The many constitutional amendments allowing reservations on economic grounds always generate much interest, but the quota system in India is much older than you think. Way before it was enshrined in the Indian Constitution, this policy was first implemented by a young raja who was outraged at being misled by palace priests during religious rituals.

This farsighted ruler was Chhatrapati Shahu (1874-1922) of the princely state of Kolhapur. At the Chhatrapati’s behest, on 26th July 1902, an administrative order was passed in the Kolhapur State Gazette that sent shockwaves across British India. It stated:

‘His Highness is pleased to direct that from the date of this order, 50% of the vacancies that may occur shall be fixed by recruits from among the backward classes. In all offices in which the proportion of officers of the backward classes is at present less than 50%, the next appointment shall be given to a member of those classes.’

Back then, ‘backward classes’ loosely meant non-Brahmins, and the order had been passed at a time when Brahmins dominated economic and social life, education, and had cornered almost 90 per cent of all administrative jobs.