Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Caste away: On the Court and caste count

Caste away: On the Court and caste count

People must have the option to state that they are casteless (जातिरहित) in the Census (जनगणना)

The Supreme Court was not wrong to dismiss (खारिज करना, अस्वीकार करना) a petition that sought to stall (रोकना, विलंब करना) the caste census, which is part of the ongoing (जारी, चल रहा) Census 2027. The Chief Justice of India remarked (टिप्पणी करना, कहना), in support of (के समर्थन में) the caste count (जातिगत गणना), that “any government of the day (तत्कालीन सरकार, वर्तमान सरकार) must know how many people are backward (पिछड़ा, वंचित) and how many need welfare (जनकल्याण)”. In April 2025, the Narendra Modi government had made a turnaround to announce caste enumeration (counting, calculation, census, tallying) alongside (साथ-साथ, के साथ) the fresh census, the first such exercise since 1931. Mr. Modi had earlier derided (उपहास करना, मज़ाक उड़ाना) the idea as a sign of (के संकेत के रूप में) “urban Naxal (a controversial political label used by the state to stigmatize urban intellectuals, activists, and academics accused of providing ideological cover or logistical support to the Maoist insurgency; left-wing sympathizer, radical intellectual, insurgent backer, dissident)” thinking, and the RSS had warned that such surveys were attempts to fracture (break or cause to break or separate into parts; divide, split, fragment, splinter) Hindu society. The Congress, too, had made a dramatic  (striking, remarkable, substantial, significant) turnaround (an unexpected change, reversal, or shift in policy or circumstances; reversal, U-turn) in its historical (belonging to the past or rooted in history; traditional, past, established, long-standing) position (stance, standpoint, viewpoint, perspective) to demand a caste census. Early governments of independent India decided not to enumerate (mention a number of things one by one; count, tally, list, itemize) caste with the census. The dominant (most important, powerful, or influential; prevailing, main, primary, major) thinking (a person’s ideas or opinions; mindset, ideology, belief, viewpoint) then was that counting caste communities would only reinforce (strengthen, fortify, bolster, underpin) the institution (an established law, practice, or custom; system, practice, custom, tradition) of caste that the state (articulate, say, tell, declare, voice, mention, indicate) wanted to dismantle (break down, demolish, take apart, deconstruct). On the one hand (used to introduce the first of two contrasting points; firstly, from one point of view, as a primary consideration, initially), state policies sought to create a casteless society, while on the other (used to introduce the second of two contrasting points; conversely, alternatively, secondly, on the flip side), they also accounted for caste identities for positive discrimination (the practice or policy of favouring individuals belonging to groups known to have been discriminated against previously; affirmative action, preferential treatment, equal opportunity, fair consideration) in legislative (having the power to make laws; law-making, parliamentary, policy-making, governmental) representation (the action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being represented; presence, involvement, participation, inclusion) and employment. This dual (consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects; double, twofold, two-part, twin) approach to caste that was baked into the nation’s founding principles (the core values and fundamental beliefs upon which a country is established; core values, foundational ideals, fundamental tenets, constitutional ethos) has created a paradox (a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition; contradiction, inconsistency, incongruity, conflict) that continues to this day. The clamour (a strongly expressed demand or complaint from a large number of people; demand, outcry, uproar, appeal) for a caste census is the latest manifestation (sign, indication, expression, demonstration) of it.

The Census itself has been long overdue (delayed, belated, past due, long-awaited). The decennial (recurring every ten years; ten-yearly, decadal, tenth-year, decade-long) population survey (a statistical investigation measuring the demographics of an area; demographic study, census, enumeration, statistical count) was originally due (expected, scheduled, anticipated, required) in 2021 but was delayed by the COVID-19 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); coronavirus disease) pandemic (the worldwide spread of a new disease affecting a large number of people; widespread disease, global epidemic, global contagion, plague) and logistical (relating to the organization and planning of a complex operation; organizational, operational, administrative, planning-related) hurdles (obstacle, difficulty, impediment, barrier). The caste enumeration will take place (happen, occur, transpire, unfold) in the second phase and will involve (entail, require, necessitate, encompass) asking every individual their caste, rather than (instead of, as opposed to, in contrast to, over) merely (just; only; solely; only, just, simply, purely) recording whether they belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, as in (like, similar to, just as, much like) previous Censuses. The delay in the Census has a bearing on planning of all sorts (including a variety of different types; of all kinds, of every description, various, diverse). In India, a considerable (substantial, significant, sizeable, notable) portion of state policy (a strategy or official course of action implemented by a government; government strategy, official course of action, public policy, administrative directive) is directly or indirectly linked to the caste profile (a demographic breakdown or summary of data based on caste lines; caste composition, caste data, caste statistics, demographic breakdown) of the target group. The one attempt at a post-Independence (occurring or existing after a country has gained its independence; after independence, post-colonial, subsequent to freedom, post-liberation) national caste count came in 2011. The open-ended (unrestricted, unconditional, indefinite, flexible) caste identification (the process of determining or categorising someone’s caste belonging; caste classification, social categorization, group assignment, demographic tagging) process of the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, commenced the SECC in 2011 through a comprehensive door-to-door enumeration to generate information on a large number of social and economic indicators relating to households across the country) produced over 46 lakh distinct (clear, specific, separate, unique) caste names and 8 crore data errors (a factual or mathematical mistake within recorded information; factual mistake, inaccuracy, statistical flaw, miscalculation), rendering (provide or give; cause to be or become; make, cause to be, leave, transform into) the dataset unusable. Most of its findings (information discovered as the result of an inquiry or investigation; result, conclusion, discovery, outcome) remain unpublished. The Modi government is still grappling with the challenge of finding the appropriate (suitable, proper, fitting, right) methodology for an accurate enumeration of caste communities. A caste census detracts from the effort to eradicate (destroy completely; put an end to; eliminate, remove, destroy, root out) caste as it ossifies (cease developing or become stagnant; become rigid, become fixed, solidify, firm up in attitude or position) identities, but is helpful if viewed alongside other socioeconomic (relating to the interaction of social (position, rank, or importance) and economic (income, pay, and wealth) aspects) indices to better target welfare measures (a plan or course of action taken to achieve a particular purpose; action, step, procedure, protocol) and ensure representation. The annihilation (complete destruction or obliteration; destruction, eradication, elimination, wiping out) of caste must remain a goal, and people must be allowed to classify (categorize, group, designate, label) themselves as casteless if they so wish (to have a desire or inclination to act in a certain way; desire to do so, want to do so, choose to do so, prefer to).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.casteless (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - जातिरहित
English Meaning - having no caste distinction or prejudice; without caste, egalitarian, undivided, unstratified.

2.Census (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जनगणना
English Meaning - official count or survey of a population; population count, enumeration, demographic survey.

3.dismiss (verb)

Hindi Meaning - खारिज करना, अस्वीकार करना
English Meaning - reject, throw out, discard, brush aside.

4.seek (verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रयास करना, खोज करना
English Meaning - attempt to find or achieve something; attempt, try, aim, strive.

5.stall (verb)

Hindi Meaning - रोकना, विलंब करना
English Meaning - stop, obstruct, delay, halt, impede.

6.ongoing (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - जारी, चल रहा
English Meaning - continuing; still in progress; underway, current, active, proceeding.

7.remark (verb)

Hindi Meaning - टिप्पणी करना, कहना
English Meaning - comment, state, mention, observe.

8.as a sign of (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - के संकेत के रूप में
English Meaning - as an indication of, as a mark of, symbolizing, indicating.

9.in support of (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - के समर्थन में
English Meaning - giving help, encouragement, or backing to someone or something; in favour of, backing, defending, supporting.

10.caste count (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जातिगत गणना
English Meaning - the demographic enumeration of various caste groups within a population; caste census, caste enumeration.

11.government of the day (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - तत्कालीन सरकार, वर्तमान सरकार
English Meaning - it refers to the government that is existing at a particular period of time, or the political party/coalition with a majority in the legislature; incumbent government, ruling dispensation, current administration, regime.

12.backward (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - पिछड़ा, वंचित
English Meaning - socially or educationally disadvantaged; disadvantaged, underprivileged, marginalized.

13.welfare (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जनकल्याण
English Meaning - statutory procedure or social effort designed to promote the basic physical and material well-being of people in need; social security, public assistance, well-being, social protection.

14.alongside (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - साथ-साथ, के साथ
English Meaning - along with, together with, side by side with, next to.

15.deride (verb)

Hindi Meaning - उपहास करना, मज़ाक उड़ाना
English Meaning - express contempt for; mock, ridicule, scoff at, make fun of.

16.turnaround (noun)

English Meaning - an unexpected change, reversal, or shift in policy or circumstances; reversal, U-turn.

17.enumeration (noun)

English Meaning - counting, calculation, census, tallying.

18.state (verb)

English Meaning - articulate, say, tell, declare, voice, mention, indicate.

19.urban Naxal (noun)

English Meaning - a controversial political label used by the state to stigmatize urban intellectuals, activists, and academics accused of providing ideological cover or logistical support to the Maoist insurgency; left-wing sympathizer, radical intellectual, insurgent backer, dissident.

20.thinking (noun)

English Meaning - a person’s ideas or opinions; mindset, ideology, belief, viewpoint.

21.fracture (verb)

English Meaning - break or cause to break or separate into parts; divide, split, fragment, splinter.

22.dramatic (adjective)

English Meaning - striking, remarkable, substantial, significant.

23.historical (adjective)

English Meaning - belonging to the past or rooted in history; traditional, past, established, long-standing.

24.position (noun)

English Meaning - stance, standpoint, viewpoint, perspective.

25.enumerate (verb)

English Meaning - mention a number of things one by one; count, tally, list, itemize.

26.dominant (adjective)

English Meaning - most important, powerful, or influential; prevailing, main, primary, major.

27.reinforce (verb)

English Meaning - strengthen, fortify, bolster, underpin.

28.institution (noun)

English Meaning - an established law, practice, or custom; system, practice, custom, tradition.

29.the state (noun)

English Meaning - a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government; government, administration, regime, authorities.

30.dismantle (verb)

English Meaning - break down, demolish, take apart, deconstruct.

31.on the one hand (phrase)

English Meaning - used to introduce the first of two contrasting points; firstly, from one point of view, as a primary consideration, initially.

32.state policy (noun)

English Meaning - a strategy or official course of action implemented by a government; government strategy, official course of action, public policy, administrative directive.

33.on the other (phrase)

English Meaning - used to introduce the second of two contrasting points; conversely, alternatively, secondly, on the flip side.

34.account for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to take into consideration or explain the cause of something; consider, take into consideration, take into account, note.

35.identity (noun)

English Meaning - the fact of being who or what a person or thing is; characteristics, character, individuality, selfhood.

36.positive discrimination (noun)

English Meaning - the practice or policy of favouring individuals belonging to groups known to have been discriminated against previously; affirmative action, preferential treatment, equal opportunity, fair consideration.

37.legislative (adjective)

English Meaning - having the power to make laws; law-making, parliamentary, policy-making, governmental.

38.representation (noun)

English Meaning - the action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being represented; presence, involvement, participation, inclusion.

39.dual (adjective)

English Meaning - consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects; double, twofold, two-part, twin.

40.bake into (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to incorporate a feature into a system or policy as an integral part; incorporate firmly, embed, integrate, instill.

41.nation’s founding principles (noun)

English Meaning - the core values and fundamental beliefs upon which a country is established; core values, foundational ideals, fundamental tenets, constitutional ethos.

42.paradox (noun)

English Meaning - a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition; contradiction, inconsistency, incongruity, conflict.

43.clamour (noun)

English Meaning - a strongly expressed demand or complaint from a large number of people; demand, outcry, uproar, appeal.

44.manifestation (noun)

English Meaning - sign, indication, expression, demonstration.

45.long overdue (adjective)

English Meaning - delayed, belated, past due, long-awaited.

46.decennial (adjective)

English Meaning - recurring every ten years; ten-yearly, decadal, tenth-year, decade-long.

47.population survey (noun)

English Meaning - a statistical investigation measuring the demographics of an area; demographic study, census, enumeration, statistical count.

48.due (adjective)

English Meaning - expected, scheduled, anticipated, required.

49.COVID-19 (noun)

English Meaning - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); coronavirus disease.

50.pandemic (noun)

English Meaning - the worldwide spread of a new disease affecting a large number of people; widespread disease, global epidemic, global contagion, plague.

51.logistical (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to the organization and planning of a complex operation; organizational, operational, administrative, planning-related.

52.hurdle (noun)

English Meaning - obstacle, difficulty, impediment, barrier.

53.take place (phrase)

English Meaning - happen, occur, transpire, unfold.

54.involve (verb)

English Meaning - entail, require, necessitate, encompass.

55.rather than (phrase)

English Meaning - instead of, as opposed to, in contrast to, over.

56.merely (adverb)

English Meaning - just; only; solely; only, just, simply, purely.

57.as in (phrase)

English Meaning - like, similar to, just as, much like.

58.have a bearing on (phrase)

English Meaning - have a relevance, relation or connection to something; have an influence on, impact, affect, pertain to.

59.of all sorts (phrase)

English Meaning - including a variety of different types; of all kinds, of every description, various, diverse.

60.considerable (adjective)

English Meaning - substantial, significant, sizeable, notable.

61.caste profile (noun)

English Meaning - a demographic breakdown or summary of data based on caste lines; caste composition, caste data, caste statistics, demographic breakdown.

62.post-Independence (adjective)

English Meaning - occurring or existing after a country has gained its independence; after independence, post-colonial, subsequent to freedom, post-liberation.

63.come in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to arrive, become available, or take effect; arrive, appear, emerge, materialize.

64.open-ended (adjective)

English Meaning - unrestricted, unconditional, indefinite, flexible.

65.caste identification (noun)

English Meaning - the process of determining or categorising someone’s caste belonging; caste classification, social categorization, group assignment, demographic tagging.

66.Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) (noun)

English Meaning - The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, commenced the SECC in 2011 through a comprehensive door-to-door enumeration to generate information on a large number of social and economic indicators relating to households across the country.

67.distinct (adjective)

English Meaning - clear, specific, separate, unique.

68.data error (noun)

English Meaning - a factual or mathematical mistake within recorded information; factual mistake, inaccuracy, statistical flaw, miscalculation.

69.render (verb)

English Meaning - provide or give; cause to be or become; make, cause to be, leave, transform into.

70.finding (noun)

English Meaning - information discovered as the result of an inquiry or investigation; result, conclusion, discovery, outcome.

71.grapple with (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - tackle a difficult problem or situation; tackle with, deal with, confront, face.

72.appropriate (adjective)

English Meaning - suitable, proper, fitting, right.

73.detract from (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - reduce or take away the worth or value of; diminish, reduce, lessen, belittle.

74.eradicate (verb)

English Meaning - destroy completely; put an end to; eliminate, remove, destroy, root out.

75.ossify (verb)

English Meaning - cease developing or become stagnant; become rigid, become fixed, solidify, firm up in attitude or position.

76.socioeconomic (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to the interaction of social (position, rank, or importance) and economic (income, pay, and wealth) aspects.

77.index (noun)

English Meaning - an indicator, sign, or measure of something; indicator, measure, metric, yardstick.

78.measure (noun)

English Meaning - a plan or course of action taken to achieve a particular purpose; action, step, procedure, protocol.

79.annihilation (noun)

English Meaning - complete destruction or obliteration; destruction, eradication, elimination, wiping out.

80.classify (verb)

English Meaning - categorize, group, designate, label.

81.so wish (phrase)

English Meaning - to have a desire or inclination to act in a certain way; desire to do so, want to do so, choose to do so, prefer to.