Reservations

Its after a long time that the citizens of our beloved country have chosen to express their views and that too in a manner that those in power have to listen to their voices. In a way, I am feeling gratified that not all Indians are impervious of any developments affecting their lives or their future. Interestingly, the increased quota for the OBCs is set to affect students from all streams, but only the medical students have chosen to protest against this policy of the government. They have peacefully protested against the ploy of the politicians to vouch for vote banks in the upcoming elections; however as their voices have fallen on deaf ears.

This development has raised some intriguing questions in my mind: why have students of other streams not supported this cause taken up by the medical students across the country. In the olden days, whenever there was protest against injustice – say against the English rulers- the protest would not spread because of lack of communication. Interestingly, the war of 1857 should the power of networking in an age when net or media played almost no or miniscule role. Its depressing that the other streams of students have preferred to remain silent observers and allow their destiny to be jettisoned by these politicians. They will revolt back, but not by raising voices against it, but by applying for foreign country citizenship.

The other question is why can’t economic criteria be used as an important indicator for backwardness and for how many years are we going to ask for it?
Its time that the politicians explains us that why an economical sound person is not socially uplifted one?

Finally, why have not data being published and analysed about the benefits reaped by those who have used the reservations ? have the benefits really reached the lower rungs or the middle class are the ones who have benefited? Has the system which has been in place for last 56 years delivered the results ? is it not a time for rethink on these issues ?