'Brahmin Genes' CEO advocates 'One Family, One Reservation', calls for 'jitna contribution utna haq' 

In an exclusive conversation with Prateek Shukla, JustBurstOut CEO Anuradha Tiwari speaks on a range of issues -- including hate against Brahmins, caste-based reservation quota, and more. She also spoke candidly about her recent post captioned 'Brahmin Genes', which garnered national attention.

Q) Your seemingly innocent 'Brahmin Genes' post triggered a row. Could you tell us what were the kind of reactions that came your way?

A) The reactions to my ‘Brahmin Genes’ post on X were indeed surprising. I never expected certain people to get triggered just by the mere mention of my lineage. There are thousands of posts, car stickers, etc., where people from other communities proudly display their caste or lineage, but when a Brahmin does the same, it becomes a problem. 

It's extremely concerning that the word 'Brahmin' is automatically associated with superiority and casteism. This clearly shows that a negative atmosphere has been created against Brahmins, leading people to despise the word itself. Those who harbour such hatred toward the 'Brahmin' community are, in fact, the real casteists.

However, I am pleased that I received significant support as well. For the first time, lakhs of Brahmins and others from the general category have united against this new wave of hatred toward Brahmins. Since this post, many Brahmins are coming forward to share their stories of being mistreated and discriminated against because of their caste, while also being unfairly labeled as oppressors. I believe this support marks a promising beginning for the Brahmin community.

Q) Lately, there has been a lot of hate content against Brahmins on social media. Why do you think that is?

A) Brahmins are being targeted primarily because they constitute just 4-5 percent of the population and don’t fit into the vote bank politics. This makes them easy targets for abuse and hatred, which can be used to justify so-called social justice schemes. Portraying Brahmins as villains doesn’t affect the vote tally, making them convenient scapegoats.

The roots of anti-Brahminism are distinctly colonial. Scholars like Meenakshi Jain*, Ian Copland, and Eugene F. Irschick argue that it originated from Brahmin-led sedition by figures such as Tilak, the Chapekar Brothers, and the Savarkar Brothers against British rule. In retaliation, the British incited non-Brahmin caste Hindus to push for preferential treatment, supporting individuals and organisations that promoted anti-Brahminism and loyalty to the British.

Over the past 70 years, this historical bias has resulted in the majority of Brahmins living in poverty and dire conditions today. Despite their struggles, they are still labeled as oppressors, reflecting how misinformation and hatred against them have become normalised. This normalisation is also driven by some politicians who perpetuate these narratives.

Some politicians have even made genocidal calls against Brahmins, claiming that Brahmins came from Russia, and we often hear slogans like 'Brahmanwad se Azadi' in elite colleges. Yet, no action is taken against these harmful narratives. When politicians remain silent on such matters, it simply means they are endorsing these narratives.

Q) Do you feel that the Brahmin community (and the general category at large) is being persecuted? If yes, how do we solve this?

A) When you offer all the preferential benefits, reservations, and freebies only to certain communities due to vote bank politics, while running a false narrative that labels Brahmins as oppressors, it clearly indicates an intent to persecute the General category, especially Brahmins. Show me one speech by any politician where they’ve spoken about the interest of the General category. Not a single one. These days, political parties are competing to see who can increase reservations the most.

The system should focus on encouraging and rewarding those who contribute selflessly to the nation's development—whether as entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists, thought leaders, or even by controlling population growth. Instead, we hear irrational arguments like ‘jitni abaadi utna haq,’ when it should be ‘jitna contribution utna haq.’

In today's society, the truly deprived and backward are the poor, irrespective of their caste, religion, language, or region. Therefore, support should be based on poverty and need, not caste or community.

We need specific laws to address and curb this targeted hatred against the Brahmin community and to protect their rights. Additionally, poor Brahmins working in temples, who are dedicated to preserving and promoting our rich Hindu heritage despite their challenging conditions, should be given special benefits.

Q) You have been vocal on the issue of reservation. What's your take on caste-based reservation quota?

A) Caste-based reservation has always been more about vote bank politics than affirmative action. The aim was to control the caste-based system, but ironically, reservation has amplified the caste system the most. If the current system would have worked then why even after 70+ years, not a single community has been moved out of backward status to the general category? Not a single one! And if you recall, it was supposed to be a temporary measure. 

This is not only deepening the caste divide and discrimination but is also seriously hampering the growth and development of our country since we are killing meritocracy. This, in essence, is ‘anti-national.’

Throughout school, fees, scholarships, and schemes are determined and distributed based on caste. You have children of IAS officers using the reservation quota. People are using reservation in education, then in jobs, and then in promotions. This is blatant misuse. It needs to be controlled through some measures. 

The benefit of reservation should be given only once per family, so that it can reach everyone. I have been continuously speaking about 'One Family, One Reservation.' If parents have used reservation, their children should not be allowed to use it. Also, reservation should be utilized only once, either for education or for jobs. I have been writing about 'One Family, One Reservation' & ‘One Time reservation’ for the past two years.

Q) A section of Hindus fear that your narrative may widen the divide among the Dharmic fold, and end up helping forces that want to eradicate Sanatan Dharma. Your views?

A) Isn’t it ironic that while we speak of protecting Sanatan Dharma, we also tolerate hatred and discrimination against Brahmins? The Brahmin community has been at the forefront of preserving our Dharma and heritage for millennia. During 1,000 years of Islamic and British rule, Brahmins safeguarded the Vedas and ensured the survival of Hinduism. Without them, Vedic civilisation could have faded away, much like the Persian, Greek, or Roman civilisations.

Instead of honouring this invaluable contribution, Brahmins today are being vilified and abused. This isn’t just an attack on a community—it’s an attack on the very roots of Hinduism itself. Brahmins have been the torchbearers of Hindu Dharma throughout history, and it’s time they are given the respect they deserve, rather than being systematically persecuted.

Source: Meenakshi Jain*, in her piece Plight of Brahmins, published in the Indian Express (18/9/1990,https://ifihhome.tripod.com/articles/mj002.html ), writes:

“For instance, in 1879, the Collector of Tanjore, in a communication to Sir James Caird, member of the Famine Commission, stated that ‘there was no class (except Brahmins) which was so hostile to the English.’”

(Source: Politics and Social Conflict in South India by Eugene F. Irschick, pg. 20)

Follow Anuradha Tiwari here -- https://x.com/talk2anuradha