Despite constitutional promises of equality, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) face persistent caste-based violence and exclusion. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, released in late September, reported that 57,789 cases were registered against SCs in 2023, marking a 0.4% increase over the 57,582 cases reported in 2022, and 12,960 cases were registered against STs in 2023, a sharp 28.8% increase over the 10,064 cases reported in 2022. From assaults in rural areas for defying caste norms to urban discrimination in housing and employment, caste continues to deny citizens dignity and opportunity.
Caste hierarchies remain
Social reformers such as Mahatma Phule, B.R. Ambedkar, Periyar, and Mahatma Gandhi, who challenged the Brahmanical caste order, remain a beacon of hope. Their movements, coupled with constitutional safeguards such as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, aimed to dismantle caste hierarchies. Despite these efforts, progress has been uneven. The belief in caste-based superiority persists, enabling social elites to perpetrate acts of violence, ranging from forcing Dalits to drink urine to ostracising Adivasis for asserting land rights, with alarming impunity. Such acts reflect not only individual prejudice but a societal failure to internalise humanitarian values. This raises questions about India’s claim of being a civilised society.
The current political dispensation, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has fallen short in addressing this crisis. The government occasionally promotes symbolic gestures — by including Dalits and Adivasis in religious rituals, for instance; but these efforts lack substance. Hindutva narratives often frame resistance from marginalised communities as a threat to cultural unity. They often label activists as “Hinduphobic”. This rhetoric stifles legitimate demands for justice. This was seen, for instance, in the vilification of those protesting an order of the Supreme Court that diluted provisions of the Atrocities Act. Restrictions on Dalit-Bahujan cultural expressions (as seen during the release of the Hindi film Phule) further alienate these communities from becoming part of the mainstream discourse. Moreover, policies promoting social justice, such as reservations in education and employment, are inconsistently implemented. As a result, social elites continue to control and dominate institutions.
The absence of a robust policy framework to bridge the gap between social elites and subaltern groups is glaring. The BJP and its affiliated organisations have not launched a national campaign to challenge caste prejudice or foster inter-caste fraternity in the fear that it would dilute the privileges of dominant castes. Instead, the promotion of Brahmanical cultural narratives often relegates the struggles of Dalit and Adivasi communities to the margins and portrays their resistance as a challenge to traditional authority rather than as a fight for universal dignity. This ideological stance, maintained by Hindutva ideologues, undermines the constitutional vision of an egalitarian society.
Historically, India witnessed powerful resistance movements that reshaped caste dynamics. The Dalit Panthers in the 1970s galvanised marginalised communities, asserting their right to political power and social prestige. The rise of the Bahujan Samaj Party in northern India further empowered Dalits and OBCs, amplifying their voices in governance and public discourse. Intellectual and cultural initiatives, from Dalit literature to Adivasi art, laid claim to India’s pluralistic heritage. Yet, today, such movements are fragmented or are relegated to the periphery, with little capacity to challenge current social ills. The response of civil society to caste atrocities has also waned.
The limitations of existing constitutional mechanisms and legislative orders are evident. While there are laws, enforcement is hampered by delayed investigations, low conviction rates, and societal bias within the judiciary and the police. For instance, a 2023 study by the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights noted that over 60% of cases under the Atrocities Act remain pending in courts. This underscores the need for systemic reforms beyond legal provisions.
A multi-pronged approach
Addressing caste atrocities demands a multi-pronged approach rooted in political will and social reform. First, the state must strengthen the enforcement of existing laws, ensuring swift prosecution of perpetrators and sensitising law enforcement agencies about the ills of the caste system. Second, political leaders must champion a national campaign to promote egalitarian values, using education, the media, and public platforms to challenge conventional caste relationships based on hierarchies and prejudices. Third, civil society, including religious institutions, cultural organisations, and academia must foster dialogue to bridge divides between communities. Fourth, affirmative action policies should be rigorously implemented, with transparent monitoring to ensure equitable access to education, jobs, and resources. Most crucially, Dalit, Adivasi, and Bahujan voices must be amplified. The legacy of resistance against the caste system needs a new podium and leadership. A revival of anti-caste social movements will build solidarity among marginalised social groups and re-establish the social justice agenda as a prime concern.
Harish S. Wankhede, Assistant Professor, Center for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, JNU, New Delhi
Published – October 14, 2025 01:34 am IST
