Herbert Hope Risley, a colonial administrator who served as the census commissioner, decided to categorise castes in their local context and rank them accordingly into a Varna.
The Castes such as Kurmis, Gadarias,[4]: 92 Kachi, Jatavs,[5]: 68–74 Lodhs, Kalwar,[6] Ahirs[3]: 144–148 underwent sanskritisation in order to recast themselves as Kshatriyas.
No longer is entrance into the power, opportunity, and wealth structures of Indian society based solely on ascribed caste status; in the public sector, at least, achievement based on citizen-ship status is the principle of recruitment to these structures.The criticism of the Sanskritisation process by backward class intellectuals in post-independence led to its reversal through de-Sanskritization.
In the period following independence, de-Sanskritization became a key feature among Dalits who sought an alternative cultural identity.
[4]: 87–91 The Sanamahi movement took place after the death of Laininghal Naoriya Phulo to support the de-Sanskritisation of Meetei culture and revival of their heritage.