Reservations- Boon or Bane ?

In the interests of one and all ...

My dear countrymen!

With due respect to all and prejudice to none, Reservation issue has been very controversial, critical and sensitive issue since independence, nobody dares to even think of its abolition. Whenever the issue is raised in any forum for any alteration, it turns into hot controversy without fail leading to long agitation with all round destruction of man and materials nationally and always ends abruptly without any concrete and satisfactory solutions despite active participation of govt.and judiciary both from time to time.

Now, it has since been directly to do with vote bank politics, it immediately attracts the attention and interests of almost all the political parties to jump in one way or other in their own interests. Even after Supreme Court clear decision in the matter with a maximum reservation limit of 50%, every party coming in power comes up with new formula to woo some of the left out backward and marginalised sections of society to their fold to increase its vote bank and hence make the base further to somehow remain in power, for example, Rajasthan govt. has proposed 68% reservation that includes 14% reservation for the forward class in service and education. And Tamil Nadu govt. advocating for reservation from 69% to 87%. These cases are in litigation in SC for judgement. This is the usual norms of all the parties who come in power.

The frequent recurrence took place from the famous Mandal commission in 1979 when V. P. Singh was PM, often recurs when new dispensation takes place at the center or state. Surprisingly every state has its own reservation policy to keep its votes bank intact.

The fundamental question arises why our great constitution makers made such reservation policy, what was the purpose?For whom it was intended to and for how long it had to be continued? What is overall impact on society? Now, we should see what is the status now.  Whether the main objective of our constitution makers has satisfactorily been achieved yet. If not, what are the lacunae? Should it not be reviewed with open mind involving all factions to have consensus and amicable solutions to such complex issue in national interests? 

Our given society has its origin from age -old  " varna vyawastha."  taken from Indian mythology wherein society was broadly categorised into four castes with different job allocations to them.

Brahmins - Engaged in the highest profession of teaching. Or living through Biksha.

Kshatriya- were warriors are in supposed to rule and save the country from internal and foreign aggression.

Vaishya ( Bania, trading community)- Engaged in Business and lastly 

Shudra - Low caste serving the above three.

This system no longer valid today as there is fast intercaste migration already started taking place for a very very long time when society was further classified on the belief of "work is worship", karma Pradhan principle. Now Brahmins are found to be working as peon and person belongs to lowest caste working in highest IAS job. Such a huge transformation has widely been taken place in society.

To my mind, the issue is so important that needs marathon discussions, debates at all public forums including parliament to reach overall consensus to settle the matter once and for all. Even otherwise if any sensitive topic is reviewed afresh after 70 yrs of independence, it's a healthy tendency and must be welcomed by all unitedly at least in national interests.

As we see today their ( Reservation Class) overall condition remains the same rather appears to be deteriorated more. Downtrodden are still found to be in miserable conditions and discriminated in their daily life as before. And other non-deserving groups like creamy layers somehow keep on taking the advantages twisting the existing policy. If so is the ground reality, The policy needs a complete overhaul. 

As regards my experience with backward class is concerned, it has a different but pleasant narration may be treated as exceptional cases. During my college days, some of my friends were belonging to SC/ST. I am glad to mention here that they were brilliant,  our English teacher once said about them as he had not found a single error while examining their answer sheets. The Same good experience I have had during my university days. My topper friend was a Harijan by caste. Though a genius, he used to tell us very pathetic tell that he fears reading Sanskrit. Reason ? Howsoever hard he tried to read the Sanskrit text well, he often failed in all his attempts and mistakes did occur while reading, so nervous he used to be while reading. We can imagine what type of oppression and inhuman treatment they might have undergone that the sufferings and fear so intense in mind still today with passing generations. 

Another beautiful case of a gentleman who also happens to be Harijan by birth came as G.M., N. E. Railway, Gorakhpur during my University days. His brilliant quick action on making all North Eastern Railway trains heading towards Delhi a direct access to broad gauge, Charbagh Railway Station of Lucknow which comes under Northern Railway hence saving a great deal of time to the passengers going ahead of Lucknow to Delhi. Earlier, it was a time-consuming affair due to covering many more small stations of Lucknow, also involves changing the plate form from N E Rly to Northern Rly plate form. This useful action followed, it is believed, he while traveling in his N. E. Rly train was stuck before Charbagh ( Lucknow) station by unnecessarily Signalling delay by Northern Rly authorities.

Whenever such topic like Reservation came up before top luminaries and intelligentsia for opinions, every time there was one thing upon which everyone unanimously agreed to is, that economic status of the individual should be the only criteria while giving reservation. In other words, the consensus was, poorest of the poor only is entitled to reservation irrespective of his caste and creed. Simply put even a Brahmin can avail reservation benefits, if he is the poorest and one belongs to reservation class unfit for reservation privileges if he is economically better off. But very, unfortunately, it has not yet become the policy.

Based on present status, it should be clear to all that present caste based reservation system can never uplift the lowest of society. While we all the time strive for equality, unity, communal harmony and development among us all, the reservation does create divisions, rivalry, unhealthy competition, enmities and hence communal disharmony in society thereby leading to the regressive path only no way good for the country. How a student of upper-class scoring above 90% marks is denied admission and Reservation Class having 40% only gets admission.  Same disparity is unabated going on right from school admission to higher education to job and promotion. Such unhealthy practice only brings dissatisfaction and feeling of revolt to fight with each other and ultimately with the system passively or sometimes intensively. With such faulty and unimaginative system in place, how can we imagine and expect a healthy and progressive society?

The cure for this disease is available if our parliamentarians take the visionary steps like the following: 

1. All belonging to reserving class must be looked after properly from the day they are born to the completion of their higher studies. All their basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter must be fulfilled by Govt. freely.
2. Education right from Nursery to higher studies levels totally free by govt.
3. But when the govt./ the country needs professionals, technocrats, architects, Engineers, Doctors and bureaucrats, there should be no compromise in quality. They should be chosen and appointed only through open competition. Because neither individual nor the country would like to play with the lives and limbs of its citizens under any circumstances.
4. It is very obvious and natural to decide and understand for even reserving a class, their choice in case of bypass surgery, from whom one will prefer to be operated upon. From an upper-class gold medalist securing 99% or from one from reserved category who has somehow qualified. 
5. Same way while undertaking any key project, everyone would like to hire the best professionals not one from low caste who has passed obtaining with grace marks.
6. When so is the mindset of a common man, govt. has to appoint only the best who are coming by qualifying the competitive exams badly needed for a developing country like India for all round leaps and bounds progress and help India become a super power faster. 
7. Reserving class must not have any objections to this arrangements if govt. is willing to take up all their responsibilities to make them capable enough to compete and meet any challenge coming their way to look after their interests themselves properly as a responsible citizen. 

If Govts. agree to toe the above lines, it will no doubt affect the exchequers dearly, but it will definitely bring auspiciousness, integrity, brotherhood, harmony in society and thereby progress and prosperity to the nation.

JAI HIND.

Writer (Sinha.P.K a member, AAP) is an amateur and views are strictly personal. Feedback / Criticism welcome at Email -pkmsinha@gmail.com or follow @ pkmsinha.blogspot.in