Dr Rajiv Desai

CASTE BASED RESERVATION IN INDIA

January 23, 2010 by Dr Rajiv Desai

CASTE BASED RESERVATIONS IN INDIA:
The rest of the world will be shocked to know that more than 50 % of Hindu-Indians take benefit of Indian reservation policy.That means that more than 425 millions of Hindu-Indians accept employment opportunity,educational opportunity and legislative opportunity;purely on the basis of their birth in a particular family without any respect for their abilities which is expected from them,had they were born in another family.
Caste is defined as a social status or position in the Hindu society which is inherited from parents at birth and it cannot be changed or tranferrred.
Hindu society is devided into 4 varnas or classes by Rig Veda in the year 1500-1000 BC.At the top of the hierarchy the Brahmin followed by the Kshatriya followed by the Vaishya followed by the Shudra.The last class outside the system is Avarna or Untouchables(Pariah).
Brahmin-priestly and learned class
Kshatriya-worriors and rulers
Vaishya-farmers and merchants
Shudra-peasants and labourers
Avarna-untouchables who clean human wastes,dead animals etc..
This caste system is inherited at birth.That means that a person born from Brahmin parents will be Brahmin and a person born from untouchable parents will be untouchable.Brahmins,Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are Hindu Upper Caste(HUC)people; while Shudras and Avarnas are Hindu Lower Caste(HLC)people.
HUC traditionally exploited,oppressed and discriminated HLC people for thousands of years.HLC were not allowed to enter in temples,not allowed to drink water from wells,not allowed to marry HUC,not allowed to eat with HUC etc etc..
HLC had option of Sanskritization which means adopting HUC customs OR convert to Christianity or Buddhism.
Today,HLC is divided in 3 groups.
Scheduled Caste(SC)-16 % of population(Dalit)
Scheduled Tribe(ST)-7 % of population(Adivasi)
Other Backward Class(OBC)-32 % of population.
HLC=SC+ST+OBC=more than 50 % population of India.
Casteism also exists in Europe,China,Japan,Korea,Pakistan etc etc.
Reservations in India is a form of Affirmative action whereby a percentage of seats are reserved at job opportunities,admission in educational institutions and entry in Parliament/Legislative assemblies for socially backward castes like SC,ST and OBC.
Even during British rule in India,reservation was practised by British Govt for upliftment of depressed classes. Dr.B.R.Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi differed in the approach.Ambedkar supported caste based reservations but Gandhi coined the term Harijan(child of god)for untouchables and felt that British support for caste based reservations was British ‘divide and rule’ strategy.
The Indian Constitution is contradictory on the issue.
The Indian Constitution prohibits any discrimination on the basis of race,religion,caste,sex and place of birth as well as equality of opportunities in the matters of employment.However,at the same time;it allows special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes like SC and ST and also allows reservations in employment for ST and SC.
I agree with the concept of proportional representation of various sections of society in running of a country but reservation is different.Today,more than 50 % seats in public job opportunities and educational institutions are reserved for SC,ST and OBC.In a state like Tamilnadu,only 3 % seats are for HUC whose population is 13 % in the state.
Also,there is a creamy layer who may belong to HLC but economically and educationally,they are HUC.
Also,historical injustices of the past cannot be corrected by doing injustice in the present.
Is casteism a form of racism ?
Racism is a belief that a human being born in a specific race has superior character or ability as compared to another human being who is born in another race.
Example.White versus black; Nazis versus Jews etc etc.
A person born in inferior race will be oppressed,discriminated,exploited and dominated by a person born in superior race just like Casteism.
Indian leaders and media deny the fact that Casteism is Racism on the ground that there is no discernible difference in the racial characteristic between HUC and HLC and social status is intra-racial and intra-cultural.
I disagree.The issue is the birth in a particular race or caste which is non-tranferable.
Every human being has 46 chromosomes in the nucleas of every somatic cells; 23 from each parent.Every chromosome consists of DNA molecule.Every DNA molecule has carbon,oxygen,hydrogen,nitrogen and phosphorus atoms in a complex confuguration.
No matter to what caste or race or religion you belong,you have same carbon,oxygen,hydrogen,nitrogen and phosphorus atoms in your DNA albeit in different configuration.Your abiities will be determined by the function of your brain cells which work as per their DNA.Your environment can either enhance your DNA performance or downgrade or modify it.However;If you are intelligent by DNA,you cannot become moron by bad environment.If you are moron by DNA,you cannot become intelligent by excellent environment.Also,your colour of skin is dependent on presence of Melanin which is determined by DNA in the skin cells.
DISCUSSIONS:
Reservation divides the society and not unites it.
HLC cannot become HUC despite 1000 years of reservations because reservation perpetuates discrimination.
Best way to remove social discrimination is to promote inter-caste marriages.Various matrimonial advertisements in various indian newspapers show Casteism in the minds of indian people.
Reservation has become a vote-bank politics in India.
There is also an issue of false caste certificates given to HUC persons to take benefit of reservation as corruption is rampant in India.
An innocent child born in HUC family cannot become doctor despite having 80 % marks because the seat is reserved for HLC child who has 40 % marks and so a person with 40 % mark becomes doctor as a part of social justice and upliftment of oppressed people.A person who could have saved many lives could not become doctor but a person who could possibly take lives becomes doctor.
Reservation means discrimination which is contrary to the right to eqaulity.
Affirmative actions are meant to correct past discrimination through measures to ensure equal opportunities to all citizens in education and employment.Equal opportunities means equal access to self development.That means,persons with equal abilities should have equal opportunities.Reservation in India means 50 % people have less abilities due to historical injustices.
Also,people who demand reservation must also sacrifice their lives for the country.More than 50 % soldiers of Indian Army who died in various wars must also be from SC,ST and OBC.Reservation in life must continue in death.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY:
1)Casteism means Racism.
2)Best way to end casteism is inter-caste marriage.
3)The deprived sections of the society must be helped by Affirmative action but the help must be related to the ability of an individual.
Dr.Rajiv Desai.MD.