The long gap is explained by tapophobia(fear of tapping the keyboard) and sheer laziness!!
For a Secure Future, Not a Reserved One
“To reserve or not to reserve”- well, this question should not matter in the first place. The response to this question emerges as overwhelmingly negative even before it is posed. But, underneath, this does hide an issue that needs to be addressed – if we want to become “developed” from “developing”, that is (even after nearly six decades of independence). Sorry, I have to suppress a laugh here. Lo and behold! The geriatric ward of decision makers is here, have no fear. Among them, the ‘Arjuna’ emerges and talks of using ‘raths’ for progress in the age of the jet. Well, one need not go as far as the jet, but surely some contemporary thinking could help. Consider this – the constitution talks of removing caste inequalities (point of contention for reservation supporters) – reservations actually entrench caste identities more deeply; in this age – economic needs know no caste barriers, yet our decision makers continue to believe in the opposite; the government can use measures like economic basis for affirmative action, yet it believes reservation is the only tool at its disposal. To add to the icing on the cake – some say reservation does not compromise quality – look at the South. So, lets put the South and the North of the country in two different boxes and treat the former as humans and the latter as aliens(sic). Is the South the only place where backward caste people reside? Is it the only region which produces world-class manpower and is a model for social justice as well? An ardent representative of this school of thought actually went so as far as to say on national television that the IITs are for the privileged class only and no IIT-ian contributes anything to the country’s development? Is any IIT-ian listening? Besides, is getting into an IIT the ultimate symbol of upliftment? What does the poor OBC farmer in a remote village in Haryana need first – more land for cultivation, irrigation and electricity or a degree from a place where he says his children can never make it? At no point do I wish to deny quality education to anyone from the lowest strata of society? But, surely we can do with some innovative thinking – like scholarships and free textbooks?
Need I say more? Mr. Singh – is reservation the only way to being a little bit wise?
For a Secure Future, Not a Reserved One
“To reserve or not to reserve”- well, this question should not matter in the first place. The response to this question emerges as overwhelmingly negative even before it is posed. But, underneath, this does hide an issue that needs to be addressed – if we want to become “developed” from “developing”, that is (even after nearly six decades of independence). Sorry, I have to suppress a laugh here. Lo and behold! The geriatric ward of decision makers is here, have no fear. Among them, the ‘Arjuna’ emerges and talks of using ‘raths’ for progress in the age of the jet. Well, one need not go as far as the jet, but surely some contemporary thinking could help. Consider this – the constitution talks of removing caste inequalities (point of contention for reservation supporters) – reservations actually entrench caste identities more deeply; in this age – economic needs know no caste barriers, yet our decision makers continue to believe in the opposite; the government can use measures like economic basis for affirmative action, yet it believes reservation is the only tool at its disposal. To add to the icing on the cake – some say reservation does not compromise quality – look at the South. So, lets put the South and the North of the country in two different boxes and treat the former as humans and the latter as aliens(sic). Is the South the only place where backward caste people reside? Is it the only region which produces world-class manpower and is a model for social justice as well? An ardent representative of this school of thought actually went so as far as to say on national television that the IITs are for the privileged class only and no IIT-ian contributes anything to the country’s development? Is any IIT-ian listening? Besides, is getting into an IIT the ultimate symbol of upliftment? What does the poor OBC farmer in a remote village in Haryana need first – more land for cultivation, irrigation and electricity or a degree from a place where he says his children can never make it? At no point do I wish to deny quality education to anyone from the lowest strata of society? But, surely we can do with some innovative thinking – like scholarships and free textbooks?
Need I say more? Mr. Singh – is reservation the only way to being a little bit wise?
posted by sheyalpandit at
12:36 AM
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