Decode Politics: In Karnataka, why Jangama sub-caste row has cast a shadow on SC survey

Indian Express

29-05-2025

Amid the ongoing survey of the Dalit sub-castes in Karnataka being carried out by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, a controversy has erupted over the alleged inclusion of a section of Jangama Lingayats in the Beda Jangama and Budaga Jangama groups of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the state.
The row has stemmed from allegations that many Jangama Lingayats — a sub-caste of the dominant Lingayat community listed in the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category — were allegedly issued 'fake SC caste certificates' in parts of Karnataka because of sharing a common name with the Beda Jangama or Budaga Jangama sub-castes of the SCs, which allegedly resulted in increase in the numbers of the latter groups.
What is the SC survey?
The ongoing survey of the SC sub-castes in Karnataka, which is also looking into their socio-economic status, is based on the recommendations of Justice Nagamohan Das Commission, which was constituted by the Siddaramaiah government last November to determine internal reservations among the SC groups, which are together entitled to 15% quota.
The SC internal survey is based on the Commission's interim report submitted to the government last month, which found that there was no empirical data on various Dalit sub-castes including the SC(left), SC(right), touchable castes and others. Dalits account for 19% population of Karnataka, which is currently estimated to be around 6.5 crore.
The Commission is supervising the state-wide survey of the SC sub-castes that started on May 5. Although it was slated to end on May 25, its deadline was extended till May 29 as the enumeration exercise was hampered by heavy rains in some parts of the state.
How did the row flare up?
On May 20, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, who belongs to the Dalit community, raked up the issue, asking the Siddaramaiah government publicly how the numbers of Beda Jangama and Budaga Jangama have now shot up and that the inclusion of Lingayat Jangamas in the SC sub-castes would be against the interests of Dalits.
Kharge's criticism came at a public rally held at Hospet in Vijayanagar district to mark the second anniversary of the Congress government in the state. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar were also present at the event.
Earlier, on April 13, Karnataka minister and Dalit leader K H Muniyappa had written to Siddaramaiah about the 'significant increase' in the number of Beda Jangama and Budaga Jangama groups in an 'irregular manner', urging the government to ensure that Jangamas from the Veerashaiva Lingayat community are not included in the SC category during the survey. He also alleged that many Lingayat Jangamas 'have availed fake caste certificates to claim reservation benefits as Beda Jangama and Budaga Janagama'.
Who are Jangamas?
Jangama refers to a priest class in both the Lingayat and SC communities.
According to the Chinnappa Reddy Commission report submitted to the state government in 1990, Lingayat Jangamas, which have sub-groups including Aradhya, Jangama, Matapathi and Veerashaiva, numbered around 8.14 lakh or 2.25% of the then state population. They are vegetarian and officiate as priests in the ceremonies of Lingayats.
The Lingayat community is listed in the 3B OBC category in the state, which has been allotted 5% quota.
Beda Jangama and Budaga Jangamas are part of the SCs and are Telugu-speaking nomadic groups concentrated mainly in Karnataka districts adjoining Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Considered as priests of the Holeya and Madiga groups, both SC 'untouchables', they are non-vegetarians, who are said to be traditionally involved in 'soothsaying and seeking alms'.
According to writer-researcher Dasanur Kusanna, Beda Jangama and Budaga Jangama are 'complimentary synonymous' terms of the same group as 'both of them are interdependent ethno-identities'. The 1961 census pegged the population of these two communities at 5,141, which rose to 1.17 lakh in 2011.
The socio-economic and educational survey or caste survey – conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (KSCBC) in 2015 during Siddaramaiah's first tenure as the CM – has estimated the populations of Beda Jangama and Budaga Jangama to be 3.82 lakh and 28,000 respectively.
What is Jangama conundrum?
The issue of various caste groups sharing the Jangama name was even highlighted by the 19th century British anthropologist Edgar Thurston, who wrote, 'Strictly speaking, a Jangam is a priest to the religious sect of Lingayats, but the term is frequently loosely applied to any Lingayat…. Jangams proper are said to be of two classes, Pattadikaris, who have a definite headquarters, and Charamurtis, who go from village to village, preaching the principles of the Lingayat sect. Many Jangams are priests to Sudras who are not Lingayats.'
As per the 2015 caste survey, the population of Lingayat Jangamas was about 1.7 lakh.
What are Dalit leaders' concerns?
Beda Jangamas are listed under Madigas, an SC (left) group. There have been concerns among the Madiga leaders such as Muniyappa that the inclusion of Lingayat Jangamas in the SC groups would reflect 'wrong numbers' of these most backward of the Dalit sub-castes in the current SC survey.
They also argue that including the relatively well off Lingayat Jangamas in the SC list would project a 'wrong picture' of Madigas as the survey is also assessing their socio-economic status. Madigas, the largest SC (left) group, number around 18 lakh in the state.
SC (right) leaders like Kharge have opposed the inclusion of Lingayat Jangamas as they fear that the SC (right) numbers would decrease in the survey, which would adversely impact the extent of sub-quotas to be allotted to them.
When contacted for his reaction, Justice Nagamohan Das told The Indian Express that the Commission was aware of the issue. 'Now, I cannot disclose (how the issue will be addressed). We are researching that. We have limited powers. Based on that, we will act,' he said.