Progress or regress???

Read recently in the papers that more quotas may be introduced in the IITs and IIMs soon. The man behind all this? The great (HA!!) Arjun Singh!!! The excuse being provided is that it is a constitutional provision which is being followed. The point of this exercise? The "progress" of the "backward" castes in society at large.

56 years ago, when the constitution was created, the makers had put in a clause for introducing a reservation for the "backward" castes. This was because they were, indeed, oppressed by the "upper" castes. They had to do many menial jobs simply because they were refused the opportunity to progress. The constitutional reservations gave them the much needed chance to prove themselves at every level. It made them believe in themselves that they were also capable of doing all those things which had, hitherto, been the bastion of the privileged classes. This had been exactly what the makers of the constitution had in mind. But, a clause was also put in that the reservations could be repealed after 50 years. However, in 2000, our elected representatives chose to extend these reservations by another 10 years!!

But, hasn't the scenario changed now?? Don't we see more equality in society, at least in terms of caste?? Today, to be very frank with you, I wouldn't be aware of what the word "Dalit" meant if it were not for these reservations. Its high time the people who sit in Parliament sit up and take notice that these reservations have long outlived their intended use. Today, they are more of an excuse for the students belonging to these "backward" classes to relax and dawdle on their efforts to get into prestigious institutions like the IITs and IIMs. And even assuming that the situation is grim for them in the rural areas, these reservations should certainly not be offered to them above the 10+2 level. For, it is these students, who will have secured admissions via the myriad concessions offered to them at the schooling level. This means that they have been given ample opportunity to overcome the social difficulties that they may have faced. And they still want reservations at the Undergraduate and Post-graduate level?? This is ridiculous!!! The people who sincerely believe that this is necessary should try and understand that this will seriously undermine the students' ability to perform at their optimum level in the international field. For, today, when India is on the verge of emerging as a major power, the same yardstick will be applied for judging all of us, backward class or not!!! In the face of such a scenario, we must concentrate on making the members of the "backward" classes consciously lose the impression that they belong to an underprivileged community. We are all Indians and let us remain so!!!

And as for the reservations, let us get rid of them once and for all, at least from the undergraduate level onwards. Instead, keep some seats for the economically backward students. And as regards the lack of opportunities excuse put forth in defence of these reservations, I feel that the people who are truly talented do not need such headline-grabbing gestures to succeed. A close friend I know is a living example of what I just said!!! CB, take a bow!!!