India, Aug. 14 -- Uttar Pradesh, my birthplace and the cultural soul of India, is a land of immense strength, rich history, and silent resilience. Its rivers and fields, its music and mysticism, all whisper stories of both beauty and betrayal. But beneath the vibrant hues of this state lies a truth we must confront-decades of systemic exclusion and quiet suffering endured by those who form the very backbone of our society: the backward classes (Pichhde), Dalits, and minorities (Alpasankhyak).

This vast majority, collectively referred to as PDA, has long remained marginal in decision-making, their contributions to society acknowledged only in passing. Of the 21 Chief Ministers in the history of Uttar Pradesh, only six have emerged from th...