CASTE SYSTEM: BACKWARD CLASSES

 

CASTE SYSTEM: BACKWARD CLASSES

The term 'backward classes' has been used in term of weaker sections of society particularly the scheduled castes the & Schedul Tribes and other backward classes. 

The term has also been used to designate any other backward classes. 

In the begining, after Indias Independence, the term 'backward classes' has a less fixed and definite reference. It has a variety of

referents. Earlier the term 'depressed classes' was used for the untouchables and other backward groups It was certainly a fact that the backward classes are above

the ax-untouchable groups and below the twice born castes. The need special protection and help for their economic and social protection and help for their economic and social upliftment. We find references to this term in 1917 - 18 but the term was more specifically used in 1930 or 1931. In 1937 the state of Travancore used the term 'backward communities' to include all educationally and economically backward communities. But in the Madras presidency the term backward classes' was used to refer to the strata abore the untouchables. In 1934 the Madras provincial Backward classes league was founded. The 'backward classes' in madras included more than a hundred communities and 50 percent of the total population of the presidency.

Thus, the term backward classes" had no uniform meaning at the national level. There was no all India organisation of the backward classes. 

In 1948, It was visualised that a Backward classes commission be appointed to go through the whole of the country to find out which caster of Hindus, Muslims etc.

were really backward according to certain standards educational, social economic etc. The commission was supposed to find out tthe difficulties under which they worked and to make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the union or any state to remove such difficulties and, improve their condition. The commission was actually appointed in 1953.

The university education commission (1948-49) also mentioned the reservation of a certain proportion of seats for students belonging to the backward communities. In 1947, the Bihar Government made provisions for other backward classes in past or matriculation studies. In 1951 the Government of Bihar announced a list of backward classes the list contained

the name various castes which constituted 60 percent of the states population. Backwardness is considered an attribute of a group and not of an individual membership to these "backward classes is determined by birth, like for all other caste groups.

 In theory Backward classes may included

individuals who are educationally and economically well off since some caste have been designated as 'backward' by the Government, they are entitled to get certain

benefits and facilities. The backward classes are thus large and complex constellation of groups and individuals.

Since we are here concerned with the backward classes who are in effect intermediate castes in between the Harijans and the supper castes, we do not refer to

the term backward classes, in a broad perspective. The 'backward classes' are backward because they have been lagging behind in education, of government services professions, business etc.. However in the recent years they have advanced in economic and political field. They

are small landowners, depending mainly on agriculture for their livelihood. Numerically they are preponderant, but they are not a monolithic group social socially, culturally and economically according to the Mandal Commission, the other backward classes constitute nearly 52 percent of India's population.