Reservations, quotas - when will India grow up?

Circa 2015, two students from financially strong backgrounds, both scoring equal marks in the Medical (or any other) Entrance test. But one of them gets the admission, while the other does not. Why? Because the luckier of the two had the ‘SC’(or ST or OBC) caste certificate, while the other, did not. Sounds familiar? Welcome to India.

More often than not, the other one who did not get the admission, scores a lot more than the other. Has proven himself to be more deserving. But we are not a land of people who reward the deserving. It’s all about quotas and reservations here, and the way the Patel issue is coming around, this is likely to continue for quite some time.

Time and again, the issue raises its ugly head, and we are forced to face the truth about this unfair process. Reservations have a long history in India. The ‘Communal Award’ by Ramsay Macdonald brought reservations in the election process. Much later, the Mandal Commission brought it into public services and education.

The argument in favour of reservations then, was to ensure proper representation of all castes in the democratic process. All castes, touchables or untouchables – a practice that was common then. Maybe even now, in some remote corners of India. But the rest of India has come along a long, long way.

Give me a good argument in favour of reservations now – for today’s India, and in education. You want to help those who are economically backward? Subsidize their fees. You want students of all castes and creeds to be able to get the best of education – ensure that you have good educational systems even in the remotest corners of India. You want them to be leaders in our democracy – reach out to them, train them. It seems like because you couldn’t do all this, you simply chose the easy way out.

Today, all one needs is a certificate, that states your caste as one among the SC/ST/OBC (with OBC, you have to be Non-creamy layer) and you suddenly have a better chance at finding good opportunities than others. Dear Government, do you have a foolproof system to ensure that the certificates are only given to the right people? Do you ensure that it is benefiting the needy?

Caste discriminates people. Is it constitutional to differentiate between people on the basis of caste? Our freedom fighters would have hoped that with independence, the caste system itself would be banned outright.

I respect myself, I trust my abilities, I do not need a reservation. If you don’t allow me an opportunity I gain by my merit, I will seek a chance elsewhere. I will not fight you, I know it is a waste of time.

And all those of you who are deserving, those meritorious and talented students of my beloved nation, move on to better pastures. If nothing else, today we have an open world – go global, find opportunities outside of India. Educational loans are available, don’t restrict yourself. Tomorrow, if you feel that you will like to settle in one of those countries, do so. This country cannot claim its meritorious youth anymore, it threw them out of its educational system long back. 

Related articles:
In favour of reservation - Moments in a History of Reservations
Is Hardik Patel actually spearheading an anti-reservation movement?