Latasinha's Weblog

Foundation of Reservation policy laid in 1874

Informally, the foundation of Reservation Policy for Backward Classes was laid down in Mysore wayback in 1874 with the purpose to restrict Brahmins domination in Government jobs. Since then, it has traveled a long distance.

From Government jobs, it spread to educational field too, in order to prepare non-Brahmins for Government jobs. After Independence, a major change came in the terms of Reservation Policy. And now all the political parties favour reservations for different sections of society almost in every sphere of national activity .

Spree of Reform Movements of early 19th century had awakened certain powerful non-brahmin groups, who resented Brahmin’s domination in government services and desired to secure a place for themselves. Anti Brahmin currents gained momentum. The two numerically dominant intermediate castes – Vokkaligas and Lingayats, which were economically strong but educationally backward, raised the demand for Reservation in the state Government jobs. They were supported by other backward castes – Muslims, Indian Christians, untouchables and tribal in their demand for Reservation and succeeded in compelled the Maharaja of Mysore to reserve posts for them at provincial level.

They succeeded and during 1874 and 1885, Mysore state reserved 20% of middle and lower level jobs in the police department for Brahmins and 80% for Muslims, Non-Brahmins Hindus and Indian Christians. From 1914, it introduced a system of nominations of qualified backward class, including untouchable and tribal candidates to the posts of Assistant Commissioners. Between 1881 and 1910, the demand for jobs for locals was inspired by a sort of “Sons of the Soil” theory,i when Tamil Brahmins displaced from Madras, went to Mysore in large numbers and occupied most of the Government jobs there.

The foundation of Reservation Policy was formally laid down by Sir Leslie Miller, Chairman, of the First Backward Class Commission of Mysore Government in 1918.

October 9, 2009 - Posted by latasinha | Reservation/Affirmative action program | Start of Reservation policy in 1874