Gujjar saga in Rajasthan – Summation of weak links in Indian democracy – dangerous consequences ahead for Indian democracy

I see the news of “Gujjar-Raje govt talks successful” flashing across all national news channels this morning and it makes me think whether events like this is a positive contribution towards India, as one of the most successful democracies. When the whole world is watching us with curiosity, are we not developing some cracks inside which has the potential to tear any nation apart, no matter how potent you are economically. We lost almost 40 lives since fresh imbroglio started this year, Rajasthan as one of the talked about places among tourists coming to India has lost its flavor. These are just a couple of immediate corollaries due to the latest tussle between Gujjars and Rajasthan on the demand by Gujjar community that they should be given Scheduled Tribe status.

If we are willing to have a closer look, this event is the mutation of one of the biggest weak link Indian democracy has – caste or community based reservation system which is still advertized by all political parties as the most ideal tool to make India a country of equal opportunities. Supreme court delivered its judgment in April 2008 on Central Educational Institutions (Reservations in Admissions) Act 2006 that government would be able to reserve 27 per cent of seats for candidates from 'Other Backward Classes' in IITs and IIMs (and other central educational institutions) and It was celebrated by Government as a victory to social justice and well augmented by the opposition as well. The same central government responded to Rajasthan government that It should handle the uncontrollable situation in Rajasthan itself because It is the by-product of false promises made by them when the state cited central government’s help amidst law and order situation getting berserk in Rajasthan in May and June. I agree that the ruling party leaders had provided hope and fire both to the Gujjar’s aspiration to go up in reservation hierarchy in last assembly election. But, almost all political parties have used this best card available in Indian politics at their will. A Community, Cast or region which is still deprived of basic necessities in this country jumps on this effortless idea of relying on quota to make their life better.

But, they are not the one to blame. After all, which kid would say no to its favorite chocolate If you give him the choice? Relying exclusively on quotas or reservations, as they are called, as a substitute for real policies to address inequality is a sheer myth which must be understood and replaced in the best interest of democracy of India. It may sound unusual to a lot of people as Reservation as a tool for social equality is considered as one the strongest pillars of Indian democracy. But, everything must evolve over time. Let us have a closer look at this Rajasthan event itself – what exactly triggered this uncompromising demand of getting ST status in reservation hierarchy by Gujjar community? It starts off with a very basic reason of lack of education opportunities which results into fewer jobs and in turn scarce of basic necessities of life. That further leads to insecurity among a caste or community, moreover I personally think in a region, and that insecurity is mischievously exploited by political leaders and well supported by our constitution that reservation is there to take care of all people in need. Political leaders keep on feeding their hope that if they are given the chance, they will pull them into that shell which will make their life better without much of effort. But, once they are elected, either they disregard their promise or even if they want to execute their promise, they finally come to meet the reality that the comfort shell of reservation is getting congested and there is not much space left. The cast, community or region which is bluffed time and again by this trick eventually get frustrated and feel cheated. They are forced to go the most effective way, but unfortunately the most explosive as well, in democracy – they come on street with a leader like Bainsla in front and the whole saga which had started with the aspiration of betterment of life ends with many innocent lives being inspired to finish their life.

The community and its leader knows it very well that government has to buckle down finally because which state and administration can fight its own people when they are ready to sacrifice their lives to uplift the social and economical status of others.

The turmoil Rajasthan has gone through in last one month happens when people who have been longing to become part of this easy ride don’t see it coming their way and run out of patience.

What is so imperative to understand here is that the effect is cascading and cyclic; the gujjars in Rajasthan want to move up the ladder in reservation hierarchy because the recent addition in OBC category like Jats are sharing there pie. Now once gujjars are given the status of ST, a Meena backslash is unavoidable because they would have to share their ST quota with Gujjars and since there would be a vacancy in OBC category, some other caste would push to be in that category.

Already people is pushing for reservation in private sectors and a lot of political leaders are feeding them once again, Do we even anticipate that the multinationals which is operating from a number of different places in India will never compromise on best talent? That might lead to make them shift their base to some other competitive countries in asia because the talent available in this country is the major attraction for them to be here, not infrastructure or any thing else.

I can’t imagine IBM taking interview of candidates and at the end of day announcing two different results – one for general quota and other for reserved quota.

After all what is stopping the parliament of this great democratic country from making a few core changes – Yes, We need the reservation but provide the reservation to poor irrespective of what caste, community or region he belongs to, invest in education for all of India’s one billion people. I will say nobody is stopping but a real political will is needed to do these radical changes.