The Caste Con Census

It is the C word that counts. It has been almost a hundred years since the last nation-wide caste count. The 1931 Census, a British exercise, accounted for 4, 147 castes. The SocioEconomic and Caste Census of 2011 returned over 46 lakh caste names. Castes are countless. Caste, by definition, divides. And in the modern period, castes have only multiplied. Many advocates of social justice believe that counting castes will help redress inequalities. Is this true? What will a more detailed headcount reveal? How will the data be used? In an age when the state often fudges truth and numbers, what are the consequences? Will there be a quota for everyone? Can annihilation of caste ever be a reality?