Even in other fields, Affirmative action/ Reservation, is not only unfair to the other job applicants and business or apartment owners, who are innocent but now presumed to be guilty of discrimination, but also, to the intended beneficiaries and more importantly to the very bigots against whom the action is intended. Even such bigots have a right to be treated fairly. Even the kid who excludes your child from his party, out of pure meanness has a right to do so and his right should also, be recognized and protected If the principles of equitable treatment are applied consistently.

Caste or racial set asides or minority based reservation and affirmative programmes are defended in part, as fair compensation for the alleged historic legacy of discrimination and denial of rights. Unfortunately the costs of the present reservations or affirmative actions are borne largely by those who were not participants in such acts having being born long after such discrimination has largely disappeared. Reservations or affirmative actions are not the way to erase the lingering effects of discrimination and denial of rights, they are simply a way to transfer those effects from one innocent party in the past to another today. Education and urbanization are a far better way to remove the barriers to trade and interaction between the castes and religious minorities. After all, such barriers to trade are detrimental to both parties. (See- ‘Annexure – II – for comments on Reservation & Affirmative action and the results thereof.’)

It is true that in the past discriminatory circumstances were more than just in trade; it was also, about indignities both large and small, from segregated water wells and residential areas, to denial of opportunities for education and advancement. But that is a far cry from claiming that the others or upper castes were the beneficiaries of such policies and not also, in some ways its victims too, and are therefore in debt for the privilege of living in a Society that so discriminated and that the solution lies now in similarly, discriminating against their descendants. Perhaps the three generations of such policies in our country since independence are more than enough and we should now consider allowing such laws to lapse, perhaps over the next 10 years, and allow equitability to be the order of the day. (See – ‘Understanding Varna, Caste or Jati, and Untouchability’).

Also, how about all the historic legacy of discrimination that women and the disabled in all castes and minorities faced? If they can be asked to forget historic wrongs and seek only equity in the present, why not everyone else?

With a large and growing middle class consisting of all ancient castes/jati’s, we should be clear that these so called discriminations have no validity today when education and talent are widely recognized and hence, stop claiming reparations or benefits or reservations. Fight instead for better schools, more scholarships and easy student loans for your children. They would then need NO Reservation when they become adults, seeking admission into a College, or a Job. Merit and competence alone should be what counts

“The so-called benefits gained through self- proclaimed victimhood can never compensate for the life-long consciousness of inferiority. Strive to prove and demonstrate your competence and capability in the area of your choosing and be proud of whatever you do achieve.” – Anon

Finally to those who insist on claiming that Reservations only provide an opportunity to the deserving who for some reason could not avail an equality of opportunity earlier and that now given the opportunity such Reservationists will turn out as good as the non-reservations others, just consider if all Reservation students are taught only by those teachers or professors who qualified under Reservations or treated by similar Doctors or represented by similar Lawyers and so on. Would you agree to such a requirement and if not, why?

What would happen if those who qualified under the General Category (G.C) seek recognition and hence, start putting G.C after their degrees? The social recognition will soon prove the comparative valuation of their qualifications and that of the rest.

Perhaps it is time now to recognize the ill-effects of our Reservation policy and plan to ease it out in a systematic way. It would be right to ensure proper schooling and for the next ten years till such school children come to college level, allow reservation only as follows,this will also, eliminate the ill-effects of the so called ‘Creamy Layer’ problem and thus allowing a more equitable reservation system for these ten years. SC/ST reservation once availed must shift the second generation into the BC category. Such second generation SC/ST candidates and the first generation BC candidates should be allowed reservation only for one generation and their subsequent generations be treated as FC.

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