Here's a post that presents acrid criticism against Vinod Mehta's controversial article in Outlook in its last edition:Wrong Target Mr. Mehta. More or less, this post is on the "antireservation" side. Here's another article, which is openly "proreservation": To, the Youth for Equality.
Both articles have strong arguments. Observe that the first got thousands of hits and lot of comments, most of them applauding it, one of them from popular blogger Amit Verma. But the second post, I dont know how many hits that got but only one comment, that too mine.
The writer of the second post, Pranav, presents a good case. A lower caste guy has not been allowed by his fellow villagers to mount a horse because it is forbidden for lower caste people.
"I think the fact that the groom had a horse means that they were not the poorest financially."
For quite sometime now, I've been arguing that the present reservation system should be replaced by one which has financial condition/history of the family as the most important criterion for reservation, in place of caste.
Pranav made me think again. I think it's a fair point. Looks like even if you are better off financially, your caste still sticks on to you wherever you go.
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June 6, 2006 at 12:52 am
pranay
Thanx for forwarding my point man. I hope more people see the point in it. Caste is so strongly entrenched in people’s minds that financial condition is no safety against discrimination. Even the richest backward class people are made to feel ‘backward’ on several ocassions. Reservations should be accompanied by affirmative action taht rids the minds of people of such prejudice. Sadly no one seems to be interested. And also it is all the more difficult due to the religous and traditional feelings attached to it. I assure the incident I talked is not even the tip of the iceberg. people are not allowed to enter temples, they are considered the only candidates for jobs like sweeping and stuff, a few dalits were lynched coz they entered a temple recently…and the list goes on. Some can actually bring tears…andd it ’s all because of caste. I think the protestors now that they have gained momentum could look into such inequalities too…which I know they won’t. No one cares. I should just get my seat that’s equality!
Also check out-http://pranaytalking.blogspot.com/2006/05/my-opinion.html
June 7, 2006 at 6:11 am
Ravi Kalaga
Guys, again. Equality, yes. There should be no two ways about that. Equality is a doctrine that must be sought out and sought forcefully. Anyone violating it should be punished. Equality should be the only way out in solving all the problems. I saw, get rid of everything, just put one bar and let everyone adhere to it.
That’s my stance.
So, isn’t it valid in all walks of life. Dude, its flawed if one says first let everone change their behaviour and then we will let go of equality norms. What is ingrained in people will take time to be erased, it will take a long time. It will change with education and development. But trying to do it at the cost of snubbing a equally competent man is not done man!
You spoke of equality, that’s what everyone’s speaking of too.
June 7, 2006 at 5:12 pm
atlantean
Pranay, yes good you have a strong argument. Impressive stuff. Caste is too deeply ingrained in our minds and voluntary AA will not help and so, it has to be forced, through reservations, that is.
Ravi, yes equality man. Consider this: Mr. A is an upper caste man, well educated, financially well off. He’s what we call dude. IQ 140+, full GK, first class with distinction, allrounder and all.
Mr. B is a lower caste man. His dad cleans toilets. His dad was talented at more skillful jobs but wasnt provided any job because private owners did not prefer “lower class filth” like him, and so couldnt come up in life, like maybe Mr. A’s parents. With a lot of hardship however, he gets Mr. B educated. Mr. B also had to do some trivial jobs to augment the family’s meagre income and so, though brilliant with the same IQ 140+, Mr. B couldnt concentrate much on his studies and so ended up in the third division in his graduation.
Now, both of them have decided to appear for the civil services examination. Now, tell me… who do you think has more chances to succeed? One is gifted and the other is exactly the opposite but both are up against the same thing. You call that equality?
You said it takes time and that is exactly why reservation now is valid because development and education will take time. Because till then, what about those lower caste people who werent part of the development process, because of their caste, before this new “exclusively to remove caste differences” kind of development that all you antireservationists propose?
June 7, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Ravi Kalaga
Chaitu, I rest my case!
Anyways all the protests and all the spilled blood has gotten nowhere. The reservations have been incresed to 50% and the govt’s decision to increase seats will only kick in before the next general election, it all they do kick in, so why all this time waste.
Man, for attrocities committed when education was non-existant, “we” ( everyone ), in this age of rationality and education, some will get their redemption and some will pay the price.
Apologies for questioning common sense and logic.
June 7, 2006 at 8:45 pm
atlantean
Ravi, I understand how you feel dude. The antireservation argument is not wrong.
"I have the merit but havent got the seat because someone who is less qualified has been given the seat."
Common sense and logic. But the proreservation argument is also not wrong. I feel the issue needs to be looked at from a broad… very broad perspective. I feel we need to force AA in India through reservation, for good reasons because I think voluntary AA will be an utter failure here.
I can go on and on but I even then I cant refute that argument above. So, I rest my case too, atleast in the respect of this short chat we've had. And I agree that the govt's decision to begin implementing might be timed right before the next general election. That is quite possible.
June 7, 2006 at 10:02 pm
jetru
Well, thats the problem in villages. I’m a dalit myself and none of my ‘higher caste’ friends really care. There’s a lot of difference between urban India and rural India. The latter can’t be neglected.
June 8, 2006 at 12:47 am
atlantean
Jetru, hmmm yes man… there’s a lot of difference… so is it that bad in the villages, as bad as the horse thingy?
June 11, 2006 at 8:17 pm
pranay
Love you for seeing the point from a broader point man. It’s not merit against social equality, It’s merit with social equality. I hope everyone understands it. Like you did. No one’s proud of being from a reserved category, all want this stigma to end. But as long as casteism exists in this country and inequality exists, it is needed.
June 11, 2006 at 11:20 pm
atlantean
Pranay, thanks man
“No one’s proud of being from a reserved category, all want this stigma to end.” Correct.