Isn’t it gripping how tinniest of incidences can
affect us so much. I was travelling in the metro that day and then, there
commenced the debate of all time among some college students. Even I had many
conversations with my friends on that subject. But that day in the metro I came
to know the ground reality of RESERVATION and how far it’s been efficacious!
Jyotirao Phule pioneered reservation in India
with HUNTER COMMISSION in 1882. Phule had a vision of a utopian society. He
proposed the ideas of inter-dining, inter-caste marriages and mass education
throughout his life. Apparently only reservation is stressed upon and rests are
being unheeded.
Reservation was introduced with a vista to
provide equal recognition to the marginalized groups. From HUNTER COMMISION to
THE SACHAR COMMITTEE of 2003 there are many commissions and committees
affiliated with reservation in India. The main motive of reservation was
ensuring equality. But are we really creating an equal space with reservation?
I don’t repudiate that there had been tremendous
struggle on the part of marginalized groups to attain this opportunity. But is
that all they call for? Wasn’t their goal to have an equal recognition? Is
reservation on the basis of castes not leading to segregation? Years back they
were considered different by the so called “forward castes” and now too they
aren’t on the equal ground. Not because they are lower castes but because they
are the new privileged people now.
We began from annihilating inequality by reservation.
Reservation resulted in segregation and again there’s no equal ground. We have
arrived after so many years of struggle to from where we started. Believe it
or not reservation on the basis of castes is actually making a new privileged
class. I know all the supporters of reservation out there would detest me for
writing this. But is that all you wished for? When we say equality, aren’t we
referring to equal opportunities? I know there are ‘n’ numbers of people who
are taking advantage of this system. Not every person belonging to marginalized
groups is backward to compete with the mainstream. And not every person of
forward castes is privileged enough. So are we really encouraging equality?
When it’s about equal representation and equal
opportunities, then why not talk about reservation on the basis of economic
conditions? Is it wrong to uplift the underprivileged? And does only caste
determine which group is marginalized or privileged? I don’t think any of us is
incompetent in any way. But some are privileged and others underprivileged.
Equality is in standing on an equal ground, not in becoming privileged while
playing the underprivileged card.
For me
equality is not in giving certain privileges to certain group. It’s actually
breaking off the very notion of privileged. Reservation should be there but not
on the basis of castes but economic conditions. Why not provide equal
opportunities to the underprivileged irrespective of their castes? The dream of
Jyotirao Phule and Dr. B.R.Ambedkar was the upliftment of the downtrodden. In Slavery (1873), Jyotirao Phule asserted
that “wherever I find downtrodden people, I will dine with them and reckon them
as members of family and as brothers”. The definition of underprivileged should
not be limited to lower castes only! Upliftment of the subjugated shouldn’t be
on the basis of his/her caste.
End of the line
Reservation
in most of the Indian states unlike Rajasthan (68%) is up to 50%. The
underlying principal behind the whole reservation system was equal
representation. And as a result poor people from the “forward castes” are
actually becoming the new underprivileged. So truly we are doing nothing new.
Any system can only be useful if it should be applied appropriately.
Reservation should be there, but not on the basis of castes. It should be for the
upliftment of the oppressed regardless of his/her caste. Reservation should be
on the basis of economic conditions.