Indian Society

Religion and Caste

Some Central Questions …

� Who is an Indian?

� What are the complexities of Indian society that we need to understand?

� How does Indian “culture” affect and � How does Indian “culture” affect and constrain business?

� What kind of an Indian society is modern India trying to create? How does it plan to get there?

Class Exercise

� Surfing TV Channels

� What do they tell us about Indian society?

Class Exercise

� Matrimonial Ads

� What do they tell us about Indian society?

The Diversity Within India

�Religions

� Hindu 80.5%

� Muslims 13.4%,

� Christians 2.3%

� Sikhs 1.9%� Sikhs 1.9%

� Buddhists 0.8%

� Jains 0.4%

� Jews, Zoroastrians,

� Tribals 8.1% � Each of the languages on a rupee note is an official Indian language

� There are more than 400 languages within India, drawn from different linguistic roots

http://india.deepthi.com/images/india-map.jpg

Caste, in the past

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qqtCeEDJTqk/SGoXls5vGBI/AAAAAAAAAA0/fE_T1ty0ltA/s320/caste_indian.jpg

RELIGION

To quote MA Jinnah, father of Pakistan

� "You are free, you are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or any other places of worship in this state …. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed. That has nothing to do with the business of the state." has nothing to do with the business of the state."

"In course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense because that is the personal faith of each individual but in the political sense as citizens of the State."

Secularism, as conceived in India� Secularism in India was not replicated from the

western understanding. Secularism, in India, does not negate the existence of religion and religious community, but essentially seeks to separate religion from the state and from its body politic. This prescription further enjoins separation between the public and private. Religion is considered exclusively prescription further enjoins separation between the public and private. Religion is considered exclusively the concern of the community life. However, religion is not to be used as an instrument of bondage, but as a form of collective group existence. So far as the State is concerned, it has both the roles of a guardian of individual freedom and liberty, and protector of minority identity, rights & their freedom as community.

Khilnani, Tharoor on Secularism

� Nehru’s sense of nationhood lay in “unity in diversity.” Pluralism best response for India.

� Rejects communalism that led to partition

� Rejects idea that religion should be a determinant of � Rejects idea that religion should be a determinant of nationhood

� Secularism means multi-religiousness

� Recent contests are really over economic and political gains

� Political gains accrue by appealing to voters on caste,

religion, regional, ethnic, language lines

Amartya Sen’s Response to Critiques of Secularism

�Statistical� Hindus form overwhelming majority

� Counterarguments: Sen

�Political and legal fairness demands neutrality of state in protection of citizen’s rights, regardless of size of citizens’ identity groupsprotection of citizen’s rights, regardless of size of citizens’ identity groups

�How do you define majority anyway in India?

�Historical� India has always been a Hindu country

� Counterargument: Sen

�Multiple religions have flourished for centuries in India

�Indian culture has drawn on multiple religious influences

So …

� We need resoluteness of practice, not the abandonment of principles

� Implementation of Secularism is key to conflict & changing perceptions, particularly conflict & changing perceptions, particularly of the majority Hindu population

Complexity of the Hindu Experience� Hinduism: living, evolving, adaptable way of life� Historically affected every aspect of life� Indian culture is significantly Hindu culture� No dogma, no pope, wide variations acceptable� Thus inherently secular? Is “Dharma” empowering?� Caste, language, region => political fragmentation� Caste, language, region => political fragmentation� Adherents of other religions worry about the all-

embracing and assimilating tendencies of Hinduism� Hindu Law => significant impacts on Caste and Gender� Yet Regional Variations: Matrilineal Systems in Kerala� Sanskritic and Non-Sanskritic Hinduism� Hindus vs Other Religions; Asymmetry of Conversion� Sanskritization; Urbanization and Impact on Caste

Hindu Identity, Historically

� Arises in contrast to other: e.g., Shivaji vs “Muslim”

�Modern Hindu consciousness and identity:� Brahmo Samaj, Roy, partly response to Christianization

� Arya Samaj and Hindu Revivalism; initially reformist

� “Extremism” Tilak and Ganesha Festival“ ”

� Hindu Nationalism� Hindu Mahasabha: founded 1914 by Pandit Malaviya

� Lots of its members also leading Congressmen

� Reaction to the creation of the Muslim League in 1906.

� The Lucknow Pact of 1916 and the rise of Moderates in Congress alienated many of the Hindu extremists

� Savarkar leads Mahasabha away from Congress to 'Hinduizeall politics & militarize Hinduism’. Inspired by Euro-Fascism

� Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh formed

� Bharatiya Jana Sangh formed with RSS help in 1950

Bharatiya Jana Sangh/Bharatiya Janata Party

� Founded with loan from RSS (Vajpayee, Advani, Upadhyay)

� Affected by hostility to ideology in aftermath of partition & Gandhi assassination; power of Nehruvian alternative

� Limited caste, class and regional base

� Grows slowly in association with anti-Congress parties� Grows slowly in association with anti-Congress parties

� Sangh Parivar: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh—cultural organization that spreads tentacles in deep, disciplined way

� Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Vanvasi Kalyan Sangh, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sabha, Swadeshi Jagran Manch

� Strategy: Identify instances of Hindu-minority unity and disrupt it? Identify instances of “minority appeasement” and condemn; communal violence; unite Hindus across divides

� Rhetoric: Hindus ill-treated in India; Re-assert strength

Amartya Sen on Identities and Politics

�Sen saw Kader Mia, a poor day labourer, murdered by a mob because of his Muslim identity … he was also an Indian in undivided India at that time; also a Bengali; also a resident of Dhaka; also a labourer; also a very poor person. He had many identities his assailants shared. person. He had many identities his assailants shared. But the focus on the allegedly singular identity of the person as a Muslim man led to his murder by the Hindu rioters, overlooking all the common affiliations that Hindus and Muslims shared.

�Sen’s thesis is that group violence in the world is aided by and sometimes actively promoted by the miniaturization of human beings into just one identity, and this effort obliterates everything else in what is seen in that person.

Flashpoints involving Secularism

�Founding of Pakistan� Should India be a Hindu state? Minority regions?

�Article 370 in Kashmir� Similar articles apply in different parts of India where

local populations fear being overrun by “outsider”local populations fear being overrun by “outsider”

�Uniform Civil Code� Directive Principle in the Constitution

�Shah Bano Case� Supreme Court judgment

� Rajiv Gandhi’s response: New law to overturn ruling

�Babri Masjid and Its Destruction

Spurs Hindutva’s Rise� Shah Bano case seen as catering to conservative

Islamic forces rather than modernizers� Used to demonstrate “pseudo-secularism” and

pampering of minorities� Ayodhya movement builds on these cases, and also

serves as a counter to VP Singh’s Mandal movesserves as a counter to VP Singh’s Mandal moves� Argues for Hindus to assert their rights, enhance

their self-respect, assert their power� Tremendous support across India, mainly upper

castes, Diaspora, youth, urban India� Some OBC support too� Culminates in destruction of Babri Masjid and the

rise of BJP

What does Hindutva imply for India?

�What are its implications for how society should be governed? What would Ram Rajya mean today?

�What does it prescribe beyond the abolition of minority preferences?

� Is it an alien transplant (Savarkar drawing inspiration � Is it an alien transplant (Savarkar drawing inspiration from European fascists) compared to India’s innate secular ethos?

�What to do about multiplicities of identities and practices among Hindus?

�What does a Uniform Civil Code mean in practice?

�Where will Hindutva take us, eventually?

Other Issues Involving Religion, Particularly Minorities

� Individual rights versus religious prescriptions & interpretations. How should the state respond?

� Civil codes for different religions

� Different education systems and their relevance to the modern economythe modern economy

� Right to proselytize and convert?

� The Sachar Committee Report and the actual status of minorities in different sectors

� Do conservatives override the views of moderates in particular religions? Under what circumstances?

� Sectarian conflicts within religions.

CASTE

Reservation in Higher Education

The Immediate Trigger

�HRD Minister Arjun Singh’s announcement

� Interpreting Supreme Court judgment about affirmative action for backward classes as quotas or reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

� Insistence on implementing 27% reservations for OBCs in � Insistence on implementing 27% reservations for OBCs in one go in government-funded institutions of excellence (AIIMS, IIT, IIM)

�Backlash: Protests by section of students at these Institutes

�Extensive coverage of backlash by English language TV channels

Fallout

� 2 Knowledge Commission Members Resign:� Support Affirmative Action but Oppose Quotas & Diktats

� Andre Beteille:� “We can either move forward and create centres of

academic excellence or go along with the demands of identity politics based on caste and community, but we identity politics based on caste and community, but we cannot do both.”

� Pratap Bhanu Mehta: � "instead of finding imaginative solutions to allow us to

transcend our own despicable history of inequity, … we remain entrapped in the caste paradigm."

� “We are not doing enough to genuinely empower marginalised groups but are offering condescending palliatives like quotas as substitute.”

Puzzles

� Affirmative action OK

� Calls for Voluntary Action

� Acknowledge “despicable history of inequity”

�Want genuinely empowering, imaginative solutions�Want genuinely empowering, imaginative solutions

� “Caste paradigm” criticized

�OK with continuing reservations for SC/ST; oppose extension to OBCs, without due consultations

�Question process, legitimacy, fairness, politicization

Protesting Students’ Demands

�Moral, Efficiency Arguments

� Youth for “Equality”

� Emphasis on “Merit”

� Why the Quotes? Because these are contentious issues

�Political Economic Arguments�Political Economic Arguments

� Upper Castes want to maintain their dominance?

� Government only keen on catering to Vote Banks

�Fairness and Perception

� Creamy Layer and Non-deserving Get the Benefits

� “Unfair” that upper caste who scored high gets cut

� System is often misused and corrupted

In the beginning…The Preamble

� WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;JUSTICE, social, economic and political;LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them allFRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation

Complications

� Social Justice, Economic Justice and Political Justice may sometimes be in conflict

� India historically a highly unequal society

� Caste was a key determinant of status and of opportunity, both of which were highly skewed in opportunity, both of which were highly skewed in favor of a small minority of upper castes

� Fraternity was minimal: significant divisions and minimal interactions between castes, religions, etc. Untouchability was rampant

� So how do we achieve the idealistic vision enshrined in the Preamble?

Amartya Sen on What We Need to Achieve for all Indians

�What we achieved in 1947 was political freedom�True freedom is when each and every individual

in society can fulfill his or her potential�Capabilities Approach

� Remove barriers: ill-health, illiteracy, poverty� Remove barriers: ill-health, illiteracy, poverty� Enhance self-confidence: participation in making one’s

own destiny, governing oneself, equal social status

�Human Development; not per capita income only

�How do we get there?� Again, role of government vs private sector markets

or civil society

Alternative Paths

� Do Nothing:

� Declare caste and inequality dead and move on;

� The market will take care of things

� Civil society will take care of creating a civic society

� Active Government Intervention� Active Government Intervention

� Intervene actively to overturn burdens of history

� How? Derecognize caste as determinant of opportunity

� Except in the case of scheduled castes (and tribes)

� Provide them RESERVATIONS for 10 years in Education, Employment, Elected Positions

� Invest in Education: Primary, Secondary, Higher

10 Years!

� To overcome millennia of oppression & inequality

� To overcome deep prejudice and discrimination

� What ambition!

� In the face of� In the face of

� Caste segregated occupations and career prospects

� Arranged marriage system that keeps caste alive

� Caste segregated living and housing patterns

� Caste determined power relations

Alternative: Provide Quality Primary and Secondary Education for All

�Assumption:� Talent is distributed equally across the population� Quality Primary and Secondary Education for All will

ensure that the best rise to the top

�Reality:� Education highly unequal in access and quality� Education highly unequal in access and quality� Government service delivery overall a failure� High dropout rates of lower castes & poor� Private sector burgeoning, access indexed on wealth� Service-oriented schools available but limited reach� Waiting for Primary & Secondary Education to redress

inequalities will take decades; caste gaps may widen meanwhile; market forces creating new caste divide

Education as Key to Opportunity

� Education led to jobs in the burgeoning public sector after Independence

� Education key to social & economic mobility

� Education key to global mobility (Escape India!)India!)

� Education even more important to success in today’s knowledge economy

� Education creating a new “caste system”?

� Education incidentally also implies competence and capability in one’s professional role

Equality of Access

�Level Playing Field? Unequal Starting Points

�Scarce Seats, Tremendous Payoffs from Entry

�Need for Fair Process of Deciding Access

�AlternativesMerit diagnosing examination� Merit diagnosing examination

� Auction off the seats (fair market process)

� Lottery

� Voting

�All the above are regarded by society as fair processes for deciding who gets what under different circumstances

Merit

�Merit diagnosed through entrance exams

� Entrance exams are often inherently unfair: e.g., the CAT (IIM Entrance Exam) is conducted in English; automatically rules out large numbers

� Entrance exam success determined by coaching� Entrance exam success determined by coaching

� Access to coaching determined by wealth

� Is a 75% by a poor, first-generation educated, lower-caste, rural girl equal to a 90% by her urban, upper-caste, third-generation, coached male counterpart?

� Exams need not necessarily test aptitude

The Numbers

�Paucity of data on most aspects of the debate

�Rough estimate from one of my IIM classes:

� 25% South Indian Brahmin, 25% North Indian Bania (including Jain), 25% Reserved; 25% Rest (few OBCs)

� Practically no minority religions (some Christian/Sikh)� Practically no minority religions (some Christian/Sikh)

� 20% Women

� Significant chunk of urban, government servants’ kids

� Implications?

� Can we say that women are inherently less meritorious than men when it comes to business acumen?

� Or are there other societal barriers to their success?

� If so, what are they and how can we overcome them?

Role of Institutions in Transforming Professionals

� Is entry all that matters?

� Does ranking at exit resemble ranking at entry?

�What is the role of institutions in training and transforming individuals?

Can institutions work with diverse individuals & � Can institutions work with diverse individuals & bring them all up to a basic level of professional excellence?

� If they can, are they doing it? Why or why not?

�What comes in the way? Resources or Attitudes

� Does success in profession relate to ranking at entry or exit from educational institution?

Determinants of Professional Success

�Professional competence, capability, creativity

�Book knowledge vs Practical, craft skills

�Training, Internship, Work Experience

�Soft skills and acculturation (“one of us”)

Self confidence and motivation�Self confidence and motivation

�Mentors, Role Models

�Networks, social and professional

�Knowledge of job openings and prospects for career growth

� Incentive systems to generate good performance

What does Caste capture, that Income alone does not?

� Historical limitations on career possibilities�Mental barriers to aspiration and success� Role models and mentors from kinship group� Socialization and values supportive of education�Overall, caste is a useful proxy for deprivations�Overall, caste is a useful proxy for deprivations� Policy aims to Use Caste to Destroy Caste� But caste, for non-SCs, highly complicated and

variable; e.g., Dominant castes; MBCs within OBCs� Creamy Layer (legitimacy; how many generations?)� 2nd generation = “people like us” => better success!� Caste reservations can stigmatize success� Can create an entitlement mindset, lower motivation

Alternative Measures of Disadvantage

� Caste or Group Based

� Relative under-representation in no. of graduates

� Individual Based

� Parental occupation

� Type of school where SSC certificate obtained� Type of school where SSC certificate obtained

� Academic Score: Social Disadvantage 80:20

� Group Disadvantage Scores determined by region, gender, caste, literacy. Focus on Relative Progress, not just Caste

� Addresses interaction effects of disadvantage factors

� Yogendra Yadav & Satish Deshpande EPW June 17, 2006

Alternate Ways to Overcome Scarcity

� Open education to the private sector; Education as business; private, for-profit universities; Foreign U

� Condition: Reserve some portion of seats for students from disadvantaged backgrounds� (Has not worked well in primary education)� (Has not worked well in primary education)

� Make teaching and research rewarding professions

� Make vocational education rewarding; we need alternatives to higher education degrees for success

� Enable entrepreneurship, across all divisions

John Rawls: Justice as Fairness

� Thought Experiment:

� Imagine yourself designing rules for society

� From behind “veil of ignorance” you will design just and equitable rules and systemdesign just and equitable rules and system

� Inequality OK as long as worst off has chance to improve his/her situation

� Favours direct redistribution of resources

Implications: Permanent Help for Disadvantaged� As long as societal/market forces create winners and

losers, then there is a role for creating structures that will enable the disadvantaged to improve their prospects

� How to define disadvantaged and how to work with them to improve their prospects is the keythem to improve their prospects is the key

� So reservations or alternative policy measures with similar aims are needed permanently

� But who is disadvantaged will change over time� And if policies are effective, definition of

disadvantage will not be linked only to caste or income; other measures will arise, e.g., gender, rural vs urban location, language of instruction?

What kind of India appeals to you?

�One where our servants’ children become our children’s servants

�Or an India where everyone gets a chance to shine regardless of one’s birth, wealth or other identity?

�What is the role of business, government, and �What is the role of business, government, and society in achieving this ideal outcome?

�What do each of us need to do, what kinds of sacrifices do we need to make, to get there?

� How many young Indian achievers would mentor even one child from a disadvantaged background?

Current Controversy: Caste Census

�Should india collect caste information as a part of the census?

�What are the pros and cons?

�Will it reinforce caste divisions or help combat �Will it reinforce caste divisions or help combat the caste hierarchy?

46

Looming Possibility:Private Sector Reservations

� Decline in Public Sector Employment and Explosive Growth in Private Sector

� Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization

� Opportunities => English-speaking Middle Class

IIMs a Subsidy for Urban, Convent-Educated � IIMs a Subsidy for Urban, Convent-Educated Children of Professionals?

� Globally Competitive India vs Bharat

� Education System: Higher Education Emphasis and Primary Education Neglect Worsens Gap

� Commercialization of Education Worsens Gap

The Scenario Today

� Congress Manifesto Promises Affirmative Action or Reservations in Private Sector

� Paswan, Mayawati (Dalit Parties), & Left Want Private Sector Reservation

� Manmohan Singh asks for Voluntary Action: � Manmohan Singh asks for Voluntary Action: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

� Ministerial Committee Constituted

� No party will ignore the issue for fear of angering particular perceived vote banks

Politics of Reservation

� Contours of Reservation in Private Sector Undefined: SC/ST only or OBC too?

� Maharashtra: law affects all companies that do government contractsdo government contracts

� Once demand gets on the policy agenda, it is likely to happen in one way or the other

� It’s Going To Happen: Should Industry, and India, See It as a Problem or a Revolutionary Opportunity?

Who Gains? The Disadvantaged?

� Would the truly disadvantaged get jobs in the private sector? Or just the creamy layer?

� What kinds of jobs will be available?

� Is liberalization creating a new caste system?

Is there enough talent out there? What about � Is there enough talent out there? What about backlog vacancies in public sector?

� IIMs have been reserved for ever. Where are their graduates? Are they identifiable? Successful?

� Disadvantaged would gain from seeing role models succeeding in industry, if they help others come up too

Industry Reaction

� No Talent Available to Hire on Merit

� Claim that Caste or Other Disadvantage Not Taken Into Account in Hiring

� Claim it Would Affect Companies Ability to � Claim it Would Affect Companies Ability to Hire & Fire in Response to Market Conditions

� Tata Group and Videocon Welcome Move

� Various industry bodies ask government to shelve move

Imposition Likely to Backfire

� Industry Evasive Tactics: Class IV Employees; Employees to Consultants etc

� Monitoring and Enforcement Difficult

� Counterproductive to Economic Stability

Only 15% of Industry is Corporate Sector� Only 15% of Industry is Corporate Sector

� Even here, nature of workforce is changing e.g., TeamLease is big hirer but of contract labour

� Rest in Unorganized Sector: How to Ensure Opportunities There?

Opportunity or Obligation

� Opportunity: To Recast Reservation into Meaningful Affirmative Action

� Opportunity: To

� Obligation: Liberalization Helps Private Sector So Give Back

� Opportunity: To Transform Indian Workforce

� Opportunity: To Bring About Better Social Justice

� Obligation: IT Sector Received Tax Breaks

� Obligation: Corporate Social Responsibility

Pratap Bhanu Mehta

� The architecture of the Indian economy will, under no conceivable circumstances, be socially legitimate if dalits and marginalised communities do not, in the long run, have a significant share of private sector jobs, if communities do not, in the long run, have a significant share of private sector jobs, if they are not made participants in the wealth creating processes of the market, and if they are forever confined to enclaves within the public or the informal sectors, or condemned to lead lives as landless labour—Affirmation without Reservation, 2004

If Corporates Look in the Mirror

� Merit is not defined transparently

� Much hiring takes place without openness

� Many business groups seem to favourhiring people similar to themselveshiring people similar to themselves

� Other countries have introduced Affirmative Action in the private sector without their economies collapsing, e.g., USA, for minorities and women, Malaysia, for Malays, South Africa too

Can Government Work Out a Deal?

� Labour market reforms in exchange for affirmative action?

� Are corporates more concerned about government and regulatory interventions?

� Where does the government role end and � Where does the government role end and private sector autonomy begin?

� Do we need an “anti-discrimination” law? Even if no overt discrimination, do outcomes matter?

� Have government initiatives on reservation been successful in the public sector? Any lessons?

Government Initiatives

� Distribute licenses/contracts preferentially to people from disadvantaged backgrounds� Could just end up sold to others

� Favourable tax and other rewards for good performance in hiring?performance in hiring?

� Can government help create an entrepreneur base among disadvantaged?

� Will government initiatives destroy caste system or reinforce it? In Malaysia, similar policies are accused of strengthening racial divide

Industry Initiative: Elite Level

� Aim: To Create Cadre of Executives and Leaders from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

� Assumption: Talent is Available Across Economic and Social Backgrounds

� Assumption: Leadership a Function of More � Assumption: Leadership a Function of More than Education; Peer Groups, Soft Skills, Exposure

� Assumption: Individual-oriented Efforts Will Result in Larger Societal Impacts, e.g., Role Models and Catalysts of Change

Thrust

� Select Outstanding Students At High School Level from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

� Ensure Selection is Competitive & Transparent

� Provide Top Quality Educational Opportunities

� Match Individuals with Mentors from � Match Individuals with Mentors from Companies

� Enhance Leadership through Soft Skill Camps

� Give Practical Training and Internships

� Mandate that Recipients Give Back a Year to Perpetuating Program

Advantages

� Disadvantaged Backgrounds Can Be Defined by Industry: Moves Program Beyond Caste

� Eliminates Dependency and Entitlement Mindset

Eliminates Stigma: Showcases Top Talent and � Eliminates Stigma: Showcases Top Talent and Capabilities from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

� Creates a Peer Group akin to Rhodes Scholars

� Pre-empts Societal Conflict over Issue

� Private Sector Can Design & Deliver Effectively

Industry Initiatives: Service Sector

� Can Become Entrepreneurial Opportunity

� Service Sector Employment Explosion

� Train People from Disadvantaged BackgroundsBackgrounds

� Locate in “Bharat”

� “BPO-Enable”Candidates, for example

� Match Candidates with Company Needs

� Overcome Job-related Deficiencies of Higher Education System

India UnInc

� How to Deal with Unorganized Sector?

� Prepare and Nurture Entrepreneurs

� Focus on Professional Training for Small Business ManagementBusiness Management

� Provide Access to Credit and Markets

� Thrust: Empowerment, not Employment

� Win-win: Industry as Venture Capitalist

� Infrastructure: Need Incubation Initiatives

Does Caste Matter for Business & Entrepreneurial Success?

Rank Billionaire(s) Value Caste

1 Lakshmi Mittal $31.1 billion Bania

2 Mukesh Ambani $27 billion Bania

3 Azim Premji $16.8 billion Khoja

4 Shashi and Ravi Ruia $15.8 billion Bania(s)

5 Savitiri Jindal $13.2 billion Bania

6 Gautam Adani $10 billion Bania

7 Kumar Mangalam Birla $9.2 billion Bania

8 Anil Ambani $8.8 billion Bania

9 Sunil Mittal $8.3 billion Bania

10 Adi Godrej $7.3 billion Parsi

http://www.livemint.com/articles/2011/04/14205640/The-peculiar-pedigree-of-the-b.html

Exceptions to this Trend?Rank Billionaire Value Caste

11 K.P. Singh of LDF $7.3 billion Peasant-Jat

14 Shiv Nadar of HCL $5.6 billion OBC

15 Malvinder and ShivinderSingh of Ranbaxy

$4.1 billion Sikh

16 Kalanithi Maran of Sun TV $3.5 billion OBC

20 Pankaj Patel of Cadila $2.6 billion Peasant-Patel

28 Narayana Murthy $2 billion Brahmin

32 Nandan Nilekani $1.8 billion Brahmin

33 Ajay Kalsi of Indus Gas $1.7 billlion

34 S. Gopalakrishnan $1.6 billion Brahmin

35 Anji Reddy $1.5 billion Peasant-Reddy

36 Vijay Mallya $1.4 billion Brahmin

41 Baba Kalyani, Bharat Forge $1.3 billion Lingayat

Aakaar Patel writes …

� Only Gujarat is capable of producing billionaires drawn from four different faiths—Hindu, Parsi, Jain and Muslim—and three different castes: Baniya, Khatri and peasant. This is unique in India and there is something about this secular mercantile culture that produces great men across communities. great men across communities.

� Three out of the four biggest leaders of the subcontinent under British rule were Gujarati, and they were drawn from these three castes: Gandhi, Jinnah and Patel.

� Missing: Bihar, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, UP

� Missing:

� Ratan Tata. He owns less than 1% of Tata Sons

Dalit Entrepreneurship

� Nearly all are are first-generation entrepreneurs.� “Most Dalit entrepreneurs face problems – getting supplies

on credit, lack of social networks, absence of kin groups in the business, and control of traditionally dominant business-caste groups. These, along with lack of social capital, make the Dalit situation more complicated capital, make the Dalit situation more complicated

� Milind Kamble, Chairman of Pune-based Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, is compiling a database of Dalit businessmen, & helps them get industry linkages.

� Chandrabhan Prasad: “The government ought to set up a ‘National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Supplier Development Council’, which should identify Dalit/tribal entrepreneurs who are already supplying goods and services to the government through middlemen, and connect them directly to procurement departments,” like US does for minority business

http://www.livemint.com/2010/12/26190827/The-rise-of-Dalit-entrepreneur.html?atype=tphttp://www.rgics.org/pdf1/wpn-44.pdf http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-07-31/news/29835800_1_dalit-entrepreneurs-das-offshore-dalit-businessmen

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