The Jat agitation for reservations is gaining momentum in the north; something that started merely with protest demonstrations has now converted itself into rail and road-disruptions. A warning has been given to stop the supply of water, milk and vegetables to the capital, Delhi. Cutting across party lines, all Jat leaders are offering support to the agitation. No political party can summon enough courage to oppose this agitation . The state governments have surrendered before the Jat agitationists. This will give you a fair amount of idea about the strength of this powerful community. Can a potent community like this be called backward; this poses a moot question before the intellectual community of the country. The country trembles just at the mention of the consequences of the Gujjar agitation for reservations in Rajasthan. This present agitation has the potential to lead the country into complete chaos and anarchy. Today, the country is standing at the crossroads where it will have to do a rethink about the reservation policy. The policy is clear in terms of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. There is a background to their social and historical exploitation. The reservations extended to them in the initial stages of the country’s independence, was completely justified in all respects. However, even reservations for this community need be relooked into by their own leaders with respect to how effective and necessary they are for them now. Article 340 (1) talks about identifying the backwards and their development. Nowhere in this article has the word ‘caste’ been used, leave alone talking in terms of providing reservations to them. Backwardness is always on the basis of economics and not caste. If we were to take the 11 indicators prepared by the Mandal report to identify backward castes, we find that all these points are found equally among the poor of all the castes. If children drop out of school quickly or do not go to school at all, then this happens with all the poors and not with a particular caste. If someone has to live in thatched hutments, then this happens with poors of all the castes and not with a particular caste. If there is a lack of education among the womenfolk, then that is prevalent in poor women of all castes and not of a particular caste. If we think in terms of the development of all the poors, then naturally the poor of the so-called backward castes too, will get empowered. The spirit of the constitution too was the same. But if we take a look at the history of the reservation agitations, we find that the people who implemented these policies or led agitations for the same, were not interested in the ‘development of the backwards’ but the consolidation of vote-banks of the backward communities. To achieve this end, they hardly gave a thought to the constitution or the future of the country. One look at the leaders of these communities and you can make out that the castes they profess to be leading has remained static in terms of progress, but yes, the leaders themselves have progressed, leaving nothing to doubt about their unsavory intentions. In 1953, was established, the first committee to look into the identification of backward castes, the Kaka Kalelkar committee. He identified 2399 backward castes. The report of this committee was not accepted as he had not made use of any census records to postulate his theory. He did not make any sort of research for the same. Subsequent to this, the much-talked-about Mandal Commission was formed by the Morarji Desai government in 1979. He identified 2743 castes as backward in his report, this meant 52% of India’s population. The report recommended the granting of reservations to these castes on the basis of their percentage in the country’s population. If the recommendations of this commission were accepted, then the total percentage of reservations would have been as high as 75%, which would have included the 23% of that of the already existing SCs and STs. Just imagine the plight of a nation where such a system exists. All opportunities of development would have come to a nil and the talent of the country, finding no outlet, would have been frustrated, leading to caste wars. Imagine the world’s perception of a country, where 75% of the population is having reservations. Perhaps, this is why, four governments made their way in and out of the Parliament after this report, but none dared to implement the report. But, suddenly, out of nowhere, the erstwhile P M, V P Singh, announced the implementation of this report, without any consultations, along with the high-sounding rhetoric that no one will be able to douse the fire that he has lit. The background to this announcement is very important to know. Choudhary Devi Lal had shown and proved his strength by organising a Jat rally in Delhi. In order to break the stranglehold of this vote-bank, and build his own trustworthy vote bank, V P Singh could not have taken a more sinister step than announce the implementation of the Mandal recommendations. This was only an exercise to garner the vote-bank; this is proved beyond doubt by the many statements delivered by one of his trusted lieutenants, Paswan. All of them knew the kind of reaction that could take place after this. Despite this, they went ahead and kept going ahead with their shenanigans, without taking any precautions. The reaction that took place was on expected lines. There was tremendous disapproval and angst against the Mandal recommendations, students came out on the streets to protest its implementation once they realised that it could jeopardise their future. Bright students like Rajeev Goswami and Surendra Singh Chauhan tried to immolate themselves as a measure of protest. In the corridors of power, they used to say then, “Whenever a youth immolates himself, our vote-bank gets that much stronger.” Time has proved this to be right. Buses were being set on fire on the streets, this mayhem continued for about a month, but the powers that be, were not worried at all. A very important fact emerges when one compares that era to the times of today. One finds that the very same people who had organised the anti-Mandal agitations then, are today at the forefront of agitating violently for reservations. It is crystal clear that these people can support or oppose reservations for the backwards depending on what suits them. To meet their selfish ends, they can go to any extent and don any mantle. Today, it is the call of the times that a comprehensive rethink and overhaul is done on the policy of reservations. Does it suit their (backward castes) dignity to secure jobs the easy way through the back-door, with the help of reservations or prove their mettle by securing the same jobs on the basis of their talents in an open competitive exam? Today, when the ‘Right to Education ‘has become a fundamental right, wont it be more suitable for them to pride themselves on a job secured through acquiring the best of education rather than through the dubious system of reservations? This belief in their abilities is the only way they can redeem their pride and say goodbye to their backwardness. Jobs secured on the crutches of reservations cannot instil in them a sense of pride, nor can it help them in getting rid of their backwardness. They will only become a part of the never-ending race which only talks of extracting more and more concessions and benefits. The Gujjar agitation for reservation is a prime example of what can happen with the Jat agitation. The Gujjars, not satisfied with the backward caste reservation benefits, are now demanding and sometimes violently agitating for the Scheduled Tribe status for themselves. This is surely not in the interest of the Gujjars and certainly not in the interest of the nation. Will the equalitarian pattern of society that was envisaged by our great leaders ever be achieved in the face of such fissiparous demands? The poison of casteism that is so lethal in itself, is that venom not infiltrating the very core of our system by this caste-based system of reservations? Today, even the politicians of this country will have to do a rethink as to how long they will continue to use their caste to meet their selfish ends and play havoc with the future of the nation? It is now time to reconsider this policy of reservation. -
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