On September 17, Congress leaders were unusually active from early morning. They weren’t there on social media to wish Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The party’s national leaders and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah publicly praised Ramasamy Periyar on social media, highlighting his fight against the caste system. The message was clear: like Periyar, they too are committed to dismantling caste hierarchies. Many across the political spectrum welcomed this gesture, interpreting it as a sign of the Congress Party’s resolve to eradicate what they termed a “curse upon the nation.”

Yet, within hours, a strange twist occurred in Karnataka. A list prepared by the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission, detailing caste categories for the upcoming Socio-Economic Survey 2025—popularly called the caste census—was leaked online. This list, meant to guide how people should identify themselves during the survey starting Monday, contained not one or two but a staggering 1,561 caste entries. People were shocked, and reactions poured in—most of them critical.

Some even rushed to the Karnataka High Court. The court, after admitting their petitions, issued notices to both the state and central governments, seeking their responses. As the case unfolds, the High Court may shed light on several fundamental questions. What are these questions, and why are they important?

1. Name versus reality
Officially, the........

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