Background:
The
state of Maharashtra is one of the
progressive states in India because of its different identity. Most of the social
and political movements had started from this state. In modern times
Justice M.G.Ranade , social reformer Mahatma Jotiba Phule gave new shape to this state. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar also started his social and
political movements from this state. He
also criticized the social structure of Hindu Religion and find out caste based
authoritarianism and political power. Gail Omvedt took the review of caste politics
and she concludes that this phenomenon was a cultural revolt against Brahman
power. Thus the state of Maharashtra has getting
different type of identity.
The voting politics started after the
reforms by the act of 1935 in British period and for first time peoples got the
opportunity to cast their votes. This process spread after the independence and
the power transferred from upper caste to the middle caste. Now presently the
“Maratha ‘’ caste is dominating on the politics and other backward classes (OBC’s)
are mobilizing against the establishment.
The study of this scenario is very interesting so the researcher have
chosen this topic for the presentation.
1930-1960:
The Indian National Congress
actively participated in the election after the Reforms of Act 1935. This
election was held in 1937 and first time the state assemblies established in
nine provinces. Mumbai was one of the provenience where the Indian National Congress
dominating. Within the Congress party there were two major groups actively
involved in election process. One group was form under leadership of Shankarrao
Dev and second group was trying to capture power under the banner of Non-Brahmin
movement. Keshavrao Jedhe, Bhaushaeb
Hire were the leaders of this second group. The Brahmin group was so strong due
to its background of upper caste and monopoly in knowledge field. British
education was accepted by this group so they dominated in each and every filed.
Lokmanya Tilak, Gopalkrishana Gokhale had lead the mass movement on the national level . On the same time the
Non-Brahmin’s leaders were away from Congress movement and the leader like
Mahatma Phule had boycotted on the national movement. Mahama Phule was advocate of social movement and started the
movement against social exploitation by Brahimns and mobilized
Non- Brahmin castes against them. Phule established the ‘Satyashodhak
Samaj’and further ‘Non-Brahmin’ movements. These new forces were parallel to
the Indian national movement.
The Satyashodhak Samaj and
Non-Brahmin movement got the support from the masses. This
movement motivated by Chhtrapati Shahu Maharaj in Kolhapur and, Mahama Phule was lead the movement in Pune. So the movement became powerful in the
state. Keshavrao Jedhe and Dinkarrao Javalkar these leaders were lead this movement in other parts of state. This new group was deadly against group
of Tilak and their followers too. The
Non-Brahmin groups were kept distance from freedom struggle movement. After
Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi lead the freedom
struggle movement and Non- Brahmin groups attached with Indian National Congress.
The social reformer Vittal Ramaji Shinde
took the efforts and incentive for new a alignment. Mahatma Gandhi also wanted the groups of
farmers and workers should merge in the main stream. According to that Kakasaheb
Gadgil took the efforts and he appealed
those leaders of Non- Brahmin movement engaging in the Congress party. In 1920 the Non-Brahmin
leaders like Keshavrao Jedhe discussed this matter with Mahatma Gandhi in Jedhe
Mansion. Gandhi appealed to these leaders to join Indian National Congress. The
leaders of Non- Brahmin accepted this request and they decided to join with Congress.
Jedhe made the campaign and he appealed that Maratha community to come forward
for cooperation with the Congress party. Large Maratha community had entered in
the Congress party. In future, Keshavrao Jedhe gave the opportunity to other
leaders like Shankarao More, Bhausaheb Hire, Tulshidas Jadhav and Yashwantrao Chavan
to lead the Maratha community and congress party.
Right to vote was spread
after the act 1935 in the British Raj. The first elected government established
in 1937 and the power race was started in between Brahmin and Non-Brahmin
leaders. The sizeable figure of Maratha and
Non-Brahmin voters were larger than Brahmin’s. So the establishment of
Maratha- Non-Brahmin in the power was unavoidable. In Bombay state the congress
party divided in two major groups namely Dev and Jedhe . Shankrao Dev, T.
R.Devgirikar, B. G. Kher were one side
and Keshavrao Jedhe, Shankrao More, Tulsidas Jadav, Bhaushaeb Hire these
Maratha leaders for another side. Dev-
Devgirikar group had more influence on state regional Congress and this group
supported to the B.J.Kher and Morarji Deasi for their Chief Ministership in the
Bombay state. Jedhe became state Congress chief and he felt that he had been
neglected and insulted by the Brahiman’s leaders like Dev-Devgirikar. Within
the party Jedhe supported to interest of farmers and workers. And he wanted to
mobilize this politics in interest of Congress. Also he criticized politics of
“Shetji-Bhatji”. To overcome this problem,
Jedhe formulated Peasants-Workers new group writhen the Congress. This new move
was opposed by Shankrrao Dev who was the
General Secretary of Indian National Congress.Dev himself utilized his position
and he banned the group formulated by
Jedhe. Jedhe realized that the Maratha interest will be not protected in the
party and he decided to form “Peasent Worker Party” (PWP) in political interest
of Non-Brahmin groups and openly oppose to politics of “Shetji- Bhataji”. This decision
affected on Congress party and some Maratha leaders were agreed with stand of
Jedhe. Withen the Congress party they wanted to develop their Maratha politics.
Yashwantrao Chavan realized the wrong stand of Jedhe and he decided to remain with
Congress. Chavan wanted to develop their group with support from Maratha-
Kunbi, farmers and it was possible because of voter’s strength of
Non-Brahimins. Yashwantrao Chavan advised to Jedhe for remain with congress
however Jedhe decided to form new political party. Other Maratha leader like
Bhaushaeb Raut, Shankarrao More,
Tulsidas Jadav supported to Jedhe
for formulation and establishment of Peasant
Worker Party and they were join in the new party. The middle leaders involved in PWP
and they challenged to State Congress leaderships. The new party got the
support from masses and Congress party lost the base from rural area. The vacuum
is created in the Congress due to formation of PWP. Congress party learned a
lesson from new political formation and party promoted other Maratha leaders
who where remain with Congress. Yashwantrao Chavan and Bhausheeb Hire got the
opportunity to lead the party in the state. Hire became a president and Chavan
worked as secretary for regional congress party. Chavan had successfully made efforts for
strengthen the regional congress and he
prepared his own influence writhen and outside the party. He made the social and political engineering
in the state in period of 1950-1960 when the main opposition parties were
mobilize the masses on the issue of
Bombay with Maharashtra. With hard work and co-ordination, he patiently handled
the various groups writhen and outside the party so relations with opposition
parties were not a problem for him. He was the successor of Morarji Desai after 1954 in the Congress. In
1960 the state of Maharashtra was establish after long struggle by all opposition
parties and credit went to Chavan due to his political diplomacy. After 1960
Yashwantrao Chavan accepted the policies of development and welfare state and he
implemented the development scheme for the farmers and villages. He adopted “Agro-
Industry “model for the development of rural Maharashtra. He promoted the
Co-operative movement for the agriculture and economic sector of rural area of
state. The Co-operative sugar mills started this time which became the main
magnificent force latter 1960 in the state politics. Through the Co-operative
sector the Congress party had got the political base in Maratha and Non-
Brahmins votes. In the centre and state the Congress party was in the power and
this combine power supported to Co-operative movement and automatically this sector
got the financial support from the state. The ultimate result was the spread of
Co-operative movement and the vote bank of Congress. By this way the face of
rural Maharashtra changed and
Non-Brahmin and Maratha’s were become the actual rulers for the state.
The major development took place and middle farmer became the Co-operative
industrialist and they were main supporters for the Congress party. Namely, Yashwantrao Mohite, Tatyasaheb Kore, Balasaheb Vike-Patil, Vasantraodada
Patil, Karmvir Wagh, these leaders came forward from
Co-operative politics. The Co-operative institutions provided the base for
mobilization of votes in interest of Congress.
And this new group also shared the power in local self government.
The Congress
government accepted the decentralization of power through Panchayat raj. The model
was developed by Vasantrao Naik who became Chief Minister of Maharashtra in
1963. This model was of three tires which gave the political enhancement to
Congress party in the state. This model gave the lot of contribution in development of rural part of the state and
also gave training to the political workers. Political workers and leaders got
the participation in power and some of them successfully lead in the state
politics. Rural Maratha elite leaders
groups he got good opportunity to make the career in the state politics.
Yashwantrao Chavan gave the more concentration on the development of rural Maharashtra
and he himself established his leaderships in the state. In interest of
education and the social development Maratha leadership started new
Universities in various parts of the state. Most of the Maratha leaders opened
colleges and schools for their educational and social interest. The farmer sons
got the EBC facility for completion of their education from primary to higher
education so many schools and colleges opened for providing the education.
Presently, the education sector is under the control of Maratha leaderships and
Government of Maharashtra is providing the salary of the teachers. By this way
the monopoly of Brahmin community declined and Maratha community entered in the
area of politics and education. Maratha got higher position in other area like
administration, education. The first phase of this scenario began from 1930 and
continued in 1980.
After capturing the power, Yashwantrao Chavan
made various changes in Maharashtra Regional Congress committee. Malojiraje
Naik Nimbalkar became the President of MPCC instead of Devgirikar. Yashwantrao
Chavan played the card of Mararatha and he invited the other Maratha leaders
for a development of Non-Brahmin community. And he also gave the sharing to
these leaders in the power. The several Maratha leaders from PWP joined in the
congress party and they became the part of Power. Most of them got the licenses
for starting the Co-operative sugar mills in their areas. The founders of PWP
like Keshavrao Jedhe, Tulshidas Jadav, joined to the Congress party in
1962. The most of the Maratha leaders
preferred the stand of Yashwantrao Chavan and they entered in the congress
party. Once again Congress party got the support from Maratha other
Non-Brahmins castes. In 1936 the Brahmin leaders were dominated on the party and
after 1960 Martha leaders took the charge of the state politics.
The opposition parties like Communist, Jansangh, Socialist under the control of Brahmin
leaders like S.A, Dange , Rambhau Mahalgi, S.M. Joshi respectively but they
were not getting the support from the masses. They had their political base in
urban part of the state like Mumbai, Pune , Nashik and other urban part of Maharashtra. This
social structure became the base for Congress party till 1977. In 1977 the
emergence of Janata Party in center was major setback to Congress party because
this party won 28 seats out of 48 in Maharashtra. Most of the Congress leaders
in region Mumbai, Pune, Konkan, Marathwada and Vidarbha lost the election and
some of them joined new Janata Party after declaration of election result. The
Dalit party like RPI did not get big support from the masses and most Dalit
leaders preferred to join the hands with Congress party under the Maratha
leadership. Yashwantrao Chavan gave them minor sharing in the power. And most of Dalit leaders were happy with the
Congress party. Within twenty five years the Maratha reached at highest level
of power from a support of Kunbi and Dalit. And state politics had got a
proper face of Non- Brahmin leadership.
In first phase of these transitions, the print
media did not believe on the new changes.Some editor’s criticized on the capacity
and abilities of Maratha leadership. But new Maratha leaders proved their capacities,
abilities and vision for the development. These leaderships commanded on the
administration and in politics. Yashwantrao Chavan, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh, Annasaheb Shinde, Vasantraodada Patil, Shankarao
Chavan, Rajarambapu Patil, Bhausaheb Hire, Madhukarao Chuodhari these leaders
were came forward for the leadership and they proved their abilities and
capacities in politics of Maharashtra.
The
social structure of Maharashtra consisted major two layers one is upper caste
and second lower caste. Brahmin’s and Maratha’s are belonging to upper castes
however Kunbi and Dalit are lower caste. Maratha means landlord and having a
local power. Kunbi are second in Maratha but they have no background of land, and
most of the them depends upon landlords Maratha’s.
This difference closed dawn in the process of politics of Non- Brahmins. Kunbi’s
supported to Martha for capturing the power from upper caste. In Maratha
history Chh. Shivaji had made efforts to mobilize the all Maratha and Kunbi
under one umbrella of Maratharaj. This pattern was suitable to Congress leaders
for getting support from Kunbi. Marathwada,Konkan, Vidrbha, Western Mahrashtra, Khandesh
and Baglan these are main parts of Maharashtra by local language where Kunbi’s population is very high then Maratha. Nearly, 40% Kunbi’s are staying in
the various part of state which is big vote bank for the political parties. Yashwantrao
Chavan realized the strength of
Kunbi population and he made the politics of“Bhaujanwad” with support of them.
After all other casts like Mali, Teli Wanjari, Dhangar, Komati Aagari also covered
under the politics of Bhaujanwad. Yaswantrao Chavan offered the ministerships
to Kunbi’s and other OBC’s and he successfully made new structure of Bhauganwad
politics under the leadership of Maratha. So Maratha got the big support from
the various castes other than Brahmins. New power centers like Co-operative
sugar mills and Kunbi-OBC’s votes supported to the Maratha politics. From 1930 t0 1980 this structure had dominated
on the politics of Maharashtra.
1977 onward:
Till 1977, the above structure was
successfully implemented in the role of state but Indira Gandhi played the
different parallel role and she gave set back to the established leaders. In
the politics of Maharashtra, Indira Gandhi promoted other Maratha leaders who had
no base from the masses. After the President election (1969) and the split in
All India Congress party, Indira Gandhi was trying to give setback to Maratha
leaderships. Shankarao Chavan became Chief Minister by the replacement of
Vasantrao Naik who was the follower of Yashwantrao Chavan. In 1978 election the Congress party was split
in two parties one Congress (Indira) and second was Congress (Reddy). Both the
parties contested the election on their party identity. And no single party had
got the majority in the lower house. Janata Party and other left parties were
near to majority but they did not successes to form the government. Vasantdada
Patil leader of Congress (R) and Nashikrao Tirpude the leader of Congress (I)
came together for the power. Ultimately, Maratha leaders and voters divided in
two major groups however there were some differences but Maratha dominance had
no any set back. The combine government of Congress (R) and Congress (I)
collapsed after the split of Shard Pawar and his followers from Congress
(R). Shard Pawar formed new party namely
Sammantar Congress and capture the power with support from Janata Party, PWP
and other left parties. This experiment known as “Progressive Democratic
Alliance” in the state. This government sustaining for twenty months and
maintain the status of Maratha politics. After the decline of Janata party, a
first time Indian politics faced midterm poll in 1980 and once again Indira
Gandhi and her Congress party won the election by two-third majority in the
Loksabha. Indira Gandhi dissolved the seven state assemblies including
Maharashtra after capturing the power at center. Mean while the group of
Vasantdada Patil was merge in Congress (I) and in the state election the
this party got thumbing majority in
the lower house of Maharashtra.
OBC
role:
In 80th decade the phase of politics changed under the
leadership of Shard Joshi. He formed
the farmer organization and demanded the more rates for Agriculture products. And he started his hesitation in Vidhrabha
and Marathawada regions. The first time middle farmers supported to Sharad
Joshi against established Maratha leaderships. Joshi came forward from Brahmin
community and handled the issues of Cotton, Sugarcane and Onion and he got the
success on some issues. Sharad Pawar and Vasantdada Patil these two leaders
played the politics and took the efforts for political interest. Both leaders
used the skills and strategies of Yashwantrao Chavan for maintaining the vote
banks of the farmers. In 1985 election, Shard Joshi supported to Sharad Pawar
and Progressive Democratic Alliance against the Congress (I).But Vasantdada
Patil and Congress (I) party got the victory in the election. After one year
Sharad Pawar merge his poltical party in Congress (I) . Pawar mobilized middle
farmers and he created a new leadership from middle farmers. To obtain the
support from OBC’s he started the politics of OBC’s and demanded their demands.
Before 1990, the state government started the implementation of Mandal
Commission recommendations and the face of state politics was change. The state
BJP unit also promoted leaders from OBC’s like Gopinath Munde (Vanjari), Anna
Dange (Dhangar ) , N. S. Farande (Mali )these leaders gave the leadership for
mobilizing the votes and the Non-Brahmin
image to BJP. The BJP unit alliance with
Shivsena for political gain in the state politics. After the ‘Shabanu’ case and the issue of Ram janmmabhumi in the
Shivsena- BJP alliance were very assertive and made propaganda on the issue of
Hindu politics. For this purpose both parties used OBC votes and their
leadership. Shivsena became the state regional party and take lead on the issue
of Hindu politics, got the support from the various parts of state and mostly
Maratha and OBC’s leaders .in 1986,
Pawar and his party was merge in Congress (I)
and vacuum created in the state. So many Maratha leaders preferred
Shivsena for their political servile. Shivsena promoted new comers Marathas and
OBC’s for a new face of their party. The political picture of state changed and
Shivsena- BJP alliance became new opposition party instead of Congress (S) and other
left parties. In Mumbai and Konkan area Sena made the progress and BJP got the
support in Vidhrabha and Marathwada regions. Mahrashtra BJP adopted same
formula of OBC politics and achieved margin of votes in the state. BJP-Sena
combine came in power after 1995 election and first time Non-congress government
was formed under Manohar Joshi and Gopinath Munde. Joshi-Munde made the efforts
against Maratha politics; however they were not successes in this task. Nearly
35% Maratha MLA belong to BJP-Sena combine and some of them from Kunbi
community. Naryan Rane became Chief Minister before the general election of
2000. He had the background from Konkan area and it was indicated that BJP-Sena combine want
the correlation with Maratha dominance and this election result was not fever
in respect of them. Congress- NCP captured the power in 2000 election and
Maratha dominance is still continue in the state politics.
Sharad
Powar is became the successor of Y. B. Chavan and his vision of Non-Brahmin’s
politics. He offered the opportunities to Dalit and Scheduled Tribes and made
the strong equitation of Maratha oriented Non- Brahmin politics. After the
separation from Congress (I) he established his own Nationalist Congress party
(NCP) and made efforts for to mobilized Dalit, OBC’s, and Tribes.
Chagan Bhugbal (Mali ) Ramesh Shedge (Dhangar ) Jitendra Ahava (Vanjari
) and Madhukar Pichad ( Tribes) these leaders came forward through NCP.Pawar
gave participation to them in the state cabinet. After Mandal implementation in
local self government, OBC’s got the opening in state politics. Y. B Chavan
prepared this idea and which was expanded by Sharad Pawar . Before Mandal the
OBC’s had minimum participation in the power and after that they are dominating
in local self government. OBC’s has got the separate reservation in local self government
and they want to super suit Maratha politics. Maratha leaders realized the
changing scenario and they had many experiences in that regards. The concept of
Non-Brahmin politics has been changed and the new structure would like to create
in the future. OBC’s want a separate reservation to them in the Parliament. And
they have demanded through their rallies, meeting and conferences. OBC leaders want
to develop their own vote bank to capturing and more participation in the
power. Chagan Bhugbal from NCP and Gopinath Munde from BJP these two leaders
from different parties are assertive on this issue. Both leaders would like to
develop a more voice for OBC’s on the national front. Established Maratha
leaders realized a new phase of politics and they want Maratha caste to be included
in the OBC list. To preserving the power, they are ready to become part of OBC’s
and OBC leaders are opposing to them. If
OBC leaders are success in getting the reservation in state and in parliament,
it will have major change in the state. Automatically the Maratha dominated
politics may be replaced by the OBC.
Maratha Mahasangh and NCP’s M.L.A Vinayak Mete
is demanding the reservation for Maratha and also he is very assertive on this
issue. He declared that Maratha and Kunbi are same so Martha should get the
status of OBC and this caste should be included in the list of OBC. Maratha Mahasangh
made the agitation on this issue. If Maratha caste include in the list of OBC’s,
present OBC have not more participation in the power. So, all OBC’s leaders are
united for opposing to stand for Maratha Mahasang and leaders behind them. The
Maratha against OBC’s is the next phase in the politics of Maharashtra and it has
already started after Mandal implementation in 1990. The struggle in between Maratha and OBC’s
will be very sharp in terms of votes and sharing of power. The transition power politics were started in
1930 and this process is till continuing in second decade of 21st
century. In first phase, power was transformed from Brahmin to Maratha and in
second phase Martha and OBC’s are ready for the next struggle.
Conclusion:
This paper discusses on the dominance and
transition of caste politics of Maharashtra and researcher reorient in summary
of paper please.
The political and social process made a
transition in politics of Maharashtra. The power transformed from Brahmin’s to Maratha
and now the second transition is awaited. Political struggle in between Maratha
and OBC’s will make second transition in state politics. OBC’s are mobilizing
for to capture the power from Martha’s. Martha politics has the strong base
from Co-operative movement and Panchyatraj system. But the Co-operative sector
is under the corruption by the leaders of Martha community, so the politics
will take a new phase in coming days.
Now OBC’s are more mobilizing for capturing
power on base of caste and they are ready for new political struggle. In future
this political struggle will unavoidable for Martha’s and OBC’s. In politics of
Maharashtra caste politics has no other alternative and this picture will
continue in 21st century.
References:
Omvedt Gail, Cultural revolt in colonial
society , Mumbai , Scientific Education Trust,1976.
Palshikar Suhas, , Jat wa Mharashtratil
Sattakarn, Pune Sugava Prkashan, 1998.
Vora Rajendra , Maratha Varchhsav ,
Swarup wa Maryada,Prtima Prkashan,Pune 2007
Bhole B.L, Yashwantrao Chavan- Rajkarn
wa Sahitya, Saket Prakashan, Arugabad, 2004.
Phadke Y.D, Keshavrao Jedhe, Shrividya
Prakshan,Pune, 1982.
Dr. Sanjay Ratnaparakhi
rsanjay96@hotmail.com
