the basis of every policy, every job, every educational opportunity, every second seat in Parliament—what remains of the dream of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam?

Let India beware: no civilisation has survived when its internal structures collapsed under the weight of factionalism. The political class may reap short-term benefits, but the long-term cost will be paid by every Indian—regardless of caste.

There is still time to reject this destructive politics. India must rise above caste census and affirmative apartheid. We must return to a society based on mutual respect, shared civilisational values, and unity in diversity—not numerical manipulation and perpetual victimhood.

Because once Sanatan Dharma falls, the soul of Bharat will not survive.