Reservation, Quota: My Rumblings

I have been going through some of the 'pro-reservationists' writings these days and I found a startling fact(?). It is not the economic-inequality or lack of facilities that they talk about. They want the reservation as a measure to ensure social-justice. 'Anti-reservationists' argue that if 'reservation' has to be there then it should be on economic basis. In other words 'anti-reservationists' are trying to negate the head-start that some gain due to financial capabilities. While, the 'pro-reservationists' are trying to solve a completely different problem, that of social-justice.

So, I feel that the two groups are trying to tackle two different problems. That of economic-inequality and social-injustice.

'Anti-reservationists' might argue that nothing like 'social-injustice' exists. But, let's face it that it does, it does in schools/colleges everywhere, may be not to the extent as it was in our parents' time. Infact, I have myself seen some of those who are today championing the cause of 'anti-reservation' using casteist remarks against their own batchmates. I personally can't condone this act even as a reaction to their getting into iit on quota seat. How many instances are there of a so-called well-educated (say an iitian) marrying a person of backward class? (Compare this with the probability of a inter-caste marriage if no one ever thought of caste.. just a tad less than 1 taking into account the large number of castes that exist in India)

Coming back to the original issue. The two groups are fighting on two different and almost-independent issues. So, why are the two groups opposed to each-other? Why can't they come together and find the solutions for both the problems simultaneously (this is the only way to beat the currupt politicians)?

o May be because 'pro-reservationists' belong mainly to the backward-classes and have a feeling that this 'anti-reservation' agitation is another trick of forward-classes to deprive them of the social-justice. They should try to see the problems described by the other group in their perspective and understand the logic. I can personally assure that it is not 100% crap. They'll be welcomed to join the so-called anti-reservationists group and discuss and formalise the demands to the govt.

o 'anti-reservationists' think that by diluting the merit we would be dragging the country back. These people also need to think as to why has the merit been coming only from the so-called upper-class and why not from the backward-classes? Does it have anything to do with the genes? Obviously no. They too have the potential but it has rarely come out. Won't it be a great idea if we could somehow unlock this great potential of India? There seems to exist an invisible, almost impenetrable divide between the privileged and unprivileged class. Isn't there any way that pull them onto this side of the world, which produces meritorious students. It is all just a food for thought but reservation can be one of the ways (if not the only and certainly not the best.. think of something better and feasible). It may not seem to deliver immediate value please don't forget to look 25-50 yrs ahead. It may be like the R&D spending which delivers in long-term.