The Reservation Tank!

In a population of 121 crore where another crore goes nameless, where the government is falling prey to one scam after another, where the average person is busy in finding his pursuit of happiness, where in the name of progress, we are actually hitting the reverse gear --- RESERVATION is a sought after word. From reservation of a bed at childbirth to a reservation of a seat in school, from reservation of a heart to live happily-ever-after to reservation in being able to enjoy rights; reservation is so deeply embedded into our veins that knowingly or unknowingly we are a victim of it. It does not come with neon signs displaying it's features but we humans, succumb to our weakness and shortcomings and are invariably attracted to it. But the type of reservation that pinches humans the most is the RESERVATION OF SEATS ON THE BASIS OF CASTE AND CREED!

Since time immemorial, making margins and setting a border of everything has been a norm. The Vedas mention the reservation of posts by different categories of people. But at that time, a person’s karma not caste was the benchmark of reservation. A person’s achievements, his deeds, his actions were taken into account while deciding on reservation. But sadly, over the centuries, while complying to mans’ selfish self-centered thoughts and needs, the definition went for a total conversion from having defined on the basis of actions to being defined on the basis on caste and creed. Starting from the original four castes which were actually made on the basis of actions and occupations, it branched and re-branched into numerous smaller divisions. Slowly, different religions started thriving; different tribes came up, different beliefs surfaced which differentiated one human being from another. Similar things, such as humanity, the same blood flow, brotherhood took a back seat. As time passed by, with the various invasions that took place in India, different sections of people got a better hold on others at some point or other. Complexities increased, sections of people, some castes, creeds started being deprived of basic rights. Rulers such as Aurangzeb imposed jaziya which infuriated the Hindus to a unexplainable extent. His decision of destroying the Bamiyan Buddhas long back the Taliban actually did it was a clear sign of religious tolerance. Such actions done with shortsightedness provided the base for the need to provide reservation, so that all sections of society got the chance to enjoy the right to equality.

Several laws came up, several amendments were done in the existing ones, social activists pledged to help them. But, does the present scenario actually depict a picture of equality? Are the people who really need reservation able to enjoy it? The government in its lust for eternal power comes up with false promises coated with an emotional, religious tinge to woo the common man. And this common man is so fickle-minded as to be swayed by it. Quota for muslims, quota for the backward classes, quota for SC/ST is grudgingly permissible but what about quota for the higher castes? In this mad race for power, they tend to overlook those who fall under the general category. That general category which accommodates all- from rich to poor, from honest to dishonest, from culturally rich to culturally poor. That general category, which is not looked after, which has to bear all the injustices done to it silently. That general category, which has no special privileges to enjoy, no special laws made exclusively for it, no exemptions made on it's very status of being "general". 

Say it and do it Fearlessly for if you are right, there is nothing in the world that can stop YOU!!!

So far, so good. If the general category were well off, the case would have been different. But sadly, the truth voices another opinion. People in general category are poor but they are deprived of all those privileges what their counterparts belonging to SC/ST enjoy. The condition is worse for those in the education line. People belonging to SC/ST with lesser marks get lucky while those belonging to general category are forced to be satisfied with what they sometimes do not deserve. The general category is content with this ordeal even. But what bothers it is the malpractices that are quite rampant. Corruption with its fangs poisons the very identify of a person. People not belonging to the creamy layer are rarely hesitant in changing their social status. They hesitate in telling others about it but are never behind claiming for the icings of the Privilege cake. the government leaves no stone in playing with human emotions and is always on the lookout of a chance to play vote bank politics. What about those who are not rich, who do not have the basic amenities of life and belong to the general category? 

A reservation made on the basis of caste does not actually signify the progress or the generosity of a nation, of a government. It is when all sections of society actively participate in any project involving national interest can the purpose of reservation be fulfilled. Instead of making reservations on the basis of caste, it should be done on the basis of one's per capita income, it should be done transparently and corruption should not have any chance to surface on it. Only then can we actually implement the most important Fundamental Right ---  The Right to Equality.

Voicing every true Indian's dream:

“No Preference, no Difference --- Just Equality!”

Save Humanity!

Quoted from the famous film 3 Idiots, "Oye Champ, tu andar hii reh bhai; bahar bohot circus hai!" and unquoted. The present situations are nothing less than that! The ring master is this patriarchal society which no matter how much advancement in science is as savage as it was in the primal times. The whip they use is this barbarians in the form of male race and at the other end of this whip stands the WOMEN. The very woman who conceives them in their womb, suffers nine months to show them the light of this world, goes to no ends just to see a big bright smile on her child's face, gives up her voice, her interests, her passions just to comply with the society that she lives in. She sacrifices all her desires just to keep the roof above her head intact, just to keep the society at bay and not end up being called an outcast, a characterless woman.

But is that actually fair? Does complying with the interests earn her any prize worthy of being showcased? Do others even acknowledge her sacrifice? All that she earns is smirks, lewd comments, sly glances, mocks, thrashings and in graver cases --- molestations and rapes. They said, a woman should be properly dressed and maintain decorum to avoid been taken advantage of! While they get the freedom to wear whatever they want, go wherever they want, they restricted their creators to a closed circle. If a woman tries to find any loopholes through this strong thick wall and so much as just peeps her head through she is severely punished. Her self-respect, her dignity is played with. There is always a devil lurking in the dark waiting to pounce on her and satisfy his libido, his primal desires. Is it the fault of the woman that she dared to peep her head into what she has a right to or the man's who forgets his civilized state and gives in to his primal instincts?

Earlier they said rape can be stopped if women wore full-sleeved covered from head-to-toe dresses. They stated that if a woman remains within the four-walls of her house and does not put a foot outside it, does not take a stand in things in which she is entitled to, she will remain safe. But what answer do they have for this barbaric, disgusting rape of a five year old girl? What instinct of man would allow him to do such a deed if not he is a mad, insane wild animal? Who would dare to insert candles, wax into the vaginal tract of a minor girl who is not even aware of what is going on with her if not for a mentally unstable person? Do they have any answer for this? Do they realize the gravity of the situation?

As usual the protests are on. Candle marches, silent protests, agitated marches, burning of effigies have again taken a ride upscale only to die after a month or so. Long discussions are taking place at every nook and corner, committees are being made, laws are being passed, speedy arrests of the accused is done... But to what avail? Does this change the very fact, the harsh truth that there are a lot more evils out there roaming freely and at any point of time might make any female race a prey to his poisonous glare and interest. Apart from doing just the above, there is a lot more to be done. Apart from just discussing, we need to take a stand for what we really believe. Apart from making a committee we need to see to it that the outcomes are correctly implemented, the laws are strictly executed and followed and stringent punishment given to that individual who is incapable of giving respect to that race he owes his world to!

But, just like a silver lining; there exists a section of male figures who still have a little bit of humanity left in them. Men, who are disgusted with themselves, who condemn such acts, who are not so thick-skinned as to remain unaffected by it. Men who say they would better turn gay because they feel they don't deserve the bliss called "Women"! Men who feel helpless over this unending situation, who self-accuse themselves of being a culprit because a major section of their race is wrong. It's because of this slight grim hope that lingers on that we are still breathing. Men do not need to turn gay, they just need to control themselves and act instinctively, for I am sure that no man's instincts would allow him to do such a barbaric act.

"You might not be able to change the world, but you can create a difference." The sense of a conscience is a strong one. If only you can condemn such acts and those who think on the wrong lines, the initiation of restoring humanity is done. This is enough to call you as a saint as far as "male species" go!!!