Arya Samaj

Shishya

Furore Reflects India's Caste Complexities
by
Sanjoy Majumder
BBC News, Delhi

A plan to set aside places at some of India's best-known professional colleges for low-caste Indians has bitterly divided the country.

Angry students at elite institutions across the country have been taking to the streets in protest and doctors at major hospitals have gone on strike to show solidarity.

Business leaders and teachers have joined the students in decrying the move saying that it would lead to a drop in academic standards.

But the move also has the support of millions of low-caste Indians who have faced years of social discrimination and are poorly represented in leading professions.

In recent years, low-caste Hindus - who form a significant percentage of the population - have also grown politically influential, particularly in north India.

It is one reason that no political party - from left-leaning socialist parties to centre-right parties such as the Congress and the BJP - can afford to ignore them.

Historic Divide

The caste system in India is centuries old and derives from ancient Hinduism.

A complex social order which assigned people a place in the social hierarchy based on their occupation, it has remained entrenched in modern India - particularly in the villages.

The very bottom of the social hierarchy is made up of Dalits - once known as untouchables - while the top consists of Brahmins, once the priestly class.

Despite laws banning discrimination, caste violence continues to occur at regular intervals across many parts of the country.

It is also not limited to Hindus - the caste system exists among other religious groups such as Muslims and Sikhs.

However, many argue that over the years their political influence has grown leading to some emancipation.

One of India's leading sociologists, MN Srinivasan, has argued that urbanisation and industrialisation have helped to break down caste barriers to some extent as people moved out of traditional occupations.

More significantly, he argues, many Dalits and tribals were represented in local government bodies after the constitution was amended to set aside a percentage of seats for them.

Increasing Quotas

At present, 22.5% of places in government-funded academic institutions are set aside for Dalits and listed tribes who make up roughly 25% of the population.

Similar "quotas" exist in parliament, state assemblies and local government bodies, as well as government jobs.

The government now wants to set aside an additional 27% of college places for low-caste Indians known as Other Backward Castes (OBCs) as well as some other disadvantaged groups.

The OBCs are placed higher than the Dalits in the caste hierarchy although they do not enjoy any affirmative action benefits except in government jobs - a move that was introduced in 1990 amid violent protests.

But the move has invited a backlash from many who say it will only lead to a lowering of standards at the institutes.

Those opposed to extending them benefits say that the system only benefits those members of the lower castes who are already economically independent or socially powerful.

Sociologist Dipankar Gupta believes the concept of caste has outlived its utility in modern India.

"For the most part, reservations have become a kind of holy cow in public circles.

"Nobody dare question its relevance, and, what is worse, many are more than willing to extend reservations to cover other groups by arguing that they had been victims of some kind of historic injustice," he says.

Cultural Capital

But others argue that poverty is not the only issue.

"You must take into account social and cultural deprivation," says political analyst Yogendra Yadav.

"Along with economic capital, the absence of cultural capital can make a huge difference to people's ability to compete," he adds.

The reason that the issue has taken such an emotive turn is explained in part by the fact that admission into elite professional colleges in India is highly sought and heavily competitive.

Less than 1% of the hundreds of thousands of Indians who apply to get into the colleges every year are successful.

There are only seven Indian Institutes of Technologies, the country's most prestigious engineering colleges, many of whose graduates have flooded Silicon Valley and are leading the country's information technology boom.

And there are a total of 242 medical colleges for the country's billion-strong population.

One proposal being discussed is increasing the numbers so that more people can get in.

But college administrators question whether that will be possible without a massive increase in infrastructure, including quality teaching staff.

Some like Yogendra Yadav believe the only way out is to also bring poor upper-caste and other such groups under the affirmative action umbrella.

Whatever the outcome, the debate illustrates the deep social divisions that still exist in modern-day India.

While the country is one of the world's fastest growing economies, it has still to win the battle over some of its deep-rooted problems.

(Source)

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 12:08 am Post subject: Indian PM Promises College Boom

Indian PM Promises College Boom
by
BBC

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised higher education will be expanded to compensate for quotas being introduced for lower-caste students.

He was speaking to doctors and medical students, who have been on strike for two weeks over the measure.

They fear the affirmative action plan will mean fewer places for upper caste students, and lower standards.

The strike has affected a number of state hospitals, and Mr Singh renewed his calls for the action to end.

Shops and other businesses have also gone on strike over the plan, with the students calling for a general strike over the issue.

'Massive Expansion'

From next year, the Indian government plans to reserve half of state-funded professional college places for lower caste students from next year.

But the move has sparked an outcry, with critics saying it will lead to a drop in college standards.

Mr Singh told medical students that he planned a "massive expansion" in higher education, so that more places would be available.

It was the first time he had meet the protesters since the strike began.

At present, 22.5% of college places are "reserved" for Dalits, or untouchables, who are at the bottom of India's caste hierarchy, and tribal students.

Under the new plan, a further 27% of places will be set aside for lower caste Hindus, known as other backward castes (OBCs), and other socially disadvantaged groups.

The plan has the support of millions of low-caste Indians who make up more than 50% of the country.

Despite laws banning discrimination, India's lower castes remain at the bottom of society and are poorly represented in major professions.

(Source)

Shishya · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 3:12 am Post subject: New Anti-Quota Protests in India

New Anti-Quota Protests in India
by
Abhishek Prabhat
BBC News, Delhi

Thousands of professionals have rallied in Delhi to protest against government plans for new quotas for lower caste students in educational institutions.

A protester also tried to set fire to himself at the rally in Delhi, according to reports.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's pledge on Friday to increase places in higher education institutions failed to quell the protests.

A two-week strike continues to affect a number of state hospitals.

As the protesting doctors and medical students gathered in Delhi's Ramlila grounds, a man in the crowd tried to set fire to himself.

The protestors and policemen deployed at the venue doused the fire. The man, who is yet to be identified, was taken to hospital but is said to be out of danger.

'Peaceful' Protest

The organisers of Saturday's protest, Youth for Equality, condemned the incident.

The group said it plans to fight against the government's affirmative action plan in a peaceful way and such incidents would only hurt their campaign.

Hundreds of traders, teachers and other professionals took part in Saturday's public rally to protest against government plans to reserve half of state-funded professional college places for lower caste students from next year.

The protestors argue that the government plan would mean fewer places for upper caste students, and lower standards.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh promised on Friday to expand higher education in order to compensate for the introduction of quotas.

But the assurance failed to convince the protestors to call off their rally or their two-week strike at a number of state hospitals.

Thousands of doctors and medical students also marched in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta.

Poets, writers, artists and educationists also participated in the march.

The protestors said they would intensify their agitation if the state government in West Bengal did not scrap the reservation policy and make merit the sole criteria for securing a place in professional colleges and universities.

(Source)

Shishya · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 10:30 pm Post subject: India Makes College Quota Offer

India Makes College Quota Offer
by
BBC

The Indian government has given students written proposals in an effort to end a strike over a plan to increase college quotas for lower castes.

Students fear the affirmative action plan will mean fewer places for upper caste students, and lower standards.

After a day of meetings, Federal Minister Oscar Fernandes said that the quotas would not led to a reduction in general places.

The government has also pledged to improve the education infrastructure.

Mr Fernandes said after a first meeting with the students that they had already been reassured that the general category places would not be reduced as a result of the new quota for lower castes.

He then met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before returning to the students with the government's first written offer since the protests began several weeks ago - thus fulfilling one of the students' specific demands.

On Friday, Mr Singh promised a "massive expansion" in higher education.

Review Call

The students also want a committee to be set up which will review the utilisation and efficiency of reservation in the last 60 years.

The federal government plans would set aside an additional 27% of places in educational institutions for Other Backward Castes who have been traditionally discriminated against on the basis of their background.

The government has said the plan will come into effect from June next year.

Around 23% of college places are already reserved for lower castes and tribes.

Bangalore Rally

Nearly 4,000 people participated in a rally in Bangalore rally on Sunday, which took place under the banner of a group called Youth for Equality.

Students from the country's premier institutes in the city, such as the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institute of Management and junior doctors from various medical colleges took part in the march.

Students of Indian Institute of Technology in the southern city of Madras came to Bangalore to join the rally.

One of the protestors, software engineer said Venkatraman, told the BBC that "we will intensify the agitation till the government drops the move to increase reservations".

He said in the next few days, protests would also be held in the "Electronic City" in Bangalore, home to hundreds of software companies, including Infosys and Wipro.

Doctors have stopped working in hospitals in some cities and towns of the southern Indian state of Karnataka in protest against the quota proposal.

(Source)

Shishya · Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 10:17 pm Post subject: Indian Doctors Strike Called Off

Indian Doctors Strike Called Off
by
BBC

Doctors and medical students protesting against a controversial affirmative action plan in India have called off a strike following a Supreme Court order.

The court had said strike was inconveniencing a large number of patients and ordered the doctors to return to work by Friday.

The doctors and medical students had been on strike for nearly three weeks.

They were protesting a plan to reserve half of state-funded professional college places for lower castes.

Those opposing the affirmative action plan say it will lead to lower standards.

On Tuesday the Supreme Court said the government should assure the doctors that they would face no punishment after they called off their strike.

The court also said the doctors whose services were terminated due to the strike would be recalled when they returned to work.

Earlier, the Supreme Court questioned the affirmative action proposal and asked the government to provide details within eight weeks of the rationale for the plan and how it would be implemented.

Separately, Indian Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had said the government would take "necessary measures" to restore health services if the doctors did not return to work.

Quota Row

Under the new plan, the government intends to reserve nearly half of state-funded professional college places for lower caste students from 2007.

At present, 22.5% of college places are reserved for Dalits, or untouchables, who are at the bottom of India's caste hierarchy, and tribal students.

The new plan would set aside an additional 27% of places in educational institutions for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) - lower caste Hindus and other traditionally disadvantaged groups.

Many Indians fear this would mean fewer college places and lower standards.

But the move has the backing of millions of lower caste Indians and other disadvantaged groups.

(Source)

Deepan Abisuriya · Junior Member Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 66

Namaste,

Vedic dharma has no caste, as we all know. Reservation will continue the caste divide, also suppresses the young talents due to the ranks alloted on the basis of castes. This should be removed or atleast should be very less. Every year increasing the quota of reservations is really funny and dangerous in a secular country like India.

Deepan