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Becoming Backward: Preferential Policies and Religious Minorities in India

Official categories imposed by the state shape religious and caste identities but do not determine them. Various protest groups in India are challenging the classifications of citizens used to implement preferential policies, known as reservations, for disadvantaged or 'backward' groups. Muslim and Christian demands to be included in the officially backward categories have sparked dissent within these minority communities. The resulting controversies over who should be allowed to become backward illustrate ongoing political constructions of religious, caste and national identities. India's cross-cutting identities lead to frequent disagreements over group-based policies, but competing demands may also prevent the reification of state categories and the dangers of dichotomised conflict.