Renowned economist calls for the caste census rooted in social justice
NEW DELHI — Renowned economist and social justice advocate Prof Sukhdev Thorat has underlined the need for a carefully conducted caste-based census in India, asserting that its primary aim must not be limited to the allocation of reservations. Instead, he stressed, the exercise should be used to identify the social, economic, educational, and political challenges faced by various communities, and to design targeted policy interventions.
In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, Prof Thorat, currently serving on an expert panel reviewing the Telangana caste survey, argued that caste enumeration can be a powerful tool for social reform if carried out with expert input and technical rigour.
“Every caste, except Brahmins, is subject to discrimination, so the demand for reservation is natural. But the situation is not the same for all castes,” he explained, calling for a more nuanced understanding of caste realities. Thorat pointed out that while reservation is one form of redress, some communities may benefit more from targeted economic or educational assistance.
He urged the central government not to rush the process. “Mistakes have already been identified in previous efforts like the 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census and the more recent surveys conducted in Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka. We should learn from those,” he said.
Thorat emphasised the importance of systematic data collection on caste-based discrimination, in line with existing legal frameworks such as the Protection of Civil Rights Act, which already defines 20 to 30 categories of discrimination. “These can be used as a basis to develop indicators for data collection,” he suggested.
Despite concerns from some quarters about the logistical challenges of a caste census, Thorat believes India is well-prepared for such an exercise. “This country has vast experience in conducting large-scale censuses and socio-economic surveys. There is no reason to doubt our technical or administrative capabilities,” he stated.
However, he warned that credibility and utility depend on the thoroughness of the process. “This is not a job to be done in haste or for political gains. It must be carried out carefully, with oversight by experts, to ensure data reliability,” he said.
Prof Thorat’s commitment to social justice is not merely academic. Born into the Mahar Dalit community in Maharashtra, he has experienced the sting of caste discrimination since childhood. In his autobiographical essay, Passage to Adulthood, Thorat recounts how he was once slapped by an upper-caste child for touching a community well, and how he and other Dalits were ostracised during festivals and denied access to temples.
“Such humiliations were not occasional. They were a part of daily life,” he once wrote.
He credits the teachings and leadership of Dr BR Ambedkar with sparking a social awakening in his community during the 1950s. “Ambedkar’s vision gave us a sense of dignity. It taught us that we had the right to demand equality and justice,” Thorat said.
Thorat’s experiences of marginalisation continued even as he entered academia. In the 1970s, while pursuing a PhD at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he proposed a thesis on the economic impacts of untouchability in business relations. The economics department rejected his topic as “too far from the mainstream.”
“I joined JNU’s Centre for the Study of Regional Development and chose agricultural economics instead. But that wasn’t what I wanted to research,” he recalled. “I lost 10 years because of that decision.”
Despite these hurdles, Thorat went on to have a distinguished academic career. He served as chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) from 2006 to 2011, and is currently Professor Emeritus at JNU. He was also director of the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies and has worked with the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, DC, since 1992.
Prof Thorat believes that a caste census can play a critical role in building a just and inclusive society, if its goals are clearly defined and its execution is transparent and accountable.
“The aim should be social justice, not just statistical documentation. It is about understanding where the gaps are — whether in access to education, land, jobs, or political representation —and then taking steps to bridge them,” he said.
He also advocates for regular updates and reviews of such data, with mechanisms for feedback and correction. “Policy must be dynamic. If the data shows that some interventions are not working, then we must be willing to adapt,” he argued.
For many, Thorat’s advocacy carries special weight because it is rooted in both scholarly rigour and lived experience. His journey from a small village in Maharashtra to leading some of India’s most important educational and policy institutions is seen as a testament to the power of education and resilience.
“Education was my weapon. It was what helped me escape the bounds of caste,” he said in a public lecture last year.
But he also warned that personal success stories like his should not be used to deny the structural oppression that continues to plague Dalits and other marginalised communities. “For every Dalit who makes it, there are hundreds who are left behind. We need policies that address the collective, not just celebrate the individual,” he said.
As the debate over caste census gains momentum in India, Prof Thorat’s voice stands out for its clarity, compassion, and commitment to justice. He is not simply advocating for a headcount of castes. He advocates a deeper, more honest engagement with India’s most enduring inequality.
“A caste census must be the beginning of transformation, not just an exercise in data collection,” he said. “It must help us see who we are as a society — and who we need to become.”
