We, the people

It is a good thing that I have only a few readers because I think that I am going to be lynched for what I am about to say. However, I am confident about my line of thinking. So, I am going to do it anyway.

I have been receiving a lot of “forwarded” emails questioning the intellect of Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh and in general lampooning the concept of “reservations”. I have no reliable information on whether or not the good minister is a moron. Further, I do not know too much about the merits of reservations/ affirmative action either. I have not read any study on whether such actions have really benefitted the target group. So, I don’t know if it is a good or a bad idea. I don’t even know if “reservations” as they happen in India constitute affirmative action.

What I do know is that we can never solve any problems if we do not identify and define the problem correctly to start with. And I do think we are missing several points in this respect.

For starters, it does seem quite silly to think that Arjun Singh’s actions are driven by any deep affinity for backward communities or the concept of “reservations” in itself. I don’t think Mr. Singh cares two hoots for reservations and let us not think that he does. It is more reasonable to assume that his motive is in pleasing a large block of voters who will hopefully vote him to power.

I don’t think the actual agenda of any politician is reservations for backward communities, the distribution of large quantities of free colour televisions and computers or banning “The Da Vinci code”. They are hoping that these actions will help them win the support of a certain section of the electorate which will then vote them into power. To just mock the stupidity of these ideas is stupidity in itself. If we send the message that we think such ideas suck-by voting the proponents of these bad ideas out of power-then politicians will be compelled to make good choices.

I do believe that an irrational electorate that is subject too much “group think” and little common sense is the partial cause of bad political decisions.

Let us take the example of oil prices. The prices of oil are governed by the global forces of demand and supply. No politician in Delhi has any role in this (except beyond fixing import tariffs). Yet they routinely get blamed for price rises. The “economically sensible” thing would be a price hike from time to time. Keeping the prices artificially low through subsidies is just distorting the economy. Yet, not the most sensible politician can dare to raise prices even if he/she knows that it is the right thing to do so. Where do people think these subsidies come from anyway? Is not the protesting public at least a little bit culpable for bad decision making in this instance?

Back to the subject of reservations, I see much support for the concept of reservations based on economic need and not on caste. It is naïve and purblind to think that people in India are not discriminated on the basis of caste and that every citizen in this country has access to the same resources and has equal opportunities. Let’s get real. Does a bright young person from a backward caste in rural India have the same opportunities as an equally bright urban forward caste youngster in this country? I should think not.

I am not supporting “reservations” as it being currently implemented. This is just a blatant vote bank politics gimmick. But, some special action and spending targeted towards certain communities to create a more level playing field is important. We cannot let our objection to the concept of reservations lose sight of a good goal.

More importantly, we cannot let any group of self absorbed individuals from elitist institutions who have no grip on the real problems facing the country usurp our attention towards the cause of maintaining the pristine integrity of their institutions. As important as that cause is, it is relatively trivial.

We need new ideas. We need better ideas. But, where is it going to come from if people spend their time forwarding emails that call Arjun Singh a moron?