Another One for Arjun Singh

Here’s an OBC success story narrated in plain language. The narration itself is somewhat wondrous. I hate to even use the term OBC. Indeed, the government-coined terms sound far more cruel and discriminatory than the terms historically used to denote castes. Whatever the noble intent behind coining said terminology, it somehow sounds outright discriminatory. The moment you say, “Other Backward Castes,” you’re forcefully reminded of the backward aspect therein. I suspect the whole thing of eradicating caste-based discrimination is flawed right from its inception. You really can’t hope to wipe out caste-based discrimination when you continually use the very terms. The very point Gautam, the author of this success story makes:

I am an OBC. I come from a place where discrimination on the basis of caste is common. I grew up hearing I was inferior because I was from a backward class. All through my childhood I regretted the fact that I belonged to a backward class. [...] I worked very hard and got through IIT JEE 2000, ultimately obtaining admission to the B-Tech programme in Chemical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur. Initially, I was apprehensive about facing the same discrimination here as well. But I was surprised when no one asked me my caste. Nobody really cared which caste, creed or religion one belonged to. For the first time in my life, I felt a sense of equality.

It is my deep conviction that no place on earth can ever be as secular and free of casteism as IIT. Slowly, the feeling of inferiority engendered by my caste began fading away. I started believing in the equality of humankind. I started loving people—not based on their caste, but based on their values and ideas. I forgot all the discrimination I had faced earlier in life.

Looking back, I feel proud of having lived in such an environment. This place not only educated me technically, but socially as well. After my stint in Kharagpur, I believe I am truly secular. I’m not merely saying it; I feel it.

Perhaps it’s the way of the world that the moment you begin feeling good about something, it’s taken away from you. Before this 27 per cent education for OBCs was introduced, I had begun believing that India was growing not only economically, but also socially. I was beginning to feel free from the restrictions of of caste and creed.

But then our leaders reminded me of my caste. They made me feel ‘‘backward’’ all over again. They made me remember my childhood days. It has suddenly become difficult for me to feel the same as I did before this latest announcement.

His tale should ideally, also serve as a lesson to several bloggers who bombard us with anecdotal evidence in support of their conclusions. If their anecdotal evidence is valid, so does this piece, equally.

Is Arjun Singh listening? Give him a few months, he’s undergoing treatment for diabetes.