The Plight of the Backward Classes (BCs): The Battle for Political Power
The current situation of BCs in our country is akin to feeding the grass to the buffalo but milking the domestic cow. The BCs, who are the majority (over 60%), vote for the forward and dominant castes, revolve around them for their needs, and yet are the same ones complaining and crying foul when they face injustice.
Today, BC voters have been branded as people who sell their votes for liquor or money instead of electing their own leaders. They are deceiving themselves with the delusion that someone from the upper castes will come and fix their lives, instead of taking control of their own destiny.
In the 77 years since Independence, BCs have suffered severe injustice in all fields. They have been severely impacted by the lack of timely reservations in education and employment, and the absence of developmental schemes. In the political arena, they have been left crippled by the lack of political reservations.
The definition of BCs in the Indian Constitution as "Backward Classes" rather than "Backward Castes" has meant a wait of decades for social justice to be realized. They are now in the pitiful condition of having to beg for a caste census, lacking even the basic data on their population and numbers.
What is needed now: The time has come for BCs, with political consciousness, to democratically fight for their rights and their share in power.
What BCs Must Do: A Five-Point Agenda
1. Reject the Slave Mentality
BCs must abandon the sense of inferiority that they are unfit to rule and are merely servants of the forward castes. While BCs in neighboring states have become Chief Ministers and wield state power, we are living here as petitioners (Yachakulu) instead of rulers (Shasakulu).
BCs have given this nation many incredible leaders post-Independence, including Annadurai, Karunanidhi, Karpoori Thakur, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Sharad Yadav. In our own state (Telangana/United AP), we have the inspiration of leaders like P. Shiv Shankar, Konda Laxman Bapuji, Gouthu Latchanna, Argul Rajaram, Krishna Swamy Mudiraj, and Bommagani Dharma Bhiksham.
Let us take inspiration from them and move forward in the political arena. Affluent individuals, especially the BC youth, must enter politics and give direction and vision to this country. Our lives can only improve when we hold power in our own hands. We must march forward chanting the slogan: "Our share according to our number."
In all movements in Telangana, the sacrifices were made by the BCs, while the benefits were reaped by the forward castes. We must move ahead with the determination and slogan: "Those games will not continue anymore." Even those who drive autos must ask with confidence: "Are we unfit for power? Why shouldn't we hold political positions?" They must come forward and change the political landscape. We must strive with determination to prove that BCs are not 'Backward Castes' but 'Brilliant Castes.'
2. End Casteism, Embrace BC-ism
BCs in Telangana are a collective of 134 castes, grouped into A, B, C, D, and E categories. Furthermore, the government identified 35 castes as Most Backward Classes in 2017. Certain castes—such as Mudiraj, Yadav, Munnuru Kapu, Gouda, Padmashali, Panchayatana, Rajaka, Gangaputra, Nai Brahmin, Perika, and Kummaris—have large populations. However, they must realize that they cannot seize political power solely with the votes of their individual caste.
Each caste is organized individually and fails to unify as a collective BC force. BCs include agricultural producer castes, service castes, artisan castes, nomadic, semi-nomadic, and dependent castes. While bringing them all onto a single platform may be difficult, it is not impossible.
There is a critical need to unite on common issues like Caste Census (Kulaganana), increased reservations, Sub-Plan implementation, and seizing political power in elections. Today, BCs are divided along party lines and fail to recognize that if they unite, they can capture political power. It is time to set aside casteism and move forward with the 'BC-ism' (BC Vadam) slogan.
Successful political experiments have occurred elsewhere: Nitish Kumar came to power in Bihar through the "Luv-Kush" slogan (unity of Kurmi and Koeri castes). Historically, there was the KHAM alliance (Koli, Harijan, Adivasi, Muslim) in Gujarat, and the Yadav-Muslim alliance in Uttar Pradesh, as well as Mayawati's alliance of Dalit, Brahmin, and Muslim voters. Here in Telangana, a political tsunami could be created and power achieved if just five of the majority BC castes unite.
3. Propagate BC-ism (BC Vadam)
If there is one community that has been most deceived and discriminated against in Independent India, it is the BC community. Marginalized in all sectors, they are now forced to live dependent on ration cards, pensions, and other government freebies (the "leftovers thrown" by governments).
Due to the lack of reservations proportional to their population, educated BC children are forced into livelihoods as gig workers, private vehicle drivers, food delivery boys, and domestic workers. Our jobs are being snatched by the forward castes, yet we lack the awareness to fight back. A pitiful situation has arisen where BCs must now fight for their very survival.
BC associations, which are currently active only in Hyderabad and a few urban areas, must go to the villages (Palle Bata). They must highlight the injustices and take the message of BC-ism to every doorstep, creating awareness among the BC masses. They must ignite the desire for political power, explaining that "Rajyam Veera Bhojyam" (the State is to be enjoyed by the brave). The people must be mobilized for a democratic struggle against their problems. Only then will the path be cleared for the fulfillment of the BC aspiration for state power.
4. BCs and Political Parties: Understanding the Vicious Cycle
Every national and regional political party has merely used BCs as a vote bank and discarded them. In the eyes of political parties dominated by forward castes, BCs are merely people who can be bought with money and liquor.
BC leaders within these parties claim to be BCs during elections, but after winning, some forget their roots and become servants to the dominant leaders of their parties. Others, even if they wish to work for BCs, suppress their conscience and betray their community, believing that BC-ism is not strong enough to support them if they speak out. They are afraid to cross the party line.
Voters, in turn, feel there is no benefit in voting for their own BC leaders, concluding that they will ultimately serve the forward castes anyway, leading them to vote for the forward caste candidates and defeat their own leaders.
Political parties, obsessed with "winning horses," argue that BC candidates are unlikely to win and instead hand out seats to forward caste candidates who have financial and muscle power, winning elections through various inducements. BCs are now caught in this confusing and bewildering cycle, unable to decide whom to vote for.
What is the solution to this problem?
5. The Solution: Unity and Political Action
The solution requires five steps: BCs must first unite; the ideology of BC-ism must spread like a tsunami; a new generation, especially BC youth, must enter politics; and they must organize movements over key issues.
BCs must remember that movements are nothing new to them. The message must be clear: "The BC vote belongs only to the BC leader." We must vote only for them.
Many BC leaders, despite wanting to speak for their community, are suppressing their feelings while working in forward-caste political parties. The forward-caste media often targets and intensely disrespects our BC leaders, tarnishing their reputation.
Regardless, we must vow to work towards a situation where BCs vote only for BCs. Any political party that does injustice to BCs must be buried in the elections.
Finally, there is an absolute need for a BC political party to emerge. However, a political party cannot survive or gain the approval of the BC populace without a strong foundation of BC-ism. This is why some who formed parties in the past failed.
Currently, there is a vacuum for a movement in Telangana. Historically, a major movement emerges every 10 to 15 years in Telangana. The Telangana Armed Peasant Struggle against the Nizam's Razakars in the 1940s; the first phase of the separate Telangana state movement in the 1960s after the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956; the rise of the regional party based on Telugu self-respect in the 1980s; the Maoist movement against feudal systems in the 1990s; and the second-phase Telangana movement in the 2000s. The only movement left now is the BC Movement.
Therefore, BCs must unite and fight for state power. A BC-led political party must come into existence. Just as the DMK parties emerged in Tamil Nadu to advance the Dravidian movement, and the RJD, Lok Dal, and Samajwadi Party in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh formed to advance Lohia's socialist ideals and capture power, a BC party must emerge in Telangana, inspired by figures like Chakali Ailamma, Panduga Sayanna, and Sarvai Papanna.
If BC-ism strengthens, a BC political party will definitely follow. A charismatic, selfless, and honest young leader is needed to rally the people around them. Competent and agile leadership is necessary today. As the movement expands, such leaders will automatically emerge.
BCs must aim to dominate the upcoming Panchayat elections and ensure the victory of BC candidates in MLC elections.
The Indian State Emblem features four lions. They represent the OC, BC, SC, and ST lions. Currently, the OCs are centered in state power, with the SC and ST lions visible on the sides. The BC lion has been pushed to the back. It must now break through the obstacles and come to the front row for state power. The small, dominant minority currently at the center must be pushed back.
The invisible fourth lion—the BC—must now awaken and roar.
There is no exaggeration in stating that BC-ism is currently spreading like water under the mat in Telangana. If this continues, BC state power will be achieved in the near future.
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