Reservations on Caste Basis: Out of Tune with Reality
The Caste system has been the bedrock of Hindu society for over 5000 years. We read about the caste system right from the time of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The caste system is supposed to have been ordained by the Rishi Manu, whose Manusmriti is the Bible of the Caste system. Unfortunately not much is known about Manu and he remains a shadowy figure. Some writers have opined that Manu was in reality Moses the law giver of the Jews. Whatever it may be, the fact is that the laws of Manu and the caste system became the pivot of Hindu society. This continued for thousands of years and even so called thinkers like Gandhi, Vivekananda and the Shankaracharyas' all in various ways defended the caste system.
The caste system in an earlier age probably served a purpose. It was there in other societies as well and thus we have names like Smith, Turner, Carpenter etc in the Western world. These names denoted the hereditary professions. Here in lies the difference. While the western world evolved and did away with this division of society, in India it got accentuated and the divisions became sharper. A new class of "untouchables" was created, who were treated akin to lepers. Thus in India instead of the class and caste system going away a deeper division appeared and society particularly the Hindu society was divided. This had its repercussions and the lower castes and untouchables converted en masse to Islam. Even Dr Ambedkar and thousands of his followers converted to Buddhism, as they felt that the caste based Hindu society had no place for them.
There is also no doubt that the lower castes from lowest scale of life are steeped in poverty. Obviously it is the duty of the state to help alleviate poverty as that is the job of the government. On this point there can be no debate. The debate arises when the government to build vote banks expands the definition of caste to also include affluent castes like the Yadavs who are land owners. Thus the government has lost sight of the primary role of alleviation of poverty.
We are all aware that poverty stalks India and as per the government figures almost 50% of the population live in poverty. There is not enough food to eat and this lot of poverty stricken population is spread all over the land and covers all castes. There are many high caste also who live in poverty. Once a man in India is born into poverty he dies in poverty as well, as he has no avenues to further improve himself. There may be an odd case or two of a man or woman rising up from the poverty stricken world and become an officer and thus rise up in the social ladder. But it is generally seen that those born in poverty die the same way and nothing much happens to them.
One of the primary policies and aims of a government is to remove poverty. How does one go about it? There is no doubt that the backward castes and untouchables need upliftment as that is the job of the government. But there is no case for well of persons even from this strata as well as the expanded definition of Other Backward Caste ( OBC) being included in government policy to remove poverty. In other words the benefit of reservation should not be availed by anyone from any caste in case he is not mired in poverty. Unfortunately the way the reservation policy is framed, the benefits of reservation continue to accrue to people who have made it good with the reservation extended to them as well as people who are land owners and relatively well off, just because they are included in the OBC quota.
This policy is fraught with danger as the aim of most communities is to be included in the OBC category. This was the genesis of the massive agitation launched by Hardik Patel in Gujarat. Hardik Patel mobilized lakhs of Patels in a massive agitation that shook the roots of the Gujarat government. The very fact that a community quite well off economically was goaded to launch such an agitation is cause for worry. What will happen if other higher castes also launch agitations and demand reservation for jobs ? There is also no doubt that many from the so called higher castes also live in poverty, but all avenues are closed to them. They watch aghast as relatively well off men and women from the OBC and backward castes continue to be pampered with reservation of jobs and benefits.
India is a poor nation and despite all talk of a Mars mission and other paraphernalia, the fact as brought out by the Government and the UNO is that 50% of the Indians live below the poverty line. It is the job of the government to see that those people are helped. Reservation on the basis of caste will not help, but there is a need for reservation based on economic index. In that case all people below the poverty line should be extended reservation. This reservation needs to be purely on economic matters and not on caste.
There is also a need to restore meritocracy in governance and public life. Presently almost 52.5% of all jobs in the government and public sector are reserved on the basis of caste. This has been adversely commented upon by many people and in fact stalls progress and development. There is a strong case to reduce this reservation figure to not more than 20%. I wonder in case the Supreme court so vocal on other matters can give such a decision. It will not go against the principle of Natural Justice , enshrined in Indian jurisprudence. The Supreme Court of India will be shrugging its responsibility in case it is not seized of this matter.
The path ahead is rocky and the road which is being followed can only lead to a vivisection of India. The Supreme Court and the government have to act. One agrees that poverty must be removed, but the basis of any reservation can only be the poverty index and not caste. In addition merit must come into play and one must remember that a society that does not follow meritocracy is doomed. Will India find the man at this critical hour. Will India have a Kemel Mustapha? One must remember that the Ataturk brought about all these changes in a Muslim society steeped in obscurantism. He succeeded and there is no reason to feel that it cannot succeed in India.Modi is certainly not that man, as India awaits the messiah who will lead us forward.
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