Congress' Brahmin minister objects to 'Brahmana Christian' caste labels in letter to backward classes panel

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has written to the state Backward Classes Commission, objecting to the use of terms like "Brahmana Christian" and "Vyasa Brahmana Christian" in caste classifications. 

In his letter to chairperson Madhusudhan R Naik, dated 20 September, Rao argued these labels are not only immoral but also illegal, as conversion to Christianity erases caste identity.

Concerns over caste nomenclature

Rao emphasised that a person converting to Christianity leaves the Hindu fold and loses their caste status. "There is no caste called Brahmana under Christianity," he wrote, urging the commission to remove such categories from official records.

Rao, by and large recognised as the Congress's Brahmin face in Karnataka, highlighted inconsistencies in the panel's coding system, which lists separate entries for "Brahmana," "Smartha Brahmana" and "Hoysala Karnataka." Rao questioned: "A Hoysala Karnataka person will be a Smartha Brahmin and a Brahmin. Which code should this person choose?"

Legal and historical context

The minister's plea comes amid ongoing debates over caste certificates for religious minorities in the state of Karnataka. Under the state's reservation policy, backward classes among Christians and Muslims can access quotas, but Rao contended that retaining Hindu caste names post-conversion undermines the secular principle of equality.

Legal precedents, including Supreme Court rulings on conversions, support his view that caste is tied to Hinduism. The commission, tasked with updating the backward classes list, has faced similar scrutiny in recent surveys.

Implications for reservations

The letter could impact thousands of applications for caste-based quotas in education and jobs. If accepted, it might bar Christian converts from claiming Brahmin-linked benefits, affecting communities like the Vyasa Brahmins in coastal Karnataka.

Rao, a Brahmin leader in the Congress, framed the issue as protecting community integrity while upholding constitutional values.

Commission response awaited

As of 22 September, the Backward Classes Commission has not responded publicly. Officials indicated a review might follow, given the minister's influence in the Siddaramaiah government.

The move has sparked discussions on X, with users debating the persistence of caste across religions. Supporters praised Rao for clarity, while critics called it an attack on minority rights.

Gundu Rao, who is supposedly super-secular & anti-H, takes a clear stand when it comes to his caste

“Brahmana Christian” & “Vyasa Christian” are not only immoral but also illegal

Not bothered abt his liberal credentials. Caste is social capital indeed

https://t.co/JBAahYIBH0

— HeathensWeb (@HeathensWeb) September 22, 2025