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!”