Caste Eradication or Revolution? – Which is First?

In the political and social discourses of Indian society, a long-standing question is repeatedly raised: “Which comes first—the eradication of caste or the proletarian revolution?”

Those who argue "Revolution first" have not made significant strides toward that revolution; similarly, those who insist "Caste eradication first" have failed to present a clear, practical roadmap. In this context, it becomes essential to integrate the arguments of social scholar Anand Teltumbde with the practical experiences of Indian society.

1. A Side-by-Side Transformation

The question of “Which comes first?” often leads to misleading directions. In reality, caste eradication and class struggle are not opposing forces; they must be viewed as social transformations that advance side-by-side.

As Karl Marx observed, religion is not merely a private belief but an expression of social suffering. When the fundamental socio-economic conditions change, religion and its associated reactionary rituals naturally weaken. In the Indian context, the caste system is deeply intertwined with the historical-cultural fabric of Hinduism. Therefore, it is argued that the complete eradication of caste is impossible without challenging that religion-based social structure.

2. Constitutional and Electoral Systems: The Implicit Continuation of Caste

Anand Teltumbde highlights two major aspects in his research:

• The Constitutional Contradiction: The Indian Constitution provides various welfare schemes based on the definition of “Socially and Educationally Backward Classes.” While these arrangements were established with social justice in mind, we must analyze whether they have weakened the caste problem or implicitly strengthened it in practice. Caste is an institution deeply linked with the Indian social structure and religious culture. However, in the current social climate, it is argued that measures like Caste-wise Proportional Reservation, instead of the broader "Socially and Educationally Backward" label, might better help shift the caste-based power balance. This also underscores the necessity of a caste-based census.

• The Impact of the Electoral System: The First-Past-The-Post electoral system prevalent in India acts as a "fuel" for caste-based victories. In any given constituency, the group with the highest caste population often gains political dominance. Since one can win even with just 20% of the vote in multi-cornered contests, the current system further solidifies caste-based politics. In contrast, the Proportional Representation system proposed by Teltumbde is considered an alternative that could restructure social representation differently.

3. Cultural Revolution: The Social Plane of Change

Caste is not merely a legal or political issue; it is a system of cultural and social customs. Therefore, social change must occur on the cultural plane as well. This change does not happen solely in seminars or books; it is forged through the experiences of social struggles. When an individual engages in communist social struggles, they naturally begin to move away from religious rituals and social divisions. The field of struggle itself creates a new culture for them. It is there that caste identities slowly dissolve, and class identity begins to take precedence. Social changes like inter-caste marriages emerge as natural lifestyle transitions in such environments.

4. Economic Change and Social Transformation

The caste system is not just a cultural construct; it is also linked to economic relations. Ownership of land, industry, labor, and resources are, in many places, intertwined with the caste hierarchy. Communist movements position themselves as the political force to change the economic infrastructure of society. It is only when Property Relations are transformed that caste-based power relations will be effectively challenged. Thus, instead of separating caste eradication from class struggle, they must be approached as interconnected social transformations.

Conclusion

A casteless society will be born only at the intersection where the cultural revolution meets the economic revolution. The political and social efforts to create that link will be the core of future transformation.

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Note: The analytical core of this article is derived from Anand Teltumbde’s essay, “A Society Built as Caste Cannot Be Reformed Into Equality.” However, the solution-oriented perspective presented here is based on the cultural and class struggle experiences of Communist movements.

P.Sekar
Advocate