the 'Fist' & the 'Pacifist'

Monday, July 10, 2006

No Cakes and Ale : Part Deux.

The way our founding fathers envisioned the Indian nation, the way the Indian people have voiced their opinion - it is clear - that we as nation will judge our self by the extent to which development filters down to the most marginalized, by the empowerment of the most deprived and by the extent to which those furthest from the mainstream benefit from the fruits of the Indian Union.

Sensex pole vaulting to 10000 plus levels, the testing of a nuclear device, Marks and Spencer opening shop at the neighborhood mall - these are only the highlights of our growth as a nation. Let us not be self-deluding to believe that this alone typifies growth or are even its primary indicators.

The rural and urban poor do not cast their vote based on Infosys setting up a state of the art facility, neither are they swayed by India winning points over China at Davos.

The parameters of the average Indian are crystal clear - land reform, access to infrastructure, access to education, social empowerment, and access to livelihood options.

Not a single opinion poll commissioned by media houses, print or television, based out of the metros - predicted the BJP loss at the center. Urban India was doing well. We had Lindt on supermarket shelves and American sedans in our garages. The disconnect between urban and rural, forward and marginalized was so palpable - while we were basking in the warm sunshine of India Shining, India in the villages voted in anger.

Let me gets some facts straight here,

1. Higher education is obviously not the only great leveler, primary education must be strengthened and its reach widened. It should reach villages, and families which have so long been outside the net. There isn't an argument about that, is there?

2. Like all policies, the execution is flawed, and the purpose is very often defeated. But does that mean we do away with the initiative altogether?

3. Successive generations which have benefited from reservations should be excluded from any further dispensations. A system should be in place to enforce the same, and be executed efficiently. (Very idealistic I know, not for once overlooking the inherent corruption and inefficiency).

Keep aside vote bank politics and populism. (The narrow ends of small men).

What's the driving concept behind reservations? It attempts to empower those who are intrinsically marginalized.

I don't get this - if the concept of reservations per say is the bone of contention. Why wasn't there a nation wide protest against the women's reservations bill? Why wasn't there nation wide protest, when some state governments reserved seats in panchayats?

The answer is simple - it didn't affect the urban middle class. It didn't impinge on our world of Multiplexes and H1B visas. It didn't affect Marine Drive, Connaught Place, Park Street or Brigade Road. Hence, it was not a hot button for the media. In fact we nodded our heads in appreciation - India was taking affirmative action. Reservations were good.

But reservations in our colleges and universities - that's evil. How could you reduce seats in the colleges and universities where we aspire to study or send our children to study someday? How can you take away our prospects of MNC jobs and fast cars? How can you be seen at the same clubs as we do? Will your son study with my son at St.Xaviers - that's preposterous!

That is unfortunately the crux of the problem - we the urban middle class, have chosen to live in a sanitized bubble. Disconnected from the real India, out of sync with its real problems. This is new imperialism. We are the new "us" and they unfortunately are still the "them".

P.S. This is the much delayed follow up to the previous post. I received comments/emails but couldnt get down to replying to them individually. Apologies. Hope this post responds to most of the comments. Cheers!

Labels: World and us

3 Comments:

Rohan said... On Wednesday, August 16, 2006 5:57:00 pm

Look at the root of the problem.

The urban, traditionally priveledged upper caste...is better positioned to make the grade. Sure he/she has to study and do the exam well. But look at the enablers in place - generations of education, atleast one previous geneneration of western education, access to better schools and resources.

On the other hand a rural, traditionally marginalized caste has so many deterrants. Probably first Generation of education, first generation of western education, social and economical deterrants which do not allow entry or continuation at school.

m. said... On Wednesday, September 30, 2009 12:56:00 am

completely-completely agree with rohan..

even if 50% seats are reserved, the other 50% is still there for the others. wats the fuss about...
we all talk about developing india into a super-power, but when it comes to ourselves, affirmative action is thrown out of the window...
charity hardly begins at home these days...