Political Rise of Other Backward Classes

The political landscape of India underwent a profound shift in the 1980s and 1990s with the rise of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) as an organised political force. This was not a sudden event but the culmination of decades of social movements, electoral calculations, and a landmark government decision that sparked a national debate.

The Meaning of 'Other Backward Classes'

The term 'OBC' is an administrative category used by the Indian government. It refers to communities that are not Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) but still suffer from significant educational and social backwardness. In common parlance, these groups are also referred to as 'backward castes'. The textbook notes that the Congress party's traditional support among these sections had been declining since the 1970s, creating a political vacuum that non-Congress parties were quick to fill.

The Political Awakening: From Janata to Janata Dal

The first major national political expression of OBC aspirations came with the formation of the Janata Party government in 1977. Many of its constituents, such as the Bharatiya Kranti Dal and the Samyukta Socialist Party, had a strong rural base among OBC communities. This pattern was repeated in the 1980s when the Janata Dal brought together a similar coalition of groups with deep OBC support.

The decisive moment, however, was the decision of the National Front government in August 1990 to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission. This single act transformed OBC identity from a social and administrative category into a powerful political one. The intense national debate—both for and against job reservations—made OBC communities far more aware of their shared identity and collective interests.

The Mandal Commission: A Detailed Look

The Commission's origins lie in the Janata Party government (1977-79). Karpoori Thakur, the then Chief Minister of Bihar, was a pioneer who introduced OBC reservations in his state. Following this, the central government appointed a commission in 1978 to examine the conditions of backward classes. This was the second such commission since Independence, officially called the Second Backward Classes Commission, but popularly known as the Mandal Commission after its chairperson, Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal.

Mandate and Recommendations:

• Investigation: The Commission was tasked with investigating the extent of educational and social backwardness among various sections of Indian society and recommending ways to identify these 'backward classes'.
• Definition: Crucially, the Commission advised that 'backward classes' should be understood to mean 'backward castes', since many castes, other than SCs, were also treated as low in the caste hierarchy.
• Findings: Through a survey, the Commission found that these backward castes had a very low presence in both educational institutions and public sector employment.
• Core Recommendation: It recommended reserving 27 per cent of seats in educational institutions and government jobs for these groups.
• Other Recommendations: The Commission also made other suggestions, such as land reform, to improve the overall conditions of the OBCs.

The Commission submitted its report in 1980, but by then the Janata government had fallen. The report lay dormant for a decade.

Implementation and its Fallout

In August 1990, the National Front government decided to implement the recommendation regarding reservations for OBCs in central government jobs and its undertakings. This decision sparked massive agitations and violent protests in many north Indian cities. The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court in the famous 'Indira Sawhney case'. In November 1992, the Supreme Court upheld the government's decision, though with some conditions. While there were initial differences among political parties, the policy of reservation for OBCs now enjoys the support of all major national parties.

The Rise of Dalit Politics: BAMCEF and the BSP

The 1980s also witnessed the parallel rise of political organisation among Dalits.

• BAMCEF (1978): The Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation was formed. It was not an ordinary trade union; it took a strong position in favour of political power for the 'bahujan' — a term encompassing SCs, STs, OBCs, and minorities. …