The Patel Anamat Andolan Samiti is far from representative. Patel youth in south Gujarat remain apathetic toward elusive government-jobs and reservation quotas.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat erupted with protests and violence instigated by a body that claims to represent its Patidar, or Patel, community that constitutes around 20% of the state’s 63 million population. Arguing that their livelihoods are under significant threat as a result of poor revenues from agriculture, combined with increasing bleak prospects from small and medium industries, the Patel Anamat Andolan Samiti is demanding reservations in state-run educational institutions and government jobs in line with the quota received by many minority groups in India.
Excluding the eastern tribal belt of Gujarat, Patidars are found all over the state with particularly high concentrations in north Gujarat and Saurashtra. Of the two dominant sub-castes, Leuva Patels are particularly dominant in central Gujarat and Saurashtra, while Kadvas are located primarily in northern Gujarat. Various minorities within the Patidars do hold the status of Other Backward Classes, such as the Chaudhury and Anjana Patels in north Gujarat.
Given their considerable population, taken as a collective, Patels are highly influential in state politics. They occupy a number of prominent positions in the state – Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and six of her cabinet colleagues happen to be from the Patel community.
Who speaks for 18 million Patels?
The Patel agitation has snowballed from a localised intra-caste issue among Kadvas, Leuvas and Anjanas in north Gujarat to a movement with state-wide traction. Over the past month, a wave of mini-protests and larger rallies has spread across Saurashtra, Vadodara, Gandhinagar, and Surat, culminating this week in a public address