The 16th All India Brahmin Federation (AIBF) national convention which began here today under the aegis of Andhra Pradesh Brahmana Seva Sangha Samakhya and Vijayawada Brahmana Maha Sabha is raising a political bogey, apart from other things. This, in order to help the "community that despite its intellect, is not only neglected but also oppressed on various fronts."

As a first step in that direction, the convention which is being attended by about 1,000 brahmins, including 450 delegates and some VIPs, is putting forth specific demands like "political representation" and "statutory body" on the lines SC and BC finance corporation to uplift the economically weaker members of the community.

It has been our experience that without political representation (power), one cannot seek justice, says K Sankara Sarma, president ofVijayawada Brahmana Maha Sabha. "Hence, we demand allocation of two urban seats in each district from every political party in elections," Sarma added.

Because of the "ill-execution of well-intended policies by successive governments," the community that is represented by a sizable chunk of 10 crore population today feels totally alienated, says Sanyasi Rao, president of APBSSS and Vice-president of AIBF. According to him, Brahmins constitute as high as 84 per cent of the population in Himachal Pradesh and 32 per cent in Utter Pradesh followed by 26 per cent in Gujrat and Maharashtra, about 20 per cent in Rajasthan, 18 per cent in Karnataka and 12 per cent in Kerala. In AP, there are 48 lakhs of Brahmins which is 5 per cent of population while in Tamil Nadu their percentage is 4.5 per cent.

Even if we go by the doctrine of "proportionate representation," the community is not given its due share, he argues citing examples of educational and employment reservations. When all other communities are given "ashare in development process," Sanyasi Rao argues, why cannot this class also be given what it is due for.