‘Let us welcome them with open arms’

Respected Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Yogendra Yadav: I am not a researcher, scholar, politician, journalist. Neither am I a doctor or engineer.

Respected Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Yogendra Yadav: I am not a researcher, scholar, politician, journalist. Neither am I a doctor or engineer. I am a school student. But I still request you to listen to me as I am an IIT aspirant who will be affected directly by the implementation of quotas.

After reading your articles (Op-Ed, May 24), I am compelled to put my reactions on record. I may not be a “professional student of politics” like both of you are, but the day Arjun Singh made his ad hoc announcement of reservations it was clear to me that no political party would have either the courage or foresight to utter a word against these pronouncements. Perhaps, Mr Mehta, that you too had such a premonition. But I had hoped that you would have chosen to stay on in the commission and utilised its prestige to help salvage the situation. Had you redeemed the situation even partially, students would have been grateful to you. You wrote that your continuation in the commission “will serve no useful purpose”. I submit that your resignation has served no useful purpose. I respect you for your convictions but cannot but wonder that if you had continued, it would have helped dilute the impact of “nonsensical policies”.

Mr Yadav, sir, the manner you use the phrases “urban professional elite” and “privileged” make them appear almost like expletives. These professionals are hard-working, educated, successful and aware — which it seems is reason enough to subject them to unfair criticism. They do not “question the very idea of social justice” but they believe that the route to parliamentary seats is being traversed through university seats.

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They, like you, are in disagreement with the way the quota system is proposed to be implemented. Even they realise that their demands will not be met but whatever concessions they may potentially achieve gives hope for a better future. Also, sir, you casually remark that the media is dominated by the upper castes. But, sir, you yourself visit TV studios often enough and will agree with me that you can accuse the media of triviality and insensitivity but not of partiality.

I agree with you that the debate needs “new social paradigms” but alas that does not seem possible. However I, being a school student, am eternally optimistic. There is a law of unintended consequences. I believe, or would like to believe, that the government’s latest announcement — of 27 per cent OBC reservations plus hikes in seats — will have more advantages than disadvantages. I would, therefore, appeal to my fellow students that they welcome with open arms the students who benefit. May these measures provide enough opportunities and confidence to those who have been discriminated against so that they will become in time “meritorious” students in the general category.

The writer is a class twelve student of DAV Public School, Chandigarh

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