Number is a foundation of classification. It places us in a social order. The number in which we are represented in the face of our group keeps our indicators of strength updated.  The very first appearance may look number biased; especially when we discharge all are rights and duties in a democratic setup. The methodology is not always democratic, though. Majority is bound to win in this setup and, they essentially form the setup ideally.

Now, when I am in college, the only revolution I dare to remember with suitable facts and figures is the French Revolution. According to the text books, the ruling or the dominating class was a minority. They were somewhat around 2% in strength but possessed around 95% of capital. This instance negates the ideology and the very basis of democracy. Not to forget, the French society was never democratic during that time. It was this revolution which helped flourishing the messages of justice, liberty and equality. Attaining independence from the minority rule was the root to the rebel that occurred, and the motive was to establish a majority control.

According to the UN Declaration of 18^th December, 1992, “States shall protect the existence of the National or Ethnic, Cultural, Religious and Linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity.”  Abiding by similar principles, National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 is into existence and different other institutions for the protection of minorities have been structured throughout the nation. Also, article 30(1) of the Indian Constitution states that, “All minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.” Taking these as precedents, we can say that protection of minority is an important agenda of this era. This is in contradiction with the fruits which shed from the tree of French Revolt.

The sex ratio in India is 940 females per 1000 males (Census 2011). Women face numerous atrocities and are subjected to all kinds of violence. An increment in the sex ratio is always recommended whenever issues of women empowerment are discussed. Now, by analogy what inference can be drawn is that females face all evils due to them being in minority. The societal system though provides for safeguards for saving their rights which are practically less applied.

In India on the basis of religious classification, all religions except Hinduism are under the ambit of minority. Further, Punjabis residing in Maharashtra can also be termed a minority group and so on.  There have been instances for communal violence arising in the nation one of which been the Orissa case where Christians (minority) were attacked by Hindus (majority). In the value judgement, the majority was held liable and was judged to be wrong. In almost all of the cases, the Hindu majority has been held accountable. But, an opposing example emerges when we talk about the Kashmiri Hindus residing in Jammu & Kashmir. They have faced so much terror in the state that they are demanding a separate state. They are demanding for protection; socially they are in minority but, constitutionally they form a part of the majority. Here, apparently a tail of the French coin is in request.

The question which now lies is, is it relevant to determine the number based classification criteria for a nation which has 28 states and supports a population over 100 crores? Shouldn’t it be different for different regions according to the merits associated with them? One more picture of French Revolution is clicked when we seek the instances when a large capital is concentrated in the hands of a few. Some help the capital in growing and some aid in the exploitation. The point to be noted is that they are again in minority; collateral to the French revolution. No doubt, we have been debating cons for them most of the time. The whole system now plants a dilemma whether our nation is in the pre French revolution era or in the post. ‘VIVE!’

Nitish Banka

Nitish Banka is an advocate practicing in Supreme Court of India and can be reached at [email protected] or 9891549997