The democratization of India, the Mandal way

Context:

A socio-political movement known as “Mandal” has silently left urban Anglicized élite on the margin of the Indian political landscape and brought power to the underprivileged.

On Social Justice:

• Concrete Steps: Early social reformers had done their bit to bring social justice to Indian society but concrete steps were taken by B.R. Ambedkar in terms of policy prescriptions.
• Caste-class dichotomy: Constituent assembly had envisioned the backward classes as backward communities. But Mandal's report dilutes the demarcation between social class and caste.
• Mandal Movement: It led to the 27% reservation for OBC in central services in 1990. Mandal effect continued via the 73^rd and 74^th movements by extending benefits to SC, ST, and OBCs.