Journal 2018 (Publication 2)
International Peer-Reviewed Journal
RESEARCH HORIZONS, S.R. NO. 2, VOL. 8 NOVEMBER 2018
OPINIONS OF PATIDAR AND OTHER BACKWARD CLASS YOUTH RE-
GARDING RESERVATION POLICY – A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY
Dr. Chandrika Raval*
ABSTRACT
Indian Society is stratified by caste and class. The Government of India takes affirmative action
through positive discrimination policies in employment and education, popularly known as the
reservation policy. Reservation policies have always been a matter of debate. The Government
has provided quota for Scheduled Caste, Schedules Tribe and Other Backward Classes (OBC)
or Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC). It does not form homogeneous set, but it
is a list of groups to be decided by the center of the states. Recently, some community made
demands to include their castes in SEBC/OBC group for the reservation. The Patel or Patidar
community in Gujarat have started the movement which is called ‘Patidar Anamat Andolan’ for the
reservation in education as well as employment. This issue is being discussed and debated
among other caste, politicians, media, students and various social media. The student of the
department of sociology did a survey under my guidance regarding opinions of young Patidars
and Other Backward Classes regarding Reservation Policy.
This is an empirical survey of students of Gujarat University situated in Ahmedabad city.The study
selected purposive sample of 570 respondents’ equal number of Male (285) and Female (285) as
well Patidar (285), SEBC (285.) Questionnaire was the tool of data collection. The concept of
reservation, dominant caste, social movement etc. is used in the study. The social stratification
theory is used in this study. This study expressed the views and experience about reservation in
SEBC. It also shows causes of Patidar Anamat Andolan and its impact on their community. The
study shows the strength of social networking in Patidar social movement. This study provides a
platform to understand the mindset of youth about Patidar Anamat Andolan and reservation for
SEBC.
Keywords : Reservation Policy, Patidar, OBC, Anamat Andolan
Introduction
Indian society is stratified by Caste and Class. Caste is one of the basic pillars of Indian society as a
form of social stratification. Caste is derived from Spanish word ‘caste’ which means break the race,
strain, a complex and hereditary qualities. In Indian society caste is divided and has general category-
scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other backward class. The government of India declares an
affirmative action policy through positive discrimination, popularly known as a reservation policy.
Reservation policy in education and employment has always been a matter of debate, leading to
wide variations and policies and implementation across nations (Cunningham, 2001). The quotas for
the SCs and STs in the fields of education and employment in India have been present from the
beginning of the state formation. The reservation for the other backward classes (OBCs) started
much later. Unlike the SCs, STs and OBCs were not formed from the homogeneous set of caste
group but it was a list of groups to decide by the center or the caste based on their status on being
historically disadvantaged (Despande, 2011). There are some acts for reservation policy in India,
after independence the Constitution of India gave reservation status to three categories to bring up
schedule caste (SC), Schedule Tribe (ST) and other backward class (OBC). This reservation was
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RESEARCH HORIZONS, S.R. NO. 2, VOL. 8 NOVEMBER 2018
caste based and not economical based, in 1979 Mandal commission was formed which increased
reservation quotas on the basis of economic aspects also.
Methodology
This is an empirical survey of student of Gujarat University situated in Ahmedabad a metropolitan city
of Gujarat.
Rationale
The topic was selected as a personal interest and to analyze current situation. This Patidar Andolan
was viewed by multiple stakeholders i.e. politicians, Patidars them seltes, OBC, Rationalists police,
media, etc.
Sample
This survey was done by the students of department of Sociology. 570 respondents were selected
by purposeful sampling. It included equal number of male (285) and female (255) form Patidar
(
Patel) community and OBC (Other Backward Class). The unit of the study was in Ahmedabad.
Interview, focus group discussion and questionnaire was used for the data collection.
Objectives
1
2
3
. To know the socio - economic profile of students
. To know the causes of Anamat Andolan of Patidars and its impact.
. To know the view of OBC for Anamat Andolan of Patidars.
Other backward classes (OBC)
OBCs is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify castes which are socially and
educationally disadvantaged. The OBCs were found to comprise 52 % of the country’s population by
the Mandal Commission Report of 1980.
The OBC are entitled to 27% reservations in public sector employment and higher education. The list
of OBCs maintained by the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment is dynamic. It is also
known as SEBC (socially and educationally backward castes or classes). According to an article in
the Indian Express sociologist Gaurang Jani says Gujarat now has 146 notified OBCs.
Patidars
Popularly called Patel’s is a part of originally community kanabi. This community is a dominant caste
in Gujarat. Among the different group of Patidars Anjana, Chaudhry are OBCs. Kadava and Leuva
Patidar are in general category from the constitutional perspective. There are some sub group of this
community. They have different surnames.
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RESEARCH HORIZONS, S.R. NO. 2, VOL. 8 NOVEMBER 2018
Reservation Policy
The concept of reservation emerged within the realm of democratic principles. The reservation policy
is one of the policy measures taken by the government to promote social justice in a society where
opportunities for socioeconomic achievement are unequally distributed among different communities
and groups. The objectives are positive quality through the provisions of preferential treatments to
those who have been historically subjected to the practice of injustice and discrimination (Rai 2002).
The reservation policy is the identification and selection of the deserved and eligible people. In the
Indian context, one’s caste and poor social and educational conditions are recognized as the major
eligible criteria for reservation quota. Reservation policy is an affirmative action taken by the
Government, in favor of individuals or groups who are socially, economically and educationally
backward. Caste based reservation promotes caste consciousness among individuals and leads to
the politicization of castes.
Criterion of Reservation
1
.
Reservation is given on basis of caste, religion.
Reservation is given on basis of population.
State domicile socio economically condition.
Other criteria
2.
3.
4.
As per Government of India, total reservation percentage is 49.5%, OBC 27%, ST 7.5% and SC 15%
Social Movement – Anamat Andolan
India has witnessed some social movements such as anti-corruption,Nirbhaya and Patidar movements.
These social movements have their own collective goals.
Social stratification
Social stratification is a horizontal division of society into higher and lower social units. In India caste
and class is linked with social stratification. A caste is an aggregation of persons whose obligation
and privileges are fixed by birth sanctioned and supported by religion.
In stratification person, group or community can change their mobility down ward to upward. At an
early stage, Patidar community treated them as superior to S.C., S.T. and OBC but for the benefits of
employment and getting admission for in higher education they want reservation. Therefore, traditional
caste hierarchy can change.
There are some research and articles regarding reservation I. P. Desai (1981), Thomas welssope
(
2004), Shirku (2011), Lim (2012), Tily (2004), P. Anthony Raj and NagarajaGundemedu (2015) etc.
This paper attempts to analyze the case of Patidar Anamat Andolan with the view of Patidar and
OBC.
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Data Analysis
The table1 shows the Socio-economic profile of the respondents
Table 1 Socio-economic profile of the respondents
No.
1
Caste
Item
OBC (SEBC)
Patidar
Frequency
285
Percentage
50%
285
50%
Total
570
100%
2
3
Gender
Male
Female
Total
285
285
570
50%
50%
100%
Education
Arts
Commerce
Science
Others
228
168
69
105
570
40%
29.6%
12.14%
18.42%
100%
Total
4
5
Native
Rural
Urban
Total
257
313
570
45.08%
54.42%
100%
Marital
Status
Unmarried
Engaged
Married
Total
289
38
243
570
51%
07%
42%
100%
6
Types of
Family
Joint
Necular
Total
337
233
570
59.23%
40.87%
100%
Table1 shows that there are equal number of respondents by caste and gender. They have different
type of education. 52.42 percent respondents belong to urban area and rests of them are from rural
background. They are from P.G., M.Phil and Ph.D. They class 42 percentage married 51 percent are
unmarried. 59.23 percent are still living in a joint family.
50 percent respondents are Patel and Patidar, who constitute about 15 percent of the state’s population.
They are economically and politically dominant upper caste. As they are small and big farmers,
Industrialist and traders. They are spread all over the world.
Percentage of Reservation
In the year 2008, the central educational institutions (Reservation in Admissions) amendment bill was
passed in Indian Parliament. In Gujarat, there was OBC commission under the leadership of Miss
Sugna Bhatt. Whether the students know about this only 32.28 percent know about the quota for
reservation. 37.54 percent are not knowing and 30.18 percent said that we have no knowledge
about reservation at all.
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Patidar Respondents
RESEARCH HORIZONS, S.R. NO. 2, VOL. 8 NOVEMBER 2018
In this study there are two types of questions one for Patidar and another for OBC (SEBC)
Table 2 shows respondents who believed in reservation
Table2 Believed in Reservation
Item
Frequency
Percentage
No.
1
2
Totally Agree
Partly Agree
Do not Agree
Total
111
90
84
38.94%
31.59%
29.47%
100%
3
285
Above them forth respondent believed in reservation. They agree to have reservation.
Areas of Reservation
The data regarding demand for reservation of Patidar is shown Table3
Table 3 Demand for Reservation in different areas
No.
1
2
Item
Education
Government Service
Other Field
Total
Frequency Percentage
172
84
60.35%
29.47%
10.18%
100%
3
29
285
The demand is for reservation in education and government service.
Social scientist AchyutYagnik specifies that they want to get their children into medical and engineering
colleges or institutions providing technical education, which will make it easier for them to migrate
abroad and also find jobs.
Previously and traditionally Patels were in agriculture and business but the new generation is pursuing
higher education and wants to get better prospects
Causes for Patidar Andolan
Interview was taken and focus Group discussion with different Patidar leaders and students. They
ascertained some chief causes for this Andolan.
The rural Patidar youth do not have professional higher education and smart skills. In the field of
government jobs. They are castigated in ‘General Category’ so their goal of reservation is to establish
their status in government jobs and acquire higher position so, this Anamat Andolan has emerged
out of the frustration of the rural youth to get right opportunities.
They support reservation based on caste. Reservation will promote Government job and those who
are in village are farmers but the new generation is not ready to continue family work, they want jobs
because the Patidar girls are not prepared to marry village boys, even though they have their own
house land and property.
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They also said that not those who are in reserved category who have high score cannot get admission
so this is a violation of education right.
The respondents of Saurashtra region said that due to reservation quotas, large number of
economically small farmers in Saurashtra region are committing suicide as they are in bad financial
situation and are deprived of the benefits that other OBCs are getting.
Large scale of migration of unskilled and low skilled worker is observed in a wide range of sectors
such as agriculture and power looms. Now they want government job. There is a hidden political
cause for this Andolan. Patidar have general category quota in election they want change the leadership
with of Patidar. They want their I.A.S., I.P.S. for the administration in Gujarat, so political power with
administration want to dominate in Gujarat.
Problems of Patidars
In Gujarat Patidars belong to upper castes. In 1980s Patel’s faced competition because of what
sociologist I. P. Desai called in built structural advantages as they have money, power and position.The
researcher inquired what will they lose if they get reservation? They said that they will lose nothing,
but the researcher observed the reason could be that their children may not be accepted by higher
castes in marriage. They will also lose the status of higher caste in society so the process of downward
mobility in social aspect will begin.
Respondents from Backward caste (OBC/SEBC)
Brief History of OBC – In Gujarat in 1973 when Madhavsinh Solanki was the Chief Minister of Gujarat,
he appointed three members commission led by Justice AnantprasadBakshi, Prof.Taraben Patel
(
Gujarat University) and Prof. C. N. Vakil (M. S. University) to recommend communities for OBC list.
In 1976, Commission gave a report of OBCs and 82 communities were recognized as OBC. Then in
981, Gopal Krishna and Rane Commissions added a new list. Now, Gujarat has permanent OBC
1
Commission headed by former Gujarat high Court Judge Miss Sugna Bhatt, in Gandhinager and
now 146 communities are notified as OBC in Gujarat.
There are some questions and discussions with other backward caste respondents. The primary
backgrounds are shown in Table1 for all respondents, but some specific points for OBC are as under
Benefits of Reservation
6
9.82 percent respondents get benefits under OBC reservation. 30.18 percent are not getting these
benefits as they belong to creamy layer.
Those who get the benefits of OBC they need creamy layer certificate. We asked them how they get
this certificate. 88.00 percent of the respondents said that they get creamy layer certificate as per the
government norms, but 22 percent respondents said that sometimes they had to offer bribe for and
sometimes they presented wrong income certificate to get creamy layer, thus they supported corruption.
In OBC those who are under the reservation category got benefits in education and employment. In
government sector also, they easily get Government jobs.
Interaction with Patidars
The questionnaire for the OBC respondents who have interaction with Patidars or not.
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9.29 (169) percent of the respondents have interaction with them. 40.71 percent respondents (116)
have rare interaction with Patidars.
RESEARCH HORIZONS, S.R. NO. 2, VOL. 8 NOVEMBER 2018
5
The respondents said that those who are in same class they have peer relations. Others have working
or professional relations. They interact with each other at work place, party meetings etc. They also
depend on each other for labour and other work.
4
0.70 percent have rare interaction. Those who are in same standards they interact with others with
the purpose of academic and co-curricular activities, but because they have separate residential
localities, they can interact with Patidars only at the time of celebrations, festivals and caste gatherings.
Opinion of about reservation for Patidars
The Indian Constitution has accepted the quota-based reservation system of SC, ST and OBC.
Patidars want to be the part OBC reservation. The opinion of OBC respondents are as under.
Table 4 shows opinion favoring reservation of Patidars
Table4 Opinion about favoring the reservation of Patidars
No.
1
Frequency
Yes
Number
72
Percentage
25.26
2
No
213
74.74
2
85
100.00
7
4.74 percent respondents are against the reservation and opined that Patidars are not socially and
economically backward. They behave as a dominant caste at all levels. Even though during these
Andolan’ they used costly cell phones, social media and money for their campaigns. Some of them
‘
are landlords and businessmen. Only those who are really economically poor have the right to get
reservation for education and employment.
Impact of ‘Anamat Andolan’
This question was for both types of respondents about the impact of ‘Anamat Andolan’ on the society
as a whole.
Table 5 shows the impact of the Anamat Andolan
Table5 Impact of Anamat Andolan
No.
1
Patidar
60
OBC
120
01
Total
180
16
Percentage
31.57
Increases discrimination between castes
Benefits for the society
2
15
2.80
3
Increases caste pride and solidarity
Increases downward mobility
Increases use of media
136
01
48
184
06
32.28
4
04
4.06
5
150
34
184
32.28
5
70
100.00
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The table 5 shows that this ‘Anamat Andolan’ has different positive and negative impacts.
About the Andolan there are different opinions of Patidar and those of OBC respondents.
1
36 Patidar believed that this type of Andolan is beneficial for solidarity of Patidars but on
the other side 120 OBC respondents believed that caste discrimination will increase.
Findings and conclusions
This study was done on 570 Patidar and OBC respondents from Ahmedabad. The study
expresses their views and experiences about reservations and Patidar Anamat Andolan.
This study provides a platform to understand the mindset of the youth about reservation
policy.
·
·
There are equal number of males and females who had different levels of education.
54.42 percent of the respondents belong to urban and 45.08 percent respondents belong
to rural areas.
·
51 percent of the respondents are unmarried.
Main findings
·
70.53 percent respondents agree to the reservation. They want reservation in the field
of education (60.35 %) and government service (29.47%).
·
·
There are socio-cultural and economic reasons for the Anamat Andolan of Patidars.
69.82 percent OBC/SEBC respondents get benefits for SEBC reservation. Only those
who are under creamy layer these benefits.
·
·
·
·
88 percent of the respondents easily get the creamy layer certificate as per the
government norms. But rests of them do not get these types of certificate very easily.
59.29 percent OBC respondents have interaction with Patidars but 40.71 have rare
interaction with Patidars. Mostly they have academic and professional relations.
71.74 percent respondents are against the reservation of Patidars due to their socio-
economic status.
There are some positive and negative impacts of Anamat Andolan.
Positive impacts
·
Caste solidarity in Patidars as well as OBCs will increase.
·
As a result of this Andolan, Patidars (Kadava&Levula) felt caste pride. They came closer
even though they lived at a far distance. Caste and class solidarity of this community
became very strong.
Negative impacts
·
·
·
Discrimination of caste
Downward mobility of Patidar
Caste Tension create in the state
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Conclusion
As a sociologist, we should know the caste system and constitution, “The main objective of
the Indian reservation system is to increase the opportunities for enhanced social and
educational status (in the sense better than the previous- until it becomes equal to that
enjoyed by an average member of other communities) of the underprivileged communities
and, thus, enable them to take their rightful place in the mainstream of Indian society”.
ò
The idea of Anamat Andolan of Patidars shows that it is simply a welfare benefit for
education and employment. They mobilized significant population for this reason and
they had success in campaigning for it.
ò
ò
The present study reveals that the social media proves to be a prominent communication
source of information during the Anamat Andolan.
The role of Patidars Anamat Andolan committee and related leaders and community
played an important role. It also shows the freedom of speech and expression of their
views.
ò
ò
ò
Mostly, the OBC – which is the largest caste segment in Gujarat - are not in favor of this
Andolan.
This Andolan was not led by political party. The Patel’s of Gujarat have remained a
force to reckon with any party which rules the state.
The OBCs are now more politically aware. They seek dominant position in society and
have an upward mobility that came with reservation. They are in police force also, so
they would not support Patidar Andolan.
ò
This Andolan also draw attention directly to constitutional provisions of reservation.
The Constitution provides that it is not possible to give more than 50 percent reservation
to all castes.
Suggestions
ò
The quality of a life of Patidars should be truly examined and there should be some
indicators put before reservation policy.
ò
ò
Government should rethink about caste-based reservation.
Government should remove entire creamy layer in S.C., S.T. and OBC, so other general
category persons who are economically poor and backward also get the benefits.
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and Political weekly,16(18), 819,821-82.
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RESEARCH HORIZONS, S.R. NO. 2, VOL. 8 NOVEMBER 2018
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http://www.kcgjournal.org/multi/issue12/Neel.php
http://www.kcgjournal.org/multi/issue12/Neel.php
http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patidars_reservation_agitation
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https:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other_Backward_Class – Other Backward Class
Website sathe date lakhvijaruri hoy chhe e.g.
www.indianexperss.com
*
Professor -Department of Sociology, School of Social Science
Gujarat University, Ahmedabad-380 009 (Gujarat) Email: [email protected]
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