The Honourable Supreme Court of India, on 7-11 – 2022, upheld the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act which provided for 10% reservation to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Four out of five judges ruled in favour of the same stating that reservations for EWS in education and public employment does not violate the Constitution.
However, there is a stereotypical anti-Brahmin trend, visible amongst those expressing their disapproval over this ruling of the Honourable Supreme Court. While anti-Brahminism isn’t a new phenomenon to India, the circumstances and manner in which it has surfaced this time, reflect the modus operandi of the colonizer in the past to break the society of India.
The colonizers’ obstacle during their quest were Brahmins, who they believed, came in their way of creating a baptized India. Thus, several anti-Brahmin movements/activities were carried on to develop a narrative portraying the Brahmins to be cunning, evil-natured oppressors in the society. There are many evidences corroborating the same. To list a few :
1. Dr.B.R.Ambedkar in his book “Pakistan and The Partition Of India” writes the following:
“The methods adopted by the Muslim invaders of India are not less significant for the subsequent history of India than the object of their invasions.
Mahommad bin Qasim’s first act of religious zeal was forcibly to circumcise the Brahmins of the captured city of Debul; but on discovering that they objected to this sort of conversion,he proceeded to put all above the age of 17 to death, and to order all others, with women and children, to be led into slavery.”
2. St. Xavier wrote to the king of Portugal saying: “If there were no brahmins, all pagans would be converted to our faith.”
The above examples reflect the colonial hangover plaguing the minds of indigenous individuals. Ultimately, this is nothing but an anti-Hindu stance in the garb of anti-Brahminism since Brahmins aren’t the only community to benefit from reservations for the EWS.
Therefore, an introspection into Bharat’s History and necessary, appropriate and authentic rewriting of history textbooks is required. In addition to this, furthering of state investment in decolonial studies and research would be beneficial.
