Chauvinist Agitation under cover of

‘Defending Merit’ covers up Callousness

of Rulers towards Students and Youth

This is a 56-year-old ‘Republic’ and it cannot give equal opportunities for education, jobs for all, to its students and youth. Education lies chained to colonial hangover; English language plus money remain equal to ‘ability’. Dual education policy, with merely a facade of learning given to the vast majority of students who study in state funded schools, flourishes. Facilities for higher education funded by govts. have not expanded since 1960s and ‘70s despite doubling of population. School students resort to suicides as bad results close doors on further education and hence jobs. The vast majority remain out of the fold of higher education and well paid jobs.

On another side, Directive Principles of the Constitution for eradicating social oppression and backwardness are totally violated. Even today caste ordained punishments by social elite rule the roost in the vast tracts of rural India. Untouchability, decrees of upper castes, caste segregated schools, are realities.

But the educated elite mainly drawn from upper castes is blind to these realities. They do not feel the need even to uphold expansion in educational opportunities which would benefit even general students, let alone fight for equal educational opportunities for all. They are blinded by chauvinist, casteist sentiments and calls for rejecting the entire concept of affirmative action for backward sections of Indian people. They want perpetuation of their appropriation of educational privileges and facilities out of proportion to their proportion in society. They reject India’s dispossessed.

It is India’s tragedy and reality. It is the result of 56 years of rule of the ‘dark skinned English’ as Bhagat Singh named the ruling classes of India.

 27% Reservation for OBCs

Reactions to the announcement by the Union Minister for Human Resources, Shri Arjun Singh, of 27% reservation for OBCs (other backward castes) in Central govt. institutions of higher learning give rich material for study about the situation in India. On the one hand, this announcement led to upper caste students, especially medical students and resident doctors, ganging up against any affirmative action in the name of ‘defending merit! On the other hand, it showed up the internal strife, the squabbles for power and the double-faced character of the ruling class parties. Along with, the higher judiciary, the administration, the corporates and media controlled by big business, were well exposed as proponents of upper caste chauvinism. Importantly, while the Central Govt. was announcing 27% reservation for OBCs, the various wings of the state were busy showing this section its ‘place’ in society.

The initial days after the announcement, of course, belonged to the media which extensively ran and re-ran photographs of several tragic events during the anti Mandal stir. ‘Merit’ was extolled, even that bought by money. Contrary viewpoints were not allowed any space as the big media owned by big business houses, set out to mobilize students on this issue. The Congress Party itself resorted to all sorts of antics, which could only serve to give fillip to anti-reservationists; Union Minister Kapil Sibal criticized reservations as detrimental to merit. The rising Son of the ruling party, Rahul Gandhi, announced there was merit in the arguments of both pro and anti reservationists. Thus the situation moved to suck up majority of upper caste students, with NGOs also suddenly appearing to kick start anti reservation movements. The medicos of Delhi were the first to succumb and a Delhi centred anti reservation stir of medicos came up in various cities, joined to varying extents by other sections of students.

As stated earlier, in the entire response some issues stand out. First that it is clear that the misery of maximum students with nerve racking uncertainity about their future looming over them once middle school is reached, draws no sympathy or solution from the parties that rule India and who only try to exploit this for political ends. Second is that majority of educated elite is totally divorced from the realities of the country and jumps into chauvinist casteist role. Third is the interest of corporate houses in fuelling anti reservation movement, as well as leading of the movement not by students bodies but in the name of NGOs (in Delhi mostly having RSS cadre).

Role of UPA Constituents

The reservation for OBCs in institutions of higher learning by the Cong. led Govt. is not a reflection of the UPA’s concern for the backward castes. The policies of the Manmohan Singh Govt. are anti poor, whose big part consists of dalits and OBCs, and have increased the miseries of the poor. Manmohan Singh Govt. is a votary of imperialist masters and their compradors. Increasing poverty, unemployment and price rise have fallen to the lot of vast masses. The destruction of agriculture and industry, and the declining state of the peasantry are the gifts of this pro-imperialist, anti-people govt.

The UPA Govt. has under the New economic policies, heightened the campaign of privatization and commercialization of education esp. higher education. There has been a deluge of private medical and engineering colleges in the last decade. Higher education has been taken out of the reach of common people, whose big section is OBCs and dalits. The UPA Govt. has allowed the people to continue fighting over the few crumbs in opportunity for higher education.

The conduct of the Congress leaders and the Govt. following Arjun Singh’s announcement makes it clear that the latter was itself a result of internal differences in Congress and that it also intensified these differences. It has put paid to the campaign to remove Arjun Singh from the Cabinet on the pretexts of age and health. But this highlights the fact that affirmative action pronouncements by Govts. are not due to their pro people thinking but as a result of internal differences. In 1990 also, VP Singh had announced 27% reservations for OBCs in jobs only due to internal differences in the then ruling Janata Dal. VP Singh and his supporters hoped to decrease Devi Lal’s hold over Janata Dal by this action. VP Singh’s position in JD in 1989 was weak, thus Devi Lal was elected parliamentary party leader and asked to announce VP Singh as PM.

Arjun Singh’s announcement came during the process of assembly elections and was held as a violation of the code of conduct by the Election Commission. The announcement also created confusion within Congress. Rahul Gandhi, the future youth leader of Congress, saw his potential base slip away. The Knowledge Commission of Manmohan Singh showed its lack of knowledge about constitutional provisions and about science and characterized reservations as ‘anti merit’. Congress President Sonia Gandhi maintained silence over the issue.

‘Left’ Supporters of UPA

The ‘Left’ Front supporters of Cong. Govt. did not take any clear position. In its first statement, the CPM stressed on the need to leave out the ‘creamy layer’ of OBCs, but said nothing about the anti reservation agitation. Where the ‘Left’ front parties supported reservations in the coordination Committee with UPA, these parties or their students wings did not take any steps to oppose the anti reservation agitation. It is worth noting that the ‘Left’ front Govt. led by CPM in W Bengal has not even made an enlistment of OBCs in W. Bengal. Like other issues, on this issue too, the central and W. Bengal leaderships of CPM are speaking in differing languages.

BJP-RSS Aid Anti-Reservation Agitation

The other major ruling class party, BJP, saw a good opportunity in this issue to regain its slipping base among upper castes. Keeping in view the needs of power politics, BJP professed support to reservations while in practice it was with the anti reservation agitation. The cadres of BJP and RSS engaged in guiding this agitation. The leadership of the hastily put together ‘Youth for Equality’ was in the hands of their activists. BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu openly supported the agitation and participated in its rally. Sushma Swaraj and VK Malhotra went to the dharna run by the upper caste students in Delhi to express their solidarity. It is another matter that they became evasive when the students at the dharna demanded that they state the BJP’s position on reservation. BJP Gen. Sec. Arun Jaitley termed the pronouncement as politically motivated. But it was not possible for BJP, contender for state power at Centre, to openly oppose reservation.

Position of ‘Pro Mandal’ Parties

It is worth noting the position of those parties who swear by Mandal commission and call themselves the parties representing the backward castes. Firstly, none of these parties subscribe to Mandal’s first recommendation of radical land reforms. Many so-called pro-Mandal parties have been in power but none implemented land reforms, and on all issues they support the landlords and land Mafia. These parties take the name of Mandal in order to enjoy state power but in reality their policies are against the vast sections of the backward castes.

The two contenders for power in UP, the state with the biggest population – SP and BSP – are both Mandal supporters. But BSP President Mayawati did not find it necessary to say a word on this issue, and SP President Mulayam Singh issued only one statement, in which he demanded Arjun Singh’s arrest. Actually the political situation in UP has reached a stage where both these major contenders for power are trying to woo the upper castes. The look on the OBCs and dalits as their slaves.

‘Merit’ as a Casteist Weapon

The anti reservation students and sections sought to play the role of modern Dronacharyas and link caste itself with merit. This was also the major aspect of painting caste chauvinism in idealist colours of the earlier 1980 agitation by medicos of Gujarat and the 1990 anti Mandal agitation. This year the agitation was spearheaded by medicos and these students of science well displayed (as the earlier agitations had done) how superficial is the education system’s delivery of a scientific attitude. It was well displayed how the elite among technocrat students – medicos, IIT students, etc. – is actually burdened with superstition and prejudices. Like Manu and his ilk they argued that reservations mitigate against merit. But only caste based reservations. Reservations for donor seats, for NRIs, for management quotas, for governing bodies – these apparently do not mitigate against merit, as they are money based. Seats withheld for wards, for relatives of selectors, do not apparently attack merit in a country where nepotism rules. Capitation fees are ‘pro – merit’ – even the Supreme Court has virtually ruled so. The leader of the anti reservation agitation of Gujarat medicos in 1980 was selected on a management quota seat. Students of Vardhaman Medical College in Delhi – an affiliate of Delhi Govt’s IP University were vocal against caste-based reservation and very silent about the 15% ‘non subsidized seats’ quota in their college, which was started only a few years back.

Why is it that caste based reservations are supposed to be ‘anti merit’? There is no separate entrance exam. for these students. They do not have a separate passing out exam. The teachers are not especially nice to them nor do they favour them – in fact quite the opposite. The bitter truth is that students of reserved categories face branding at the best of times, and much worse generally.

Thus reservations are actually held to mitigate against merit because, the underlying understanding is, that certain sections of society – the vast majority rather – are by birth unfit for higher learning. This is the only end the logic of the anti reservationists leads to. It is Manu and Plato resurrected in the 21st century. The shamefully chauvinist and casteist nature of their slogans and songs tore away the veil from their high sounding posturing. They are in reality unabashed monopolists, who volubly defend their right to a monopoly over facilities for higher education and hence jobs, when they are a small section of the population, by this age old casteist explanation of ‘ability’ being a monopoly of upper caste by birth.

The Implementation of Reservation

The reality also is that all affirmation of ruling class parties notwithstanding, implementation of affirmative action is abysmal. In fact ruling class parties make no real attempt to do away with caste backwardness and have already discarded even lip service to land reforms. Incidentally at the time of anti-Mandal agitation one of the arguments of anti-reservationists was that without reservation in education, how one could fill the jobs! Any how, the ruling class parties are incapable of caring about the common people, bulk of them from oppressed castes, unless their internal contradictions compel them to do so. The actual implementation of reservation shows their real face, their real intent and their real character.

In the last 56 years, 88% backlog seats for SC-STs in Govt jobs have not been filled. Most of these are in class I and II. 1,13,450 jobs were lost by SCs and STs in Central Govt. in 92-97. In 2005 in 211 Public Sector Enterprises, combined representation of OBCs, STs, SCs was 43.9% against the mandatory 49.5%. All Depts fulfil figures by admissions in class D services.

In IITs, it was calculated (1992) that a study of 1989-1992 batch found that less than ½ of the official quota was being filled by SC-STs who were a mere 10.49% of the total IIT strength at that time. In IIT Chennai, in 2001 a survey showed the institute was filling only 6.3% of reserved seats.

On the other had in Southern states, where reservation of over 50% quotas are filled, no one is challenging the merit of these graduates who are working in all parts of the country. Moreover the services rendered by these professionals as shown by different indices of health care, show that their quality is in no way less than their counterparts from North.

The Mandal Commission

However, no matter how ineffective the implementation (and it is necessary to build struggles for effective implementation) the fact is that caste quotas do allow certain sections some entry into the monopoly position of upper castes over higher learning. There is much criticism of 'creamy layer’ alone benefiting from quota- has not the creamy layer of upper castes held virtual monopoly over education for thousands of years ? Are not even officers of military, judges, and other posts of power basically the preserve of creamy layer of upper castes? What is worng if there should be some entry of SCs, STs and OBCs into echelons of higher learning rather than tying the quota seats to economic criteria where candidates will again be ‘not available/not found suitable’ and seats will eventually revert to upper castes. To be clear and precise, while candidates from outside the 'creamy layer' from OBCs should be given preference in filling the reserved seats, candidates from 'creamy layer' should be considered in case quota remains unfilled by excluding them.

Among the propaganda of the anti-reservationists is a misjudged and prejudiced attack on the Mandal Commission as though it has arbitrarily labelled certain castes as OBCs. In reality, the Commission undertook extensive study and used several parameters to work out the OBC list. Many whom it did not admit were admitted later due to political considerations. But Mandal’s parameters existed and can be further refined and the lists updated. OBC list should be in accordance with the criteria evolved by a number of commissions which have gone into this subject. Inclusion or exclusion of any group without adhering to these criteria should be opposed. It is necessary in the interest of the backward castes.

There are two other aspects to this issue. One, that those attacking the OBC list are not fuelled by a desire for accuracy but are against reservations per se. Second the Mandal Report is a report which dealt with upliftment of backward classes. Mandal’s first recommendation is for redistribution of land by carrying out radical land reforms. Thereby Mandal Commission has laid its finger on the central question perpetuating caste oppression. Ruling class parties which swear in the name of Mandal (different offshoots of Janata Dal) ignore this first recommendation of Mandal Commission. Only the communist revolutionaries (Naxalites) raise this issue and are also fighting to implement it.

Govt.’s stance and Social Realities

In practice the Govt. which is proposing OBC reservation is moving full speed to privatize and commercialize health and education. Vast parts of India have no access to health services, to schools or colleges, even less of any quality. But no medical colleges, no other colleges are being opened by the Govt. to fulfil this crying need. In a country with a 45% young population, the vast sections of students and youth lose their energy worrying about their future rather than in building it. The state does not even bother to offer them higher education and jobs. Now its major attempt is to push students towards private education and also make the student community tear itself apart for bits from the alms rather than together fighting for its right.

Despite its commitment to extend reservations to private sector, Govt. is delaying its implementation while judiciary and military remain outside its purview.

Corporate Sector Exploits Caste Prejudices

Sections of corporate sector as also several NRI doctors released strongly worded messages stressing that caste based reservations by themselves will create worldwide opinion against 'merit'. The NRIs speak from America mainly, where affirmative action on race basis exists. Nasscom President Kiran Karnik who represents India’s IT industry, said “It will completely destroy meritocracy in the private sector” (HT 1st May 2006) But these sections have nothing to say against mushrooming of private medical colleges with capitation fees and other money based seats. Industrialists demand ‘level’ playing fields, but for students they want that a large section of youth with only basic education and need for jobs remains available to be used as cheap labour by MNCs. Over one and a half decade of implementation of new economic policies have emboldened the private sector to come out openly against the provisions of Constitution and aspirations of vast sections of people.

Their chief argument was that reservations decrease the competitive ability of India’s industries in the globalized economy. These capitalists, who have swallowed one-lakh crore rupees of Indian people, criticize the govt.’s action of giving reservation to OBC students as ‘inappropriate’! Nasscom President Karnik, Ratan Tata who heads the Tata group, Narayan Murthy of Infosys etc. were all vocal in opposing the govt.’s announcement. These companies are abusing on this score the policies of the very govt. they are daily utilizing to make their profits.

The owners of big private hospitals and of private medical and engineering colleges also remained active against the announcement. Delhi based big private hospitals helped the anti reservation agitation with finances. The owners of private colleges fear extension of reservation to private sector, as it will mitigate against their profits. Organizations of private practitioners like IMA, DMA and other state level bodies openly backed the agitation, though they have nothing to say against privatization of medical education.

Will anti quota women agitators also oppose Gender based affirmative action?

The large participation of women medicos at a time when women are fighting for 33% reservation in elected bodies – not on basis of poverty or 'merit'  but of social backwardness – is a sorry commentary on their social consciousness. They don’t also seem to realize that casteist prejudices and chauvinism inevitably go hand in hand with gender chauvinism and patriarchal values. Manu’s scheme had no place for women too, neither of upper caste nor of lower. But in many places where literate women raise demands for 50% reservation in jobs and education, they face opposition that social backwardness needs no affirmative action. By lending their presence and active support to the casteist anti-reservation movement the women medicos proved that despite literacy women often become repositories of backward patriarchal culture and that a gender equal democratic cultural movement is necessary. It also shows the failure of the women’s movement to expose the need to fight these attitudes and to build a democratic culture among women in the country. NGOs, event managers – have all participated in the anti-reservation agitation with its fake premise of ‘defence of merit’.

The Courts of India

In fact the position of the courts especially the Supreme Court and several High Courts, over the years regarding the question of reservation in higher education has been so negative as to actively fuel prejudices and also unformed ideas of students. The Supreme Court has not, by and large, taken any position that money power vitiates merit, but it keeps alive the false link between merit and caste in its several pronouncements, always suggesting that reservation means deriding merit. It is the Supreme Court's pronouncement on ceiling on reservation which necessitated amendment to Constitution. Several High Courts have been chipping in with pronouncements against reservations. This has never been explained by them and they may even be unaware that all doctors and students have to pass common exams with common pass percentages.

In this agitation too, the role of the courts was one sided. The Delhi High Court, which takes cognizance of even very petty matters, which is pro-active in prohibiting all democratic agitations, initially remained totally silent on this prolonged strike. When some petitions pertaining to the agitation came before it, it took a very soft stance in contrast to its and the Supreme Court’s harsh reactions to workers’ struggles or to progressive agitations. However the High Court found no time to consider a petition filed by doctors belonging to SC-ST sections complaining that they were not being allowed to report for duty by senior faculty, and asking for security. The High Court is going to hear this petition in September! On the other hand, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Govt. of India to explain the basis of 27% reservation. Everyone familiar with the Mandal Commission recommendations knows that the commission gave this percentage keeping in view the ceiling fixed by Supreme Court. The entire attitude of higher judiciary showed in practice the necessity for extending reservations to judiciary.

The anti reservation agitation

The medical students and resident doctors in the main, as also students of IITs especially in Delhi, came out in agitations against the 27% reservation for OBCs. The country’s capital, Delhi, was the centre of this agitation which had its headquarters on the Central lawns of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Though the agitation was begun against 27% reservation for OBCs, it soon exposed itself vehemently against all caste based reservations. Its main demand was a review of the experience of caste based reservations by judicial and legal experts i.e. it was actually expressing itself against even SC-ST reservation. As mentioned, the slogans of the agitationists were inspired by upper caste chauvinism and arrogance and their main aim became showing the OBCs and dalits their Manu-ordained ‘place’ in society. Students of Vardhaman Medical College (Safdurjung) who, as mentioned, tolerate ‘non subsidized seats’ well, came to participate in the ‘havan' for merit organized at AIIMS by the agitationists.

The anti reservation agitation, inspired by upper caste arrogance and conducted by elements linked to ruling class parties, exploited the sense of insecurity of the general students of upper castes. But the leadership of the struggle was decisively in the hands of chauvinist elements. That is why when the govt. offered to increase the number of total seats so that the seats available for upper caste students (i.e. general category) should not decrease in number; this leadership summarily rejected the offer. To get the number of seats increased, as also to seek expansion of facilities to maintain standards was not on the agenda of the anti-reservation leaders as it would mitigate against the campaign to privatize education and these elements are supporters of privatization. These are also the elements who remain totally absent in movements in hospitals against commercialization of health services.

 An important question arose out of the Delhi based anti-reservation agitation. The electronic media and national newspapers lent it all out support. Not only that, they almost blacked out programmes against the agitation especially those done by doctors, in an effort to show that there was only ‘one’ opinion among medicos. In reality in Delhi, there has long been a progressive section of doctors opposing such agitations e.g. in 1980 and 1990. Many doctors and medical students, including many senior doctors formed the Medicos Forum for Equal Opportunities. This Forum held demonstrations every afternoon at the AIIMS in which around 200-400 doctors and students participated. Even though the cameras of TV Channels were stationed day & night in the same place throughout the agitation, they did not cover these demonstrations despite the significant number of participants. The Forum also held several demonstrations at LNJP and at Safdurjung Hospital, which were also boycotted by the media.

An important aspect of the anti-reservation agitation was the backing and support it got from the administrations of medical colleges and hospitals. All the elements who bitterly oppose democratic agitations became active in this chauvinist one. Doctors belonging to SC/ST, and OBC sections as well as other doctors opposing the strike were not allowed to join duty. The task of medical teaching in colleges was just stopped so students had no option but to be ‘strikers’. Now, after the agitation, the students and doctors belonging to SC, ST and OBCs are being threatened and harassed with full connivance by the authorities, Govt.’s attitude is that students availing reservations should not expect democratic rights!

Caste oppression and social backwardness are realities in India. While it is true that reservations do not do away with caste oppression, they do give some position in the current structure for a small section of SCs, STs and OBCs. But the primary concern of anti-reservation agitations is not why so little or so superficial an action is being done. They are bitter opponents of the only measure, which will annihilate the basis of caste oppression and that is radical land reforms with land to the tiller. When the basis is annihilated then other progressive social measures like reservations, and other facilities will serve to remove caste-based backwardness. It should be remembered that only communist revolutionaries with a programme for new democratic revolution in India are fighting for such a change. The dalits and backward castes as well as their social organizations must face this fact and strengthen these forces of revolutionary change in order to finish off the caste system.

The anti-reservation agitation showed up the abject caste divisions and caste oppression in our society. Those who have fought for its perpetuation under slogans of ‘equality’ and hence ‘no’ to reservations must face that caste realities have to be fought against by revolutionary change in social system and not by sloganeering which maintains monopoly. Manu Smriti is not a manual for social equality.