No, at least formally, the government does not keep records of caste (the exception being of "Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes", as this can be deployed at times for affirmative action, Indian reservation-style). Religion is sometimes asked, as in the Census. Of course, politicians and others are making all kind of informal calculations -- at times of elections, especially -- about people's religious background, caste, etc. This could be done from names and/or other prior knowledge. In the 1970s, we had a form in school which asked for "Race and Religion". I recall be instructed as a child to answer "Indian / Christian". Indian is not a "race", but... Probably the "race" query was a legacy of colonial times. In the Brazil of the 1960s, record-keepers seemed to have been foxed over which box to place PLUs (people like us) in. We were obviously not Black or Native Indian, so we became "White"! :-) *To answer Eugene's question*: As far as I'm aware, there are no "place of origin" or "ethnicity" statistics maintained in the Indian Census. Conclusions can be drawn based on "language/mother tongue" responses. But these are often very political and polarised choices too. There is a "place of birth" question sometimes asked. But this can be very misleading too, especially in a highly-diasporic community like that of Goa's. Especially if one concludes that all those born out of Goa are migrants into the State. For instance, at one stage we suddenly realised that out of eight in our family then, six could be classified as "non-Goans". Only two were born in Goa. The rest in Belgaum, Mozambique, Bombay and Brazil. Besides, many children of migrants would be born in Goa too, and the 15-year-cut-off (to be considered "Goan) would include many of them. The recent Government of Goa attempt to redefine "*bhumipoortras*" (literally, "sons of the soil", quite a loaded concept) as anyone who had a residential status of 15 years, and legalise any land they had been squatting on too, turned out into quite a distasteful joke here. But this is a complex and emotive issue overall, more so in a region like India which has see so much migration and demographic displacement in recent times. FN On Thursday, 17 August 2023 at 19:14:30 UTC+5:30 mde.nazareth wrote:
> I live in Bangalore and I do know that religion and caste is added when we > make our aadhar cards. So the govt does have our details. Like we > Christinas do not adhere to the caste system. > > Dr Marianne de Nazareth > > On Thu, Aug 17, 2023 at 2:44 PM Eugene Correia <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Thanks to all who gave their valuable advice. I wil ook into the >> suggestions. I would also like a list of probable persons who are on each >> side of the debate, and possible their email addresses. In the overall >> context, I know of some persons in the diaspora who are anti-Indian. The >> views of those in the diaspora don't will not matter greatly. >> In Goa, some members of the clergy were clearly in favour of the >> Portuguese. So also, many leading members or so-called "public >> intellectuals" of the top layer of Goan society were largely pro-Portuguese >> and some of the them penned articles, if my memory serves me correctly. The >> views will help me frame my proposal and why I need to work on such an >> issue. >> I will definitely plan a trip to Goa, but I need to know who to meet on >> each side of the issue. In the current climate, you have strong views of >> some who don't want any relevance to Portuguese rule. On the other hand, >> there are many who wants traces of Portuguese impact on social and cultural >> matters to remain as they are. >> Eugene Correia >> >> On Wed, Aug 16, 2023 at 2:39 PM Eddie Fernandes <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> SCHOLBERG, Henry: Bibiography of Goa and the Portuguese in India. 1982. >>> Entries FD 6-12 lists the Goa Census of 1900, 1910, 1921, 1931, 1940, 1950 >>> and 1971. The location for the Census volumes is given as Central Library >>> Panjim. They are probably quite comprehensive as each set consists of >>> 4 vols. but the number of pages is not indicated. >>> >>> Access to the Bibliography is at >>> https://doi.org/10.1017/S0026749X00011288 >>> >>> >>> Eddie Fernandes >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Tue, 15 Aug 2023 at 22:54, Frederick Noronha <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> If I understand it right, "race" and caste statistics are not >>>> maintained (except for SC/ST, meaning "Scheduled Caste" and "Scheduled >>>> Tribe" populations). There has been a sharp debate over whether >>>> caste-based >>>> statistics should be kept or not, with some Opposition parties in favour >>>> of >>>> it. Religion statistics are however maintained. >>>> Overall, the Census statistics have been made available in bulky if >>>> relatively inexpensively priced publications. The earlier Censuses seem >>>> to >>>> have been more interesting, with even a study of Mapusa town being >>>> undertaken in the 1970s or thereabouts. >>>> The last Census was undertaken in 2011, and 2021 was not done, >>>> Here is the Goa page on the Indian Census site: >>>> https://www.censusindia.co.in/states/goa >>>> FN >>>> >>>> On Wed, 16 Aug 2023 at 02:19, Eugene Correia <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Are the census for the recent years regarding the composition of >>>>> people on their race/identity/in-migration available in any archives or >>>>> any >>>>> particular dept of the government? >>>>> Also like to know if these are accessible via internet, if there's a >>>>> portal for such items. >>>>> >>>>> Thanking in advance, >>>>> >>>>> Eugene Correia >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "Goa-Research-Net" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAJhbo_5ZW_S7zh5mTKC3T%2BXq_d683PKcQmRS0Ygqs9chPDFRXA%40mail.gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAJhbo_5ZW_S7zh5mTKC3T%2BXq_d683PKcQmRS0Ygqs9chPDFRXA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "Goa-Research-Net" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAMCR53%2Be%2B0mnaartOdQ65pPG47otzb4ugha%2B9TKWG-ntTAhthQ%40mail.gmail.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAMCR53%2Be%2B0mnaartOdQ65pPG47otzb4ugha%2B9TKWG-ntTAhthQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Goa-Research-Net" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CABzaOi3ukKWqimYVWB34E2Tr%2B2fPjKZaLAuPRU8aZ%3DJ4wz4cEw%40mail.gmail.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CABzaOi3ukKWqimYVWB34E2Tr%2B2fPjKZaLAuPRU8aZ%3DJ4wz4cEw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Goa-Research-Net" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> > To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAJhbo_7MgQgOYTLE7BzohbBw9P0RA13VWupfzNqYicdTeev1xg%40mail.gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAJhbo_7MgQgOYTLE7BzohbBw9P0RA13VWupfzNqYicdTeev1xg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > > > -- > > Dr Marianne de Nazareth > Former Asst. Editor, The Deccan Herald, > Freelance Environmental Journalist > Fellow UNFCCC, UNEP, UNWater > Editor Romantic Getaways https://www.bellaonline.com/ > http://mariannedenazareth.blogspot.com/ > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Goa-Research-Net" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/a21f2719-31bb-4ab2-854d-25392750cc02n%40googlegroups.com.
