This is a great nation. I’ve believed in this each single day growing up. But today, as I look upon the students who sit on the grounds of the Maulana Azad Medical College, I find my beliefs shaken.
I’m forced to think about what we’ve made of ourselves. About what we’ve come to accept as an inseparable part of our lives. About how we look upon political scheming with the same indifference as we’d look upon a porthole on the roads.
I talk today about what is currently a small movement. Small perhaps, in quantity, but not in spirit. I talk to you about a movement that intends to change the course of history.
Two years ago, we fought long and hard. We knew we were right. We knew that the course taken by a select few would jeopardize many millions in the few years to come and weaken the country in so many more ways in the long run.
It was understood then, as it is understood now, that caste was a fundamentally wrong thing. A disease, which as long as it wasn’t cured, would continue its course into apathy and anarchy.
We did what we could and the government did what it had to.
And when it was all said and done, we vested our faith in the judiciary. Our faith was vindicated.
Two years later, we’re back where we started.
For those who joined in late, the Supreme Court, while allowing 27% quota for the OBCs of the country, was also of the opinion that the creamy layer (inclusive of educational forwards – graduates) be left out.
We accepted this judgment as a step in the right direction. Mr. Arjun Singh, wannabe monarch, however, citing the UPA “allies”, felt that such authority over his personal whims and fancies was unacceptable.
The court order was therefore, quietly interpreted differently.
The 2.5 Lakh Rupees limit to define the creamy layer was the first thing considered expendable.
Why? Maybe Mr. Singh’s statement to the Press Trust of India detailing his immense understanding of political gain should be some answer.
Post graduate reservations were the next thing to go.
Of course, one wishes to consider that an OBC graduate has gone to the same institution, has read the same books and has been taught by the same people; and should, therefore no longer be “backward”. But not Mr. Singh. Not the UPA allies.
And that’s where we stand, pending further intervention by Supreme Court.
We rejoice in calling ourselves the largest democracy in the world. A nation that cherishes every ideal having to do with being equal, being united and being in control of its own destiny.
Of course, we willfully ignore the fact that our system of Government is corrupt at nearly every level; that your surname makes you Prime Minister; that social justice today is no different than minority appeasement; and that in spite of what happens, we’re just too “pure” to be bothered by it.
This must change.
After 60 years of independence, India once again stands at a crucial juncture. Only this time the people who would divide us for selfish gain are our very own. In every other respect, the fight now is as the fight was then.
Failure then would’ve meant remaining a mere colony. Failure now means taking away the promise of a future from a country poised to influence the world.
The questions then, are simply this…
WHY aren’t we willing to understand that the system is for us, and not the other way round? WHY have we reduced ourselves to letting this nation crumble because we might have to go out of our way? And most importantly, WHY are we willing to accept this failure?
You’re right you know, you don’t have an answer.
But we’d like to think we do. Our country sacrificed a lot into making us what we are today. We are indebted.
And a debt such as this isn’t repaid with silence.
We, a very small group of people who know what is wrong, now fight for a billion who might not know until it’s too late. Our fight is not with a caste or a community. It is towards removing the fact that there ARE castes and communities.
We fight now, because we believe that something is truly wrong with letting someone get away with putting his own self before the country.
Because we fear that through our silence, mediocrity will take over excellence forever.
Because we believe that if God made us alike, a politician has no business telling us we’re different.
Some tell us that our fight is for naught. That people who’re actually in a position to decide, have decided. And whatever we do now will only affect us adversely. I can only point out to them how similar that sounds to what every Indian would’ve heard in the years from 1857 to 1947.
Note: This post is a requiem of sorts. The movement was called off last Saturday due to lack of support. But you know… we tried. Did you?
