As Indian shooter Manu Bhaker was creating history in Paris with her two bronze medal performances in Women’s 10m Air Pistol and 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team events, some India chose to do what they do best: search on Google for her caste and surname. According to Google Trends data, among the searches related to the Jhajjar-born Olympian, “Manu Bhaker Caste” is also among the top searches. When it comes to the Google Searches related the “Manu Bhaker Caste” for the last seven days, top key words included Manu Bhaker cast (seams like searches from vernacular languages including Hindi), Bhaker Caste, Bhakar Caste, Manu Bhaker surname, Bhaker Jat Caste etc.
The volume of searches related to these keywords are not available on the Google Trends data. However, the surge and interest among the users who had searched for these keywords can be ascertained with various time frequencies. For example, searches related to Manu Bhaker caste is not available on the total searches happened in last 12 months, but if you choose to check for last week, you will see huge surge in the searches, especially those in the Breakout mode.
In Google Trends, “Breakout” means to a search term that has experienced a significant increase in search volume, often by more than 5000%, within a given time frame. This means the Manu Bhaker Caste related searches have seen huge jump in the last seven days. In Google searches, the “Breakout” designation is used when a term has seen such a dramatic rise in searches that it can’t be represented as a simple percentage increase. It indicates a sudden and substantial spike in interest for that particular term.
Most of the releated searches in last seven days are in the Breakout zone and main keywords in such searches include: manu bhaker cast hindi, bhaker cast hindi, bhaker caste, manu bhakar, manu bhakar cast, manu bhaker in hindi, india olympics, manu bhaker wikipedia, bhakar caste, manu bhaker medals, manu bhaker biography, manu bhaker from, manu bhaker biography hindi, manu bhaker instagram, bhaker surname, manu bhaskar, manu bhaker caste, bhaker surname caste, bhaker cast, olympics india, jat caste and bhakar surname caste.
Why some prefers to search “Manu Bhaker Caste”
Like in Manu Bhaker’s case, in India, the practice of searching for an individual’s caste online, particularly when they achieve notable success in fields like sports, academics, or the arts, highlights the deep-rooted caste consciousness that persists in the society. Earlier as well, when many achievers brought home accolades to the country, Google was flooded with caste related searches.
When athletes win medals, scholars receive prestigious awards, or artists gain national or international acclaim, the public’s curiosity often extends beyond their achievements to their social background, especially their caste. This curiosity is driven by a multitude of factors, including historical social dynamics, the ongoing relevance of caste in social identity, and the political implications of caste affiliations.
The digital age has made it easier for people to seek out this information. Online searches and social media platforms become the primary tools through which people try to ascertain an individual’s caste. Search queries often spike following the news of someone’s success, as people type in combinations of the individual’s name along with caste-related terms. This is evident from the patterns observed on search engines like Google and on social media platforms where discussions about someone’s caste can trend rapidly.
Several reasons underpin this behavior. First, caste identity remains a significant marker in Indian society, influencing social interactions, opportunities, and perceptions. When someone from a historically marginalized caste achieves success, it can challenge entrenched stereotypes and inspire others within that community. Conversely, it can also lead to backlash from those who hold prejudiced views.
Second, political motivations can drive such searches. Caste plays a crucial role in Indian politics, with political parties often mobilizing support based on caste lines. Knowing an achiever’s caste can be strategically used to galvanize voter bases or to frame narratives that support or undermine certain political agendas.
Lastly, the educational and occupational affirmative action policies, such as reservations in educational institutions and government jobs, add another layer of interest. People often scrutinize the caste of successful individuals to either support or criticize these policies.
While the achievements of individuals should ideally transcend caste considerations, the reality in India shows that caste continues to be a lens through which success is often viewed and interpreted.