As India approaches the landmark 80th year of its Independence in 2026, the nation finds itself at a pivotal generational crossroads. This moment, resonant with the cyclical theories of both Strauss-Howe and Indic traditions, is witnessing a profound redefinition of its oldest social structures. The narrative around caste, long synonymous with exploitation and marginalisation, is being vigorously rewritten under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure.
From Identity Politics to Development Politics
For decades, caste functioned primarily as a tool for political mobilisation and a marker of deprivation. Policy stagnation, according to observers, perpetuated insecurity. Marginalised communities, particularly the youth and women, faced severe opportunity deficits. Farmers were viewed as a cost burden, and the poor were often reduced to a transactional vote bank.
The dominant discourse is now undergoing a dynamic shift from charity to parity. The conversation is moving beyond reservation and victimhood towards empowerment and aspiration. This transformation is encapsulated in the government's focus on the "Gareeb, Yuva, Annadata, Nari" (GYAN) quartet. Caste is being strategically re-coded from a politics of identity to a politics of development and active contribution.
The Pillars of GYAN: A New Stakeholder Paradigm
This new approach aligns with economist Amartya Sen's "capability approach," aiming to transform the constituents of GYAN from seekers of patronage into enablers and creators. The effects of this shift are becoming visible across the spectrum:
Dalit women are increasingly charting paths as entrepreneurs, building supportive ecosystems to inspire others. Dalit youth now frequently aspire beyond government jobs secured through quotas, aiming instead to become job creators themselves.
The perspective on agriculture is also evolving, with the annadata (farmer) now seen as central to a profitable and sustainable economic loop. Perhaps most significantly, the approach to poverty alleviation has changed. Moving past what critics call cyclical garibi hatao sloganeering, initiatives like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) provide dignified, direct access to funds, reducing dependency on local intermediaries.
Viksit Bharat: A Civilisational Project with GYAN at its Core
This transformation is framed within the larger, aspirational project of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. The process is described not as nostalgic revivalism but as a radical reclamation. It seeks to challenge and negate historical marginalisation by actively writing communities back into the promise of equality and justice that is part of India's civilisational ethos.
While the older language of reservation persists, the emerging dominant narrative positions Dalits, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and women as aspirational stakeholders in this national project. Through digital inclusion and entrepreneurial support, the government is attempting to foster what sociologists see as a discourse on dignity and conscious development.
The ultimate goal is to challenge the structural exclusions of caste, not merely sublimate them under broad economic growth. As argued by Aditi Narayani Paswan, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Delhi University's Lakshmibai College, the GYAN framework names these groups as the foundational pillars of India's future vision. The nation's social and economic churn, evident in various development indices, suggests a script where empowerment trumps historical grievance.
