This particular post was actually composed by me as a reply to a mail from someone to the group BM (Bharat Uday Mission)
I appreciate you for all the time that you have spent to elaborate on situations faced by the women; I also appreciate for expressing your anguish on the reservation system. I am sorry that you have lost an opportunity of medical seat due to the reservation system!!!
But at the same time taking this opportunity I would like to raise a few points….
With what you have stated about Eamcet, I guess you are from Andhra Pradesh. Even I am from the same state so I have a little bit of idea about the issues and facts of A.P.
Getting into the details, it’s is no secret that in A.P. there are just two main communities which have tasted all the prominence and privileges. Yes, there are other very few communities which can be considered of having as importance as these two communities. But largely only these two are able to enjoy the resources of A.P.. Right from the Politicians (the C.M.’s and even the Speakers of A.P. till now were only from these two, barring a one or two C.M.’s. Even the 2 major parties, is divided among these communities only). Coming to Real Estate, Contractors and other privileged classes will again be largely from these two. Going into the land records ...,.. HUGE and HUGE chunk of land in A.P. is still under the possession of these two alone.
What I always wonder is ‘How the communities which accounts for a lot less than 10 % of population in A.P. are able to access the majority of Land and other resources? How the important and efficient people in A.P. come from only these two? What about the rest 90 %?’ I tried finding the reason for it, not sure if it is right. Though the Castes were well prevalent from ancient days and its origin and being Indian is still debated at large, it was during the British Rule was when these communities were given prominence. Englishmen were more inclined and favored a few sections of society and they made the other sections of society be deprived of even the basic needs and made these sections to serve them and their officials. This ideology benefited the English in many ways and also it was successful in creating the disparity among the Indians. According to certain British laws (such as the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871), many castes and tribes were described as habitually criminal and adult male members of such groups forced to report weekly to the local police. The caste-based classification was also used for other purposes such as legislation controlling LAND TRANSFERS, the grant of proprietary rights, the regulation of rents, recruitment to the armed forces etc. British policies of divide and rule as well as enumeration of the population into rigid categories during the 10 year census contributed towards the hardening of caste identities. The word 'caste' is derived from the Portuguese, 'Casta' during the Portuguese occupation and rule of sections of India (For some Gyan Quotient :) ).
I feel because of this caste system India has lost many intellectuals who could have contributed in lot better way to the Nation. Because of the caste system a person born in a particular community was forced to work according to his caste. And never was his interest, talent, intellect taken into account or even considered. There might be many who could have made lot of inventions / discoveries or other major things but they were just confined to the work related to their community, a big LOSS!!!
I have gone deep into the History only to support the point, how some sections were deprived, left unfortunate and snatched from the basic rights and the LAND to a large extent only to gratify the other sections. The fruits of which is what the present offspring of the privileged classes are having. The lost opportunities of large section of society became opulent opportunities for the rest few sections. So, there has to be an equal ground at least in the present civilized society. But, for that what is being used, ‘The Reservations’ is not the right remedy. Reservations in India are in existence from much before the Independence, from Government of India Act 1935, which went into force in 1937. But till now they have not been able to get the expected results. If it’s not been successful for all these 70 yrs, it will not be successful for coming 100 yrs too.
So, why is all the hue and cry about ‘RESERVATIONS’? Why is the age old concept still in vogue? Are all the modern intellectuals not capable of finding better efficient means of upbringing the socially deprived classes other than this failure, Reservation? Why Politicians still lure the innocent people with reservations? Surprisingly why the deprived classes are lot happy and feel very fortunate to have a reservation?
The answer for these questions is ‘BASIC LACK OF AWARNESS’. That is what has become a blessing in disguise for the Political Parties and also point to be noted, the so called representatives of the deprived class too. Both the political parties and these representatives exploit on this factor as they do by initiating few little policies as if they are showering their money on people. They are luring the innocent common man by showering the interest, but the deprived class should actually raise their voice for the Principal and not the interest.
The solution I see here is basic land possession, the huge possessions by few fortunate classes needs to be brought to justice. A proper survey has to be done completely the means and origins of how the owner got the land. Unless he had got through very legal means and through his own earnings the land should be sealed away. All the acquired land should be distributed among the land less. These kinds of initiatives were well done long ago too, but not in a proper and mass means. If this is done properly I am sure it can solve half the social inequality issue. And through proper surveys, the economically deprived sections need to be identified. And based on their economic position, through slab system they have to be given a monthly pension. If a family has been thrown into a severe condition because of their economic position, the solution also lies economically and not politically by throwing away some course/job/assembly seats at them!
From 2008, OBC Creamy Layer was introduced which is a good concept. But again why it was constrained to just OBC? Why not SC and ST came under it? If we go by the definition of Creamy Layer I don’t see any reason why it should not be extended to SC and ST and at least I hope it is extended to General Category as well (A reservation to all based on Economic factor and not Caste). I see a reason for this disparity by Govt. As, never was the BC’s seen as a potential voters to any party, they are never seen as a united section like the SC or ST’s. BC’s are a divided lot and rarely are they united for their cause they mostly take it lying down. Though BC’s account for more than 50% of the population no political party fears of BC’s strength as they do of other section’s strength. Because of the simple reason they are not united.
Talking about the land and equality, here I want to raise another point. We have a Govt. department to look over the Temples and its properties in AP. I again, wonder why other religious institutions don’t come under that department? Why does the Hindu Temple lands being encroached (even the posh locality of Hyderabad the Banjara and Jubliee Hills where all the high level prominent live is an encroached land of a small temple, which is still there) by some and few of them even sold by the Govt.? whereas the properties of other religious institutions are never dared and be touched? Why the Hindu temples are under the Govt. surveillance and other religious institutions under their religious heads? Why does the Govt. pay the pilgrimage money for one religious section and why doesn’t it pay to the other? What kind of religious equality and secularism do these political parties talk about?
By these few measures, I feel it will not take long enough to see everyone on same platform. Everyone will have equal access to their land. But in this present society who cares about everyone?
I appreciate you for all the time that you have spent to elaborate on situations faced by the women; I also appreciate for expressing your anguish on the reservation system. I am sorry that you have lost an opportunity of medical seat due to the reservation system!!!
But at the same time taking this opportunity I would like to raise a few points….
With what you have stated about Eamcet, I guess you are from Andhra Pradesh. Even I am from the same state so I have a little bit of idea about the issues and facts of A.P.
Getting into the details, it’s is no secret that in A.P. there are just two main communities which have tasted all the prominence and privileges. Yes, there are other very few communities which can be considered of having as importance as these two communities. But largely only these two are able to enjoy the resources of A.P.. Right from the Politicians (the C.M.’s and even the Speakers of A.P. till now were only from these two, barring a one or two C.M.’s. Even the 2 major parties, is divided among these communities only). Coming to Real Estate, Contractors and other privileged classes will again be largely from these two. Going into the land records ...,.. HUGE and HUGE chunk of land in A.P. is still under the possession of these two alone.
What I always wonder is ‘How the communities which accounts for a lot less than 10 % of population in A.P. are able to access the majority of Land and other resources? How the important and efficient people in A.P. come from only these two? What about the rest 90 %?’ I tried finding the reason for it, not sure if it is right. Though the Castes were well prevalent from ancient days and its origin and being Indian is still debated at large, it was during the British Rule was when these communities were given prominence. Englishmen were more inclined and favored a few sections of society and they made the other sections of society be deprived of even the basic needs and made these sections to serve them and their officials. This ideology benefited the English in many ways and also it was successful in creating the disparity among the Indians. According to certain British laws (such as the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871), many castes and tribes were described as habitually criminal and adult male members of such groups forced to report weekly to the local police. The caste-based classification was also used for other purposes such as legislation controlling LAND TRANSFERS, the grant of proprietary rights, the regulation of rents, recruitment to the armed forces etc. British policies of divide and rule as well as enumeration of the population into rigid categories during the 10 year census contributed towards the hardening of caste identities. The word 'caste' is derived from the Portuguese, 'Casta' during the Portuguese occupation and rule of sections of India (For some Gyan Quotient :) ).
I feel because of this caste system India has lost many intellectuals who could have contributed in lot better way to the Nation. Because of the caste system a person born in a particular community was forced to work according to his caste. And never was his interest, talent, intellect taken into account or even considered. There might be many who could have made lot of inventions / discoveries or other major things but they were just confined to the work related to their community, a big LOSS!!!
I have gone deep into the History only to support the point, how some sections were deprived, left unfortunate and snatched from the basic rights and the LAND to a large extent only to gratify the other sections. The fruits of which is what the present offspring of the privileged classes are having. The lost opportunities of large section of society became opulent opportunities for the rest few sections. So, there has to be an equal ground at least in the present civilized society. But, for that what is being used, ‘The Reservations’ is not the right remedy. Reservations in India are in existence from much before the Independence, from Government of India Act 1935, which went into force in 1937. But till now they have not been able to get the expected results. If it’s not been successful for all these 70 yrs, it will not be successful for coming 100 yrs too.
So, why is all the hue and cry about ‘RESERVATIONS’? Why is the age old concept still in vogue? Are all the modern intellectuals not capable of finding better efficient means of upbringing the socially deprived classes other than this failure, Reservation? Why Politicians still lure the innocent people with reservations? Surprisingly why the deprived classes are lot happy and feel very fortunate to have a reservation?
The answer for these questions is ‘BASIC LACK OF AWARNESS’. That is what has become a blessing in disguise for the Political Parties and also point to be noted, the so called representatives of the deprived class too. Both the political parties and these representatives exploit on this factor as they do by initiating few little policies as if they are showering their money on people. They are luring the innocent common man by showering the interest, but the deprived class should actually raise their voice for the Principal and not the interest.
The solution I see here is basic land possession, the huge possessions by few fortunate classes needs to be brought to justice. A proper survey has to be done completely the means and origins of how the owner got the land. Unless he had got through very legal means and through his own earnings the land should be sealed away. All the acquired land should be distributed among the land less. These kinds of initiatives were well done long ago too, but not in a proper and mass means. If this is done properly I am sure it can solve half the social inequality issue. And through proper surveys, the economically deprived sections need to be identified. And based on their economic position, through slab system they have to be given a monthly pension. If a family has been thrown into a severe condition because of their economic position, the solution also lies economically and not politically by throwing away some course/job/assembly seats at them!
From 2008, OBC Creamy Layer was introduced which is a good concept. But again why it was constrained to just OBC? Why not SC and ST came under it? If we go by the definition of Creamy Layer I don’t see any reason why it should not be extended to SC and ST and at least I hope it is extended to General Category as well (A reservation to all based on Economic factor and not Caste). I see a reason for this disparity by Govt. As, never was the BC’s seen as a potential voters to any party, they are never seen as a united section like the SC or ST’s. BC’s are a divided lot and rarely are they united for their cause they mostly take it lying down. Though BC’s account for more than 50% of the population no political party fears of BC’s strength as they do of other section’s strength. Because of the simple reason they are not united.
Talking about the land and equality, here I want to raise another point. We have a Govt. department to look over the Temples and its properties in AP. I again, wonder why other religious institutions don’t come under that department? Why does the Hindu Temple lands being encroached (even the posh locality of Hyderabad the Banjara and Jubliee Hills where all the high level prominent live is an encroached land of a small temple, which is still there) by some and few of them even sold by the Govt.? whereas the properties of other religious institutions are never dared and be touched? Why the Hindu temples are under the Govt. surveillance and other religious institutions under their religious heads? Why does the Govt. pay the pilgrimage money for one religious section and why doesn’t it pay to the other? What kind of religious equality and secularism do these political parties talk about?
By these few measures, I feel it will not take long enough to see everyone on same platform. Everyone will have equal access to their land. But in this present society who cares about everyone?
1 comment:
Brother, im impressed by ur analysis on the caste system n reservation, i here submit few of my views, based on my knowledge,the remedy you have mentioned ie. redistribution of the excess lands amongst the lower classes.. dat was an alternative idea by Dr.B.R.Ambedhkar, while he was framing this reservation system. but leaders then who belonged to the upper classes did reject this option, and they had to accept the reservation system, n Ambedhkar also mention that this so called reservation system would stop when there is 90% literacy rate amongst the lower classes, which appeared as a never ending destination for the leaders then,n it is proved. the political parties still run on the caste bias, till date.. which is very shameful on our part.. many have tried to irradiate this evil from the society but there efforts could not fulfill there desires, the only way we could get rid of this evil is by showing the old new and coming generations the roots of the caste system and how it originated and on which basis the castes were classified. but give the people this knowledge may be we could irradiate the evil from at least few minds, i expect you to write an article on something related to the origin of castes..
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