OBC Day In India

OBC Day In India

The OBC reservation bill in institutes of higher education in India (IITs and IIMs primarily) received the approval of President Kalam today. That was the final nail in the coffin of what has been a gruesome murder of democracy in this country. Around the middle of last year, students all over India from all fields had risen up in protest against the draconian act. Yet it was mercilessly, dictatorially, systematically and in former Sovietesque fashion destroyed. All over the country the bright young minds of the country that were supposed to shape its future were fired at and lathicharged by dispassionate police officers. Worse, the media who are so eager to jump upon stories of old men predicting their deaths and the like unprotestingly kept quiet on the whole issue upon Government orders. The uprising of 1857 could not have been crushed more efficiently. Of course, maybe this revolt suffered from some of the same flaws as did the 1857 rising - lack of leadership, coordination being the primary ones.

And now, just last week Ram Vilas Paswan that great philanthropist has thrown in the idea of a countrywide stir if there is no reservation implemented in the private sector jobs. Im sure this particular uprising whenever it occurs will meet with a different ending. And we keep blabbering about the brain drain in this country.

Meanwhile, the headlines in today's Indian Express talks about this affirmative action plan. From the first look, it seems to be a good idea. Of course I read on and realize that this is to be implemented on top of the quota system and that is no real help at all. But still I believe I shall be supporting it as at least it is probably the first step towards not increasing the quota anymore. The factors mentioned in the article make a lot of sense too.