copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2023-10-16): The Brahmins of Urban India [...] Narasimhan, Haripriya, 'The Brahmins of Urban India', in Surinder S. Jodhka, and Jules Naudet (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Caste (2023; online edn, Oxford Academic, 23 Jan. 2024), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198896715.013.25, accessed 9 Oct. 2024. This chapter looks at recent ethnographic portraits of the Brahmins in urban India. The Brahmin(s) is faced with four challenges in the urban spaces of India in the new millennium. A strong undercurrent of nostalgia drives the Brahmins’ relationship to ‘native’ places in far flung areas. Technology comes in handy in creatively engaging with religious practices. Education and employment continue to be the main focus and complaint while gendering of spaces and comportment animate discussions on ‘appropriate’ behavior. The salient point in understanding the Brahmins of urban India is through the discourse of ‘castelessness’ and related beliefs in ‘merit’. In essence, talking about Brahmins in urban spaces of contemporary India is to render visible their struggle to hold on to a world and times that seem increasingly off the radar, and argue for relevance, mostly amongst themselves.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2018-09-25): Chapter "Government Brahmin" Caste, the Educated Unemployed, and the Reproduction of Inequities [...] Malagatti, A. 1994. Government Brahmana. Ondu Atmacharitre [Government Brahman: An Autobiography] (in Kannada). Manasagangotri: Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies, University of Mysore. [...] Vasavi, A.R. (2019). "Government Brahmin" Caste, the Educated Unemployed, and the Reproduction of Inequities.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2022-01-01): Why Brahmins lead Western firms but rarely Indian ones
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2014-07-03): Mahatma Gandhi has often been blamed for laying the foundation for the Congress party’s dynasty politics. Why he chose Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru over Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to lead India still provokes passions. Perhaps he feared incurring the wrath of Brahmins. Back then, Brahmin members in the top echelons of the party often held parallel meetings to push their agenda. Faizal Devji, an Oxford don who has written extensively on Gandhi, notes that the Father of the Nation "was a good Bania, and ended up choosing a Brahmin (Nehru) over another [relatively] ‘backward’ caste (Patel) as successor. He played the classic Bania role of mediator and connector". The Brahmin wrath that Gandhi perhaps feared has been tempered over the decades; from 25 per cent of MPs in 1952, Brahmins make up less than 10 per cent of Parliament now. The decline in the proportion of Brahmins in the Lok Sabha has been especially sharp since 1984, when it was 19.9 per cent; the figure fell to 12.44 per cent in 1998 and 11.3 per cent in 1999.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2017-08-29): Brahmin Language, Hindu Growth—Politics and Power of English Language in India [...] Roy Chowdhury, S. (2017). Brahmin Language, Hindu Growth—Politics and Power of English Language in India.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2020-01-28): Interestingly, the Muslim rulers of the Mughal Dynasty (1526–1858) also employed Brahmins as advisors and government officials, as did the British Raj in India (1858–1947). In fact, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of modern India, was also a member of the Brahmin caste. The Brahmin Caste Today Today, the Brahmins comprise about 5% of the total population of India. Traditionally, male Brahmins performed priestly services, but they may also work in jobs associated with lower castes. Indeed, occupational surveys of Brahmin families in the 20th century found that less than 10% of adult male Brahmins actually worked as priests or Vedic teachers. As in earlier times, most Brahmins actually made their living from work associated with the lower castes, including agriculture, stone-cutting, or working in the service industries. In some cases, such work precludes the Brahmin in question from carrying out priestly duties, however. For example, a Brahmin who begins farming (not only as an absentee land-owner, but actually tilling the land himself) may be considered ritually contaminated, and can be barred from later entering the priesthood. Nonetheless, the traditional association between the Brahmin caste and priestly duties remains strong.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2024-10-09): The PSC annual report for 2017-18 shows that Brahmins secured 33.39 percent of total government jobs, followed by a 20.01 percent share of the Chhetris, from among the 7,718 candidates recommended for civil service positions. [...] "Brahmins and Chhetris are the two communities conventionally focused on government jobs," said PSC Chairman Umesh Mainali. "So it’s natural that they continue to lead in the number of government jobs as well as applying for them." The percentage of fresh recruits in civil service was more than 40 in the fiscal year 2016-17. According to the PSC, 22.96 percent new jobs went to Brahmins and 18.67 percent to Chhetris that year.Massive applications from these two communities also raise their chance for selection in civil service even as the Civil Service Act reserves 45 percent seats for women, indigenous groups, Madhesis, Dalits, people with disability and those from the backward regions. Open competition is held only for 55 percent seats.Forty-four percent of applicants came from the two castes last fiscal year. According to the commission, of the 567,853 total applicants, 26.47 percent were Brahmins and 17.37 percent Chhetris.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2024-10-09): Despite the government reserving 45 percent civil service seats for indegenious people, Madhesis, Dalits, women and disabled people, the Hill Brahmins continue to get recruited in civil services in the highest numbers. [...] According to the 62nd Annual Report 2020-21 of the Public Service Commission, 47.83 percent of total candidates recommended by the commission based on the results of written tests and interview for recruitment in government service were Hill Brahmins. [...] Citing a study conducted by Tribhuvan University’s Department of Sociology in 2014-15, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration last year revealed in its publication ‘Prashasan’ that Hill Brahmins constituted 39 percent of total civil servants, followed by 22.3 percent Hill Chhetris.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2021-10-09): 30 percent of Brahmins hold a professional job, whereas the corresponding figures are 12, 8, 6 and 3 for non-Brahmin UC Hindus, OBCs, SC-ST and Upper Caste Muslims, respectively. Only 4 percent of Brahmin households are classified as poor, whereas the corresponding proportions are 8 and 10 percent for non-Brahmin UC Hindus and the OBCs, respectively, and 16 and 19 percent for the SC-ST and UC Muslims, respectively. In other words, the rate of poverty is 4 to 5 times higher among the SC-ST and UC Muslims compared to the Brahmins. [...] These figures indicate that contemporary caste inequality in a large range of socio-economic indicators has Brahmins at the top, both in the selected states, as well as in the entire country. [...] The evidence presented above shows that the Brahmins do significantly better than the four other social groups in terms of both the human capital they possess, as well as the material outcomes in terms of income, consumption, occupation, poverty, access to sanitation and land. Moreover, this is true not only for the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka but for the country as whole. Thus, the Brahmins cannot be considered a disadvantaged group in terms of any capabilities or on the material basis of life.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2021-08-24): Brahmins, who once dominated politics in the Hindi heartland, have not only lost their political clout, but also their leadership role — yet they remain a prized vote base. While all the four major political parties in India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, vie for their votes in every election, none have been able to develop Brahmin leadership in the changed political sociology of the state. [...] As backward politics took centre-stage, Brahmins were impacted the most. The state has had 13 chief ministers (CMs) since then, 11 were backwards or Dalits, two were Rajputs, and one from the Vaishya/Bania community. [...] The fact remains that the Brahmins hold a secondary position even in the BJP, after the death of their tallest leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The party has also dropped its earlier policy of striking a fine balance between the backwards and the Brahmins in the government and the party organisation — as was done in the 1990s simultaneously projecting Kalyan Singh and Kalraj Mishra.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2021-06-25): With an approximate 12-14% share in the population, Brahmins, who continue to be opinion leaders at various societal tiers, have for years been a leaderless community in the key Hindi state [...] With an approximate 12-14% share in the population, Brahmins, who continue to be opinion leaders at various societal tiers, have for years been a leaderless community in the key Hindi state. [...] The Brahmin value-add got her a majority of her own. In seeking to expand her base, Mayawati learnt perhaps from her bitter rival and Yadav chieftain, Mulayam Singh, who forever kept by his side three prominent upper-caste faces: Janeshwar Mishra (Brahmin), Rewati Raman Singh (Bhumihaar) and Mohan Singh (Rajput). A reminder at once of his socialist pretence, their companionship lent his image an inclusive touch beyond the sectarian.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2021-07-31): Political parties pay more attention to the Brahmins in Uttar Pradesh, who make up for a significant size of the electorate, for the 2022 elections. [...] Why are the parties giving so much attention to this vote bank in UP? First, the Brahmins make for a significant size of the electorate — second only to the Jatavs and the Yadavs. Another reason is the strong socio-political history of the community that helps create buzz during the election campaign, especially in Awadh and eastern regions of Uttar Pradesh. [...] A rigorous data collection work done by Dr. Gilles Verniers for his doctoral thesis (The Localization of caste politics in Uttar Pradesh after Mandal and Mandir) suggests that Brahmins not only lost the power dominance in state but also lost the strength in UP assembly. The number of Brahmin MLAs came down to 41 in 2002 from 87 in 1980.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2023-07-18): A widely shared social media post alleges that Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions. The post provides a list of officials in different secretariats, ministries, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the President’s Office, categorizing them to support its claim of Brahmin domination in these offices. The post highlights the prevalence of Brahmins in these positions. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post. [...] Fact: The names and job titles of officers employed in significant government offices like the Prime Minister’s Office, the President’s Office, and various ministries are publicly accessible. However, these disclosures do not provide information regarding their specific categories or classifications. Similar assertions have circulated for years, suggesting that these prominent offices are predominantly controlled by Muslims or Christians, while neglecting Hindus. Nevertheless, these claims lack substantiation and lack a verified source. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2021-12-24): Brahmin Left Versus Merchant Right: Changing Political Cleavages in 21 Western Democracies, 1948–2020* , [...] In India's traditional caste system, upper castes were divided into Brahmins (priests, intellectuals) and Kshatryas/Vaishyas (warriors, merchants, tradesmen), a division that modern political conflicts in Western democracies seem to follow to some extent. [...] Replication Data for: ‘Brahmin Left versus Merchant Right: Changing Political Cleavages in 21 Western Democracies, 1948–2020 ,"
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2009-05-06): The Brahmins could see their power and influence waning. Boston had long ago ceded its dominance in trade to New York, with the hub of culture and communications to follow. "As Brahmins ceased to be the undisputed arbiters of the public good," wrote one historian, "they became less confident of the Americanization of the newcomers." Henry Adams, grandson and great-grandson of presidents, advised his brother to start writing their epitaphs, for the more he witnessed "the formation of the new society, I am more and more impressed with my own helplessness to deal with it." The intellectual arguments of the Brahmins carried progressively less weight, especially regarding immigration. Francis Walker noted:
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2014-11-13): The highest of all the castes, and traditionally priests or teachers, Brahmins make up a small part of the Indian population. The British colonial authorities gave Brahmins influential clerical jobs. They now dominate the key positions in science, business and government.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2020-04-15): Those at the bottom of the hierarchy, who fall outside the four main categories of Brahmins (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (traders and merchants) and the Shudras (laborers), are considered "untouchables" or Dalits.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2003-02-06): Hindus believe a person is born into one of four castes based on karma and "purity"—how he or she lived their past lives. Those born as Brahmans are priests and teachers; Kshatriyas are rulers and soldiers; Vaisyas are merchants and traders; and Sudras are laborers. Within the four castes, there are thousands of sub-castes, defined by profession, region, dialect, and other factors.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2019-06-19): At the top of the hierarchy were the Brahmins who were mainly teachers and intellectuals and are believed to have come from Brahma's head. Then came the Kshatriyas, or the warriors and rulers, supposedly from his arms. The third slot went to the Vaishyas, or the traders, who were created from his thighs. At the bottom of the heap were the Shudras, who came from Brahma's feet and did all the menial jobs. [...] Rural communities have long been arranged on the basis of castes - the upper and lower castes almost always lived in segregated colonies, the water wells were not shared, Brahmins would not accept food or drink from the Shudras, and one could marry only within one's caste. [...] Despite the obstacles, however, some Dalits and other low-caste Indians, such as BR Ambedkar who authored the Indian constitution, and KR Narayanan who became the nation's first Dalit president, have risen to hold prestigious positions in the country.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2015-11-25): Overall Brahmins hold a high status in Hindu society, and are considered to be smart and influential. They set the standard of social conduct and morality due to their leadership in society. Hindu priesthood is dominated by Brahmins, but other castes due in fact have "sacred specialists" but their status does not compare to that of a Brahmin. [...] The two primary roles of the Kshatriya Varna were to govern the land and to wage war, which led to professions as rulers and soldiers. The male children in Kshatriya were considered symbols of masculinity whereas the female child needed to be gentle and well behaved. Like Brahmin and the rest of the Varnas, men and women were not allowed to marry outside their specific Varna. Kshatriyas also hold a high status of power, second only to the Brahmin. They make sure everyone stays within their Varna.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2021-06-29): The survey finds that three-in-ten Indians (30%) identify themselves as members of General Category castes, a broad grouping at the top of India’s caste system that includes numerous hierarchies and sub-hierarchies. The highest caste within the General Category is Brahmin, historically the priests and other religious leaders who also served as educators. Just 4% of Indians today identify as Brahmin. [...] Hindu caste distribution roughly mirrors that of the population overall, but other religions differ considerably. For example, a majority of Jains (76%) are members of General Category castes, while nearly nine-in-ten Buddhists (89%) are Dalits. Muslims disproportionately identify with non-Brahmin General Castes (46%) or Other/Most Backward Classes (43%). [...] About three-in-ten Brahmins (29%) say they would not be willing to accept members of Scheduled Castes as neighbors.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2021-06-29): Roughly 30% of Indians do not belong to these protected groups and are classified as "General Category." This includes higher castes such as Brahmins (4%), traditionally the priestly caste. Indeed, each broad category includes several sub-castes – sometimes hundreds – with their own social and economic hierarchies.
Claim: Brahmins hold a significant majority in high-level government positions (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-07-06)
Evidence (2024-09-28): According to Haidar and Sardar, unlike the Mughal Empire in Northern India, Brahmins figured prominently in the administration of Deccan sultanates. Under Golconda Sultanate Telugu Niyogi Brahmins served in many different roles such as accountants, ministers, in the revenue administration, and in the judicial service.[46] The Deccan sultanates also heavily recruited Marathi Brahmins at different levels of their administration.[47] During the days of Maratha Empire in the 17th and 18th century, the occupation of Marathi Brahmins ranged from being state administrators, being warriors to being de facto rulers as Peshwa.[48][49] After the collapse of Maratha empire, Brahmins in Maharashtra region were quick to take advantage of opportunities opened up by the new British rulers. They were the first community to take up Western education and therefore dominated lower level of British administration in the 19th century.[50] Similarly, the Tamil Brahmins were also quick to take up English education during British colonial rule and dominate government service and law.[51]
Claim: Visuals related the recent New Zealand earthquake (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-17)
Evidence (2023-03-17): None of these visuals are related to the recent earthquake that struck New Zealand. While some of the visuals are related to the recent Turkey earthquake, most of the visuals are related to old incidents of earthquakes that occurred else where. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Claim: Visuals related the recent New Zealand earthquake (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-17)
Evidence (2024-01-01): The earthquake drum represents 4 hours recording of the seismometer's located in New Zealand. You can view earthquakes by clicking on the lines and zoom in on the particular seismometer's code such as MQZ for more detail. [...] The following show the top 100 earthquakes around New Zealand and the world on a map.
Claim: Visuals related the recent New Zealand earthquake (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-17)
Evidence (2024-05-14): Tens of thousands of people could die, hundreds of thousands could be displaced, and the cost of building damage could top $100 billion.
Claim: Visuals related the recent New Zealand earthquake (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-17)
Evidence (2023-03-20): Several old, unrelated videos of earthquakes and its aftermath are being shared on social media platforms with a false claim that the visuals show recent scenes from New Zealand's Kermadec Islands after the region encountered multiple earthquakes in the past few days. [...] India Today group's north-east based news portal India Today NE tweeted a video of water splashing from a swimming pool claiming that the visuals are from New Zealand after the quake hit Kermadec Islands on March 16. [...] BOOM found that the videos are not related to the earthquake that shook New Zealand's Kermadec Islands region.
Claim: Visuals related the recent New Zealand earthquake (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-17)
Evidence (2024-10-08): Earthquakes from the last 365 days that may have caused shaking intensity of Moderate or greater in Aotearoa New Zealand. A maximum of 100 earthquakes are displayed. Interactive Map showing recent quakes in New Zealand.
Claim: Visuals related the recent New Zealand earthquake (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-17)
Evidence (2024-10-08): First maps will be automatically generated and have not been reviewed. These may be updated by seismologists after significant earthquakes using evolving scientific information. If you would like to submit any feedback, please email: info@geonet.org.nz
Claim: Visuals related the recent New Zealand earthquake (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-17)
Evidence (2024-10-09): Earthquakes from the last 365 days that may have caused shaking intensity of Weak or greater in Aotearoa New Zealand. A maximum of 100 earthquakes are displayed. Interactive Map showing recent quakes in New Zealand.
Claim: Visuals related the recent New Zealand earthquake (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-17)
Evidence (2023-08-17): New 3D images give never-seen-before views inside New Zealand’s largest fault [...] The scenario is now showing the tsunami created by this large earthquake. Within the first few minutes there are rapid changes in sea level along the east coast of the North Island. [...] After the earthquake rupture some parts of the coast may see a rise in sea level shown in red. In others such as Hawke's Bay in this scenario the sea-level would rapidly decrease, pulling away from the coast and returning with enormous speed and force when the tsunami waves arrive. This is shown in blue.
Claim: Visuals related the recent New Zealand earthquake (SOCIAL MEDIA POST, 2023-03-17)
Evidence (2021-03-05): New Zealand earthquakes: Tsunami warnings lifted after evacuations - Published Three earthquakes, including one of the strongest ever to hit the region, struck off the coast of New Zealand on Friday, triggering tsunami warnings that have now been stood down. [...] The last, at 8.1, struck at around 08:30 near the uninhabited Kermadec Islands, 1,000 km (621 miles) north-east of New Zealand.