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Historical Background
India is divided into many endogamous groups (castes) and sub-groups (sub-castes) as a result of centuries of practicing a form of social hierarchy called the caste system.
Following its independence from Britain, the government of India embarked upon the task to reduce the massive historical inequalities between various castes by advocating an extensive system of quotas (somewhat similar to American affirmative action but much more pervasive and severe).For this purpose the government categorized the population into three groups - the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and Other Backward Classes. The remaining group are often categorized as the forward castes. These distinctions were made roughly along caste lines but focused more on a group's economic standing rather than historical oppression. Also they apply to non-hindu groups as well, for example Saint Thomas Christians are categorized as forward class but relatively recent north-eastern tribal converts are classified as Scheduled Tribes.
Although originally only supposed to last for 10 years, the Indian quota system has grown and become more extensive, and today and applies to everything from government contracting to higher education to legislative office. Currently only 23% of the seats in higher education institutes are set-aside for OBCs, SCs, and STs even though they make up 80% of the India's population. According to the Mandal Commission, the forward castes make up only 20% of the Indian population but would completely dominate entry to the eductational system based on standardized tests alone. A proposal to increase the reservation for backward groups in universities to 50% in a retroactive policy that would affect current students has caused a great deal of controversy and protests by forward classes. This is considered to be a highly controvertial issue in the country, in 1990, a similar proposal to raise the quota reserved for Backward Castes in jobs and education led to massive protests and Self-immolation by several forward caste students.
Other Backward Classes
The Hindu religion in India has a caste system, coming down from centuries, as a part of its social structure. There used to be four great classes (Sanskrit: varna): the Brahmins (the teachers and priests), the Kshatriyas (the warrious and administrators), the Vaishyas (the merchants, farmers and herdsmen) and the Shudras (the servants). Later, the four-varna system turned into a comlicated quagmire of hundreds (or thousands) of different castes, based only on birth. It is highly debatable whether the caste system (or even the varna system) is an integral part of Hinduism or not, but this is beyond the scope of this article. Also, it is worth mentionable that the hundreds of castes who did so menial and dirty labor that they were kept out of the four-varna system, thus becoming the so-called untouchables (modern India, being known as Dalits, lit., the oppressed, and in the Indian Constitution as the Scheduled Castes or SCs). These scheduled castes have already been having reservations in the Parliament, higher educational institutions like the IITs and IIMs, and all government jobs at all heirarchies in the proportion of their total population in India (about 17 %). Similarly, socially marginalized Scheduled Tribes(STs) also have such a reservation (about 13 %). Sometime during the 1980s and 1990s, a commission setup by the Union government called Mandal Commission (chaired by Mr. Mandal) inquired into those still socially backward castes who are very poor, uneducated, but do not come under the Scheduled Caste category. Most of the castes enlisted by the commission were "touchable" castes belonging to the Shudra varna, but some so-called higher castes were also included. It is worth mentioning that because of the so deeply ingrained caste system in the Hindu society, the caste system has even infiltrated among the Indian Muslims and Christians in some form or the other (who otherwise have no caste system). Hence certain specific communities among the Muslims and the Christians, who behave as if they should have been socially low castes, were also included. This grand ensemble of castes was termed as Other Backward Classes or OBCs, rather a misnomer because it is based on the caste (determined by birth) and not on the economic class. A person who is a Brahmin, but comes from a poor family, will not get the benefits of the OBCs, because the caste of Brahmins is not enlisted among the OBCs. Also, a very rich person, born with a caste now included in the OBCs, will enjoy this reservation (such a family is called as constituting the creamy layer in the category).
In 1990, the Union government, under the Prime Ministership of Mr. V. P. Singh, decided to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission (previously ingnored by two of his precessors). This meant that the persons belonging to the OBC category would enjoy reservations and a fixed quota of seats in all Union government jobs and many other institutions (wherein, de facto, the competition is much, much easier, and one can get a reserved seat on a quite low score). Many Indian states also implemented the OBC reservations in their higher educational institutions. There were massive protests against this by youth of unreserved category. However, in 1990, certain higher educational institutions (strongly based on merit), such as the IITs, IIMs, All-India Postgraduate Medical Entrane Exams, etc. were kept out of the purview of the OBC reservation. This time, the Congress-led UPA government in India has decided to implement the OBC reservation (based on the Mandal report) to ALL institutions in India, including the aforementioned. This has caused a furore among the left-out General Category students, who must now face a much, much tougher competition to get into an Entrance Exam than before. It is to be noted that the UPA government/Congress party did not mention such an important issue in their election manifesto before the General Elections, possibly for the fear of displeasing the people of the general category. The whole drama was announced almost at a stroke of lightening by the Minister of Human Resources Development, Mr. Arjun Singh, and not even by the Prime Minister (Dr. Manmohan Singh) himself, who seems to have rather chosen a silent stance.
It is highly debatable as to what the actual percentage of the OBCs in the current population of India is. Proponents of reservation give ridiculous figures of as high as 80 %, while most surveys (such as rediff.com) claim that the OBCs constitute about 36 % of the Indian population. It is illegal to ask one's caste during the census, hence the percentage of the castes in contemporary Indian is largely unknown, and at best, is estimated based on a census by the then British government in the 1930s, wherein the caste of each person was recorded. The government would have certainly liked to impose the same quota as the percenatge of their population, but the Supreme Court of India had once given a judgement that it is against the spirit of the Constitution to forcibly impose a reserved quota over 50 %. Since the combined SC and ST categories have already had 23 % of the quota, approximately 27 % more has been reserved now for the OBCs, thus making the total quota of reserved seats to 49.5 %. The rest (general category) is for the so-called upper caste Hindus and most of the communities of the Mulims, the Christians, the Sikhs and the other religious minorities.
The alleged Vote-Bank politics and Protests
In order to expedite the passing of these new reservation policies, the Constitution of India was amended by the 93rd Constitutional Amendment, originally drafted as 104th Amendment Bill. The amendment was passed unanimously by both Houses of Parliament. Anti-reservationists in particular theorize that the intent behind this was to gain votes from the large OBC vote-bank. In 2006, the UPA government promised to implement 27% reservation for OBCs in institutes of higher education (twenty central universities, the IITs, IIMs and AIIMS) after 2006 Assembly elections. This, if implemented, is projected to reduce the seats for the general section of the population to less than 50.5% after considering members of OBCs who gain seats based on merit.
This led to sharp reactions from the student communities in the institutes concerned and also considerable opposition from students of other colleges as well . These students formed the group "Youth for Equality" and demanded that the government roll back its decision to grant more reservations. Nearly 150 students went on hunger strike in AIIMS (Delhi) which, as of 23 May has entered into its ninth day.[1] Student protesters were reportedly beaten brutally in Mumbai and Delhi. Resident doctors from all over India joined the protests crippling the health infrastructure of a number of cities.[2][3] The government took measures to counter the protesting doctors by serving them with suspension letters and asking them to vacate the hostels to make way for newly recruited doctors. Many states have invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and gave notice to the doctors to return to work in 24 hours failing which legal action will be taken against them. The government has also put on alert 6,000 men from Rapid Action Force to take care of any untoward incident. However, in most places the protesters remain defiant despite ESMA. Some IIT Delhi students have even written to the President of India requesting him to allow them to commit suicide if the proposed reservation is implemented.[3]
In addition to complete roll-back of the proposed reservation, the striking protesters have demanded that an expert committee comprising members from non-political organisations be setup to review the complete reservation policy including the need of reservation for OBCs. Also, they demand that no penal action be taken against the protesters, and publication of a white paper by the government, making its stand clear on reservation.[4]
Meanwhile the National Knowledge Commission, as 6 out of 8 of its members feel, has requested the government to maintain status-quo on the issue until new avenues are explored, the status quo on reservation should be maintained.[5] After the HRD minister Arjun Singh criticized the Knowledge Commission for its stand, two members of the Commission (Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Andre Beteille) resigned on 22 May 2006.[6]
While the advocates of the plan say that,
- There is no adequate representation of OBCs in these institutes.
- They claim that they are so oppressed that they can not compete with the so called upper class students
- That centuries of oppression can be undone only using such measures.
- That safeguards already exist to protect against exploitation by people who have a good economic background [1]
The opponents of the issue have several arguments:
- That most often, only the economically sound people (and rather rich) from the so called lower castes will make use of most of the reserved the seats, thus making the aim a total failure.
- That the quality of these elite institutes may go down, because merit is severly being compromised by "securing" seats for certain caste-based communities.
- That there are no efforts made to give proper primary education to really deprived classes, so what is the use of reserving seats for higher studies. The government schools in India have absolutely no comparison to the public schools in the developed countries, and only about 65 % of the Indian polupation is literate (can read and write), the functional literacy being estimated to be even as low as only 34 % of the population. The critics argue how "reservation" only in higher institutions and jobs, without paying attention to proper schooling, can solve this problem.
- That the government is dividing people on the basis of castes for political advantages.
- This can also lead to prolonged reservation system for ever – there is a chance that other minority religions of India will also demand such facilities in the future, which in the long run can make everything in India caste and religion based although on paper it is a secular country. On the other hand making caste and religion a better credential than merit.
- In a way caste system is kept alive. Instead of coming up with alternative innovative ideas which make sure equal representation at the same time making the caste system irrelevant, the decision is only fortifying the caste system.
- Great educational institutes of the world are formed from the academic freedom they have, in India, politicians make the higher education institutes a thing to play with. Politicians decide who the institutes should admit, how they should admit etc. Even the earlier Human Resources Development minister Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi planned to take away the autonomy of IIMs.
- Not every one from the so called upper class are rich, not all from so called lower classes are poor and that some of the OBCs are politically very powerful especially in north India. Critics say that for most of the castes included in the OBC criterion, the main reason they got included is only "cheap and dirty politics" (sic) and powerful lobbying by those rich and powerful members of these castes who have a political clout. The name "class" in its full form is a misnomer, because OBC is only based upon the caste, and not the class.
Suggestions for government policy change include:
- There should be proper monitoring of who takes benefits out of the facilities given.
- Emphasis should be given to proper primary (and secondary) education so that people from so called lower strata of the society become natural competitors.
- Increase the number of higher education institutes. For example, seven good engineering institutes for a country of one billion planning to become an economic and political power in the world is not substantial at all.
- Once a person gets a job from the quotas it should not be extended to his/her kids as it would make the community complacent and also at the same time deny opportunities to other more deserving candidates from the lower community. Essentially a shrinking population base that needs upliftment will happen by adopting this policy.
Government's stance
Till now, the government has not changed its stance. On May 23, 2006, the Union cabinet unanimously reiterated its stance to bring about the reservations and has now given consent to bring a bill of law to the Parliament effecting the reservations. However, it has promised that the existing number of general category seats will be left undisturbed, and more seats will be added to each institution to accomodate the quota of the reserved students. Further, the quota of 27 % will be added in a slow, three-phased manner of 9 % increase each time. The anti-reservationists have still condemned this idea, saying that first of all, it is a caste-based injustice wherein the general category students would not be able to get the benefit of the increase in seats, and secondly, the existing infrastructure and faculty strength of most of the institutions are too weak to support the massive increase in the seats as proposed.
Protest events
Delhi
- On May 20, a human chain rally was organized by students of IIT Delhi with the support of PAN IIT from SAC at 8:00PM.
- Nearly 150 students went on hunger strike in AIIMS (Delhi) which, as of 23 May has entered into its ninth day.[1]
- On May 26, the University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) and GTB Hospital, Dilshad Garden, is organising Dusshera. 30 feet tall effigies of 3 reservation demons - V.P. Singh , Arjun Singh, ManMohan Singh, will be lit.
- On May 27, a mass protest march is being organised in Delhi by Medical students of Delhi. The agitation is being named "DILLI AAO DESH BACHAO" (come to Delhi, the national capital and save the future of the nations).
Mumbai
- IT Professionals from various Corporate Houses will hold a protest at Mhape, Navi Mumbai on May 26, 2006.
- IIT Bombay students have gone on a 24 hours chain hunger strike from May 20, 2006.
Kanpur
- May 23. IIT Kanpur students with medical college students organized a cycle rally against reservation.
Chandigarh
- About 100 students of PGIMER, 50 students of Punjab university and Punjab Engineering College, organised a motor rally on May 23 to the Mansa Devi temple and Nadasaheb gurudwara.
Indore
- On May 20, Indore saw a big human chain formation through the M.G. Road.
Bangalore
- Protest marches on April 28, May 14, and May 20.
- A silent Human Chain formation on MG road with candle light on May 21.
- A maharally is planned for May 28.
Roorkee
- A resolution, signed by 2,500 IIT Roorkee students and expressing their opposition, has been sent to the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Election Commission.
- A peaceful protest march was organised on May 23. [2]
Guwahati
Several students at the IIT Guwahati are boycotting classes to protest against the government proposal of 27 per cent reservation for OBC students in centrally-funded universities. [3]
Lucknow
- Doctors at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences are on strike.
- Students of King George's Medical University are wearing black badges as a gesture of solidarity with the anti-reservation strike. [4]
Jaipur
- Hundreds of striking anti-quota resident doctors went on a door-to-door campaign in Jaipur to garner support for a rally.
- The doctors affiliated to `Youth for Equality` began their `Jan Samarthan` padyatra in the High Court and Banipark areas. [5]
Ajmer
- In Ajmer, seven doctors started a hunger strike opposing the quota and resident doctors` have begun an indefinite strike at the Nehru hospital.
- Medical college students also began boycotting their classes. [6]
Varanasi
- Resident and junior doctors of Sir Sunderlal Hospital at the Banaras Hindu University campus are on a relay hunger-strike.
National level protests
- On the May 22, 2006, on the eve of the UPA led Government's completion of two years in power, public was appealed to observe a black out by switching off all lights for 10 minutes from 8pm.
Pro-reservation Protests
There have also been a significant number of pro-reservation protest (kind of "support"-) marches, which demand that the OBC reservation quotas must be implemented without any delay, and that the government must pay no heed to the anti-reservation protestors (whom some have claimed to be chauvinists). Most of the pro-reservation protestors themselves belong to the SC/ST or OBC cetegory, but there are also some so-called upper caste people included, who claim that there is no other way than reservation to bring these communities into the forefront.