They sit on the same bench in the same class. Read same books and are taught by the same teachers. Face the same exam and are asked the same questions. Then why this discrimination, why this inequality, why this injustice?
              Studying under one roof with category students, the Open Merit students are not fed with some superior dose of knowledge or skills so as to convert them into the falcons of Aristotelian genius. They remain tethered to the same human earth as are their peers. And expect the level playing field. But alas, they are butted out of race thanks to the horns of the category certificate and cunning tactics of the politicians to have their votes “reserved”.
              It is time to take a serious review and revisit the policy that far from murdering the talent is divisive in nature. The first thing we have to think is, did the reservation remove the social and economic imbalances? Are now people from Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes and OBCs embraced as equals in a society that is divided on the lines of race, color, sect, caste and tribe? Have Dalits won dignity despite having Dalit Queen, Maya Watti, assuming office in the most populous state of India? Have the naked parades of Dalit women stopped? Have they gained uncontrollable access to temples and wells?
              The picture on the other hand is more dark. Notwithstanding the fixed quota the Dalit are yet to be accepted as a part of Hindu society. In fact the fissures of animosity have widened. There is a growing sense of frustration and dejection developing among the majority people that their genuine rights are being torpedoed and they are denied of their rightful share in employment and administration. Deep rooted prejudices, social injustices and community biases are not wiped out by offering political bribes like reservations. You have to educate the people, and start mass mobilization and establish the supremacy of law.
              Many a suggestion are made to tackle the dreaded menace of reservation. “One generation” reservation is one suggestion. Creamy layer formula which has many proponents from Indian Civil Society, is another. Some sociologists propose that reservation should be based on income index, in disregard of the tribe, caste, sect or place the beneficiary belongs to. In both cases the merit is slaughtered and the scales of justice are altered to prop up the undeserving. The core of the issue is, should an egalitarian state pool its resources in harnessing intellect and horn the innovative skills in the age of internet or push the incompetent stuff ahead at the cost of merit? Should it continue with the policy bereft of reason and justice and which breeds hate and has seeds of divisive tactics and kills competing potential? You deprive a meritorious, competent, deserving whether through one hack or volleys of generational attacks, in both cases one genius is driven to frustration, where he has two choices to take the “easiest” from: self destructive or aggressive.
              Agreed there are some sections and classes in our society which are educationally and economically backward. But is the reservation the only remedy? State has resources at its disposal where without compromising on the principles of justice and equality it can provide monetary aid to the deserving people irrespective of caste, color, creed, sect, tribe and domicile. Their need is qualitative education and financial support, not reservation. Give the meritorious students from ST, SC, OBC and other category holders scholarships, give them relaxation in admission fees etc. Even impose category levy on us  but for God’s sake don’t choke the competition channel. Here one thing we want to make clear. People with category are our own people. We are not against them. We are from the same stock. But class opportunista (the power-lust politicians) are deepening the roots of casteism and sectarianism through these illogical policies. Which, God forbid, can lead to civil war in future.
              At a time when government is running mobile schools to educate the children of Bakarwallas (nomads) even in thick forests and meadows and the villages are getting due share of public funds, and in many ways are better placed than congested areas of our cities, the reservation legacy is incompatible with the demands of a welfare society.
              Did you ever hear while selecting team India Tendulkar was edged out by some winnow from the category “cream” or Dhoni bowled out of the race because a specific place or certain tribe has their B-grade and C-grade “stars” “reserved” for the posts? Why then a doctor, an engineer, an administrative officer, a teacher, a technocrat who invest not in entertainment but in more serious, essential and urgent fields of life are dispirited out by the drop-outs? Why a promising asset is stalked at and whisked away by category monster at the blooming youth. It is time to do away with this silly reservation policy out rightly. No patch work, no window-dressing will satisfy the majority voice of Kashmiris. It has to go before the simmering discontent explodes.
(Feedback at zainagiree@yahoo.co.in)

Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST