Positive tidings welcome my return to blogging after some backbreaking hiatus.
Youths on Thursday hailed the Supreme Court’s decision that put a stay on Centre’s 27 per cent reservation decision for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in elite educational institutions in the academic year 2007.
A quick recap shows that the idiots in the UPA have none of the personal charisma, the myth-making machinery, or the practised deception of a Nehru or Indira Gandhi. One could attribute at least, a semblance of learning and knowledge to these earlier leaders. Give the reins to the ilks of Arjun “Slaughter” Singh, and trust him to make a miserable spectacle of himself and the entire Government on camera.
The consequence: slap-verdicts.
Not that it will stop the nation-rupturers. While the last resort of a scoundrel is politics, the last resort of UPA politicians is the A word. The question is not if, but when–how soon will they amend the Constitution, which is already heaving under the severe weight of the socialist (swear)word?
The anti-Reservationists are (justly) jubilant:
It was a struggle for justice. It was a long drawn battle and we believe that truth has prevailed. We had raised doubts on the government’s intentions and today the Supreme Court has given an order which serves a lesson to all opportunistic powers,” said Anil Sharma, a member of Youth for Equality, a voluntary organisation…
The elation might be shortlived given the propensity of the UPA Stalinists to use the Amendment Brahmastra. Victories of this nature aren’t won easily. More so when justice has a history–in this country–of being sacrificed at the altar of social justice . Important post-Independence struggles have been lost in either celebrating temporary victories (like this one), or gone completely astray (example, the J.P. movement. Lalu calls himself J.P’s disciple).
Anyway, from the Supreme Court’s stay order:
The State is empowered to enact affirmative action to help backward classes but it should not be unduly adverse to those who are left out of such action…
As I have argued earlier in this blog, poverty should be the chief criterion for deciding who is backward . How backward is for example, a Mayawati and her band of relatives, followers, bootlickers, et al? A mad rush to be called backward doesn’t augur as a solid foundation for an “emerging superpower (sic).”
“Nowhere in the world do castes queue up to be branded as backward. Nowhere in the world is there a competition to become backward,” the bench added in its observations.
Nehru’s socialistic pattern of society has created a sorry mass of people who fight for losing self-respect: that’s really what the quota system stands for.
Meanwhile, expected reactions have swiftly come from the obvious quarters: the senile crook, Karunanidhi is merely unhappy over the verdict. He should be. What worked so brilliantly on his home turf has hopelessly backfired at the national level. But the other Tamil Nadu-hooligan, Ramadoss is more vocal:
PMK founder S Ramadoss, who spearheaded a protest in the late 1980s demanding exclusive reservation for the Vanniyar community…said…the Supreme Court never accepts any law for social justice”. [.] What is surprising is that the Supreme Court has stayed a law which was unanimously passed by both Houses of Parliament, comprising elected representatives. Besides staying the law, the apex court has opined that the law was passed with an eye on vote bank politics. It is a black day for Indian democracy and parliamentary democracy and a day of mourning for OBCs. The order against the oppressed classes should be amended [.] PMK President G K Mani appealed to the people to hoist black flags in all public buildings to condemn the judgment
Closer home, the blogsphere has its share of opinions: the saner ones, and the rest.
A certain professor who attacked me long ago for–among other things–being crass, crude, rude, and uncouth, has ever since busied himself in large-scale data mining. To legitimize Arjun Singh the Slaughter Quota. It’s logical, given his field of specialization; mining and metallurgy are related. His dismay is therefore understandable, and so he chooses optimism as the better virtue:
The judges have not closed the door on quotas (”The Bench said the State is empowered to enact affirmative action to help the backward classes, but it should not be unduly adverse to those who are left out.”). So, this is not a setback for the principle of affirmative action.
Now, compare the above statement with this:
“The order is obviously an interim arrangement till August when the matter will be heard. It is not an order, per se, against the policy of government; it is not an order per se against the concept. What it is saying is that there has to be a better material base, a better substratum of material before such a decision is taken,” Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.
One, a party insider and the other, an academician. One saith “principle of affirmative action ,” and the other, “policy, concept.”
It’s pretty tragic that the Pro-Reservation Portal is going through difficult times considering the encyclopedic content that existed there. One of its star contributors however, is silent on the verdict. His whirlwind tour of the US I guess, is keeping him shackled. Another well-read contributor is likewise, dreadfully silent. She’s profusely blogging about the movies and plays she has recently watched. A pity.
The greatest suprise arrives from the shrillest pro-reservation blogger who doesn’t have a single syllable to say on the verdict (as of writing this post). Double pity.
And then there are of course, the lunatics, who post hyperlinks to substitute for opinions.
This would be funny if only it wasn’t this grave.
Tags: Commentary, Discussions, Election 2004, Indian Politics, Society & Culture, War on Communism, Weblogs
On 03.30.07 socal says:
This certainly doesn’t end here. While the casteists bigots from Tamilnadu will stop at nothing to undermine even the semblance of fairness that exists in centre, this interim order would certainly put a spanner in their pro-reservation blitz.
OBC reservations are twin pronged disaster-1. they ossify casteist divisions, a dream of rabid castemongers like Yogendra Yadav etc and, 2.they lower quality of academics at our last bastions of academic excellence.
Not to mention the whole principle goes against the concept of fairness, equality etc., which the pro-reservation dons claim to stand for in their secular avatar.
Reservations don’t stand for social justice, they legitimize social apartheid.
On 03.30.07 Sandeep says:
Socal,
Absolutely. The sooner these nitwits are kicked out, the better it is for all of us.
On 03.30.07 Ravindra says:
Sandeep,
Make no mistake, the wily Arjun Singh will completely steamroll ahead with his agenda. The old haggard brigade comprising VP Singh, Karunanidhi and Co will not hesitate to discredit the SC, whose dignity was hitherto held as sacrosanct.
The entire political class is to blame really as even the opposition is reluctant to come out fully in support of the anti-reservationists and is instead trying to beat around the bush. If the YOuth for Equality metamorphosises into a political outfit, it will atleast add some muscle to the fledgling movement!
On 03.30.07 shadows says:
>>> His whirlwind tour of the US I guess, is keeping him shackled
OH yeah, this old socialist romantic !
In US ?? what the hell is he doing there in a corrupt capitalist pig infested western country.
>>> it’s not because America was wealthy that it built the interstate highway system, but the contrary. Building the highways made America wealthy.
Has his US trip changed him ? I doubt it.. but this statement of his isnt really consistent with his usual crap. He is talking about wealth.
But of course, Daddy finances his US trips, he changes colours for a month, enjoys the fruits of wealth and he comes back to fight for slums in Mumbai and advocating backwardness-for-all.
On 03.30.07 socal says:
Sandeep-
“Absolutely. The sooner these nitwits are kicked out, the better it is for all of us.”
That’s not the way out. A moral, ethical and legal case needs to made urgently and vocally. And it is not difficult to do so. OBCs are as much privileged as upper castes, with increasingly more political power in their hands. Its turning the definition of backwardness on its head to label these groups as backwards. The Christians and Muslims will start clamoring for their own reservations once this is done.
Dipankar Gupta’s article in HT yesterday was quite illuminating. Check it out if you can.
On 03.30.07 socal says:
http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/181_1960607,00120001.htm
Link for Gupta’s article. He has been consistently vocal in making a studied argument against reservation. Though momentarily it appears like falling on deaf ears, hopefully the immorality of reservations will seep through as a legitimate idea. Stealing, depriving right to equality is neither social nor just. Right to reservation is nothing but right to broad daylight’s robbery of people’s fundamental rights. Atleast keep the constitution honest and say that everyone is not equal if reservation is to be thrusted upon hapless citizens.
On 03.31.07 Roman Emperor says:
> but this statement of his isnt really consistent with his usual crap.
yet you clearly read every single word of his “usual crap”. wonder what that says ’bout you.
> “bigots” … “nitwits” … “rabid castemonger” … “crap” …
> “hooligan” … “lunatics” … “shrillest” … “senile crook” …
> “bootlickers” … “nation-rupturers” … “idiots” …
all on this one page! lol. not to forget vague asorted allegations and insinuations. lol again.
the overflowing levels of bitterness on this site, owner and commenters, is soooo amusing! lemme ask again which you didnt answer before - You think you persuade anyone by abuse? dream on, guys. dream on.
… and “nation-rupturers”! serious? what a … poetic term!
On 04.01.07 Tushar Saxena says:
Ummmm, Mr. Nero (Roman Emperor), you can continue to fiddle, nut unfortunately for you some people do see the mass insanity that is ’secularism’ in this country. In the west its mutant is called ‘Multiculturalism’. Yes of course we’ll “dream on” while you are highly wedded to the beautiful reality of your Quota Program.
On 04.01.07 socal says:
Italian emperor,
Do you think your snobbishness has changed the world? How are you any different, or so your attitude? Look in the mirror pal, and then talk and for once address the issue rather than nitpicking yourself if you’re into persuasion as you so loudly claim.
On 04.01.07 Roman Emperor says:
> … your Quota Program …
> … your snobbishness …
> … you so loudly claim …
same old same old. all i have to do is laugh out loud (lol) at the abuse on this page, and suddenly it is “my” quota program and “my” claim (which claim?) and “my” snobbishness (show?).
see guys, ill say it once and thats all: i dont like reservations. i came to this site (and other anti reserv sites) many weeks ago, looking for arguments i can use to my pro reserv friends. insted all i find on this site is abuse and sneering. i cannot see myself persuading pro reserv friends if i call them “bigot”, “lunatic”, “bootlicker”, “hooligan”, “bandicot”, “rabid” and so on etc.
so you have to choose. you want to persuade? or you want to abuse? on this site only thing i see, post after post, comment after comments, is sneers and insults.
point it out, and suddnly its “my” quotas.
only thing i can do is … lol! lol, lol! you guys are funny.
or, this would be funny if only it wasn’t this grave. lol anyway.
On 04.01.07 Sandeep says:
Mr. Roman Emperor,
One, I’ve stated nowhere in this blog that I’m into scholarly debates, etc. My stated purpose is to call bluffs wherever I find them. If you want arguments to counter your pro-reservation friends, you need to look at other sites. Here are two: http://realitycheck.wordpress.com and http://barbarindians.blogspot.com. You’ll find all you need there.
If you’re uncomfortable with me using words like bigot, etc, you’re free NOT to visit this blog. There’s too much political correctness in public discourse, and I intend to say it like it is in a language I deem fit.
But it’s funny how you seem to notice what you call “abuse” instead of refuting the points I’ve made.
’tis grave, indeed and not in the least funny.
On 04.01.07 Tushar Saxena says:
Damn right Sandeep. Mr. Nero is only fiddling with words asking for refutation whereas he himself provides none. So alright Mr observer you are here to snag points against reservation. Visit the links sandeep has provided. And if you think boiling blood is an overreaction to the mass insanity that has been going on for 5 decades in India, then you really do need a reality check. This issue did not pop up yesterday. Its quite old and the irrationality of the reservation supporters is ennerving to say the least. thats “abuse” indeed.
On 04.01.07 Roman Emperor says:
> My stated purpose is to call bluffs wherever I find them.
> If you want arguments to counter your pro-reservation friends,
> you need to look at other sites.
ie: “i have no arguments. i just wanna call people names.”
but then you mention the “points” you made. but if you have no arguments, what “points” have you made? all you seem able to do is abuse.
mr boiling blood, i want a solution to the problems in this country. boiling blood, however justified you think it is, is no solution. give it thought before leaping to find names (nero! wow! never heard of him!) for me again.
On 04.02.07 Tushar Saxena says:
Okay so now you claim you want solutions. Try this: free market capitalism.
On 04.02.07 socalcb says:
“show” you say?! Read your posts, it’s right there. Anyway, it will help if you explain what you feel are the “arguments” of anti-reservationists? That way we’ll know what you consider not worth “lol”-ing and can perhaps benefit from your volunteering. Come on, here’s your chance. What say you?
On 04.02.07 socalcb says:
Make that anti anti-reservations above.
On 04.02.07 socal says:
“but then you mention the “points” you made. but if you have no arguments, what “points” have you made? all you seem able to do is abuse.”
Now, Now, take it easy already. Though you call yourself an emperor this is an era, fortunately so, of democracy. Let everyone judge for him/herself whether points are being made or not. And if so where or where not.
What you CAN do is to present here what you deem to be “arguments,” doesn’t matter which side, but atleast we’ll know what is lol material for you and what isn’t. Then we’ll see if they have been addressed here or not. Are you up for it? Or are we to get ’same old same old.’ Now that would be very disappointing.
On 04.02.07 Sandeep says:
Mr. Emperor,
You really want to provoke me, don’t you?
>>ie: “i have no arguments. i just wanna call people names.”
That’s YOUR interpretation.
>>but then you mention the “points” you made. but if you have no arguments, what “points” have you made? all you seem able to do is abuse.
Tch tch! I said my intent is to call bluffs, and contrary to what you assume, I DO make points, not resort to mere name calling. What I meant by argument is of the scholarly kind for which I neither have time nor the inclination. Here’s a “point” which you’ve been sobbing for:
>>As I have argued earlier in this blog, poverty should be the chief criterion for deciding who is backward . How backward is for example, a Mayawati and her band of relatives, followers, bootlickers, et al?
I suppose this constitutes as abuse in your lexicon. Like other commenters said, why don’t YOU present YOUR case for a change instead of calling me an abuser.
On 04.02.07 Roman Emperor says:
> Let everyone judge for him/herself whether points are being
> made or not.
did that sir-jee. judged for myself that he makes no points, but only abuses. then hoorah, he confirmed the same for me. (”If you want arguments to counter your pro-reservation friends, you need to look at other sites”). i do not remember stopping you and others from making your judgements. please do, sir-jee.
what is lol material? the creative abuse and self-righteousness on this page, what else? “nation-rupturers”? hafta lol at that!
> That’s YOUR interpretation.
sure it is. never claimed otherwise.
your point: “poverty should be the chief criterion for deciding who is backward”.
good. so i just read operative parts of mandal report. poverty is actually a major criterion. got another one?
my case/arguments against reservations? most imp one i think is a trump for evrything else: merit. if we want merit, how can have reservs of any kind? whether for obcs, sts, marathis, anything? i want a country where only merit works, period. in my view there is no stronger argument aganst reservs.
but i told you, i have friends - old ones, good buds, for who i have greatest respect for. some of them argue with me about the necesity for reservs. (in some cases). because its from friends, they made me think to broaden my knowledge of the issue. so via goole and blogs, i visited many sites, and also ended up here.
only to find abuse. (yes, “bootlickers” also). ive read no post here which is anything else.
observing that is “snobbishness”? you are serious? all i can say is, lol again!
On 04.03.07 socal says:
“i want a country where only merit works, period.”
Just curious, would you be saying the same when it comes to language preferences or would you want special consideration for Tamil then?
On 04.03.07 socal says:
Anyway, thanks for your response Madam-jee. If you think that the self-evident air of superiority squealing in every post of yours is anything but “snobbishness” then good for you M’am. Keep lol-ing. I have no intention to spoil your revelry. Seriously!
Merit or Poverty are not that strong an argument because both of these factors can be fudged and misrepresented.
A strong case against merit is that it is solely judged through objective exams which are aced by urban students who get coached in exam techniques and can score over real genius which should be the only criterion ideally. The sheer numbers overwhelm any western kind of system that we might think of implementing.
Poverty can be misrepresented in several ways due to rampant corruption.
On 04.05.07 Roman Emperor says:
> would you be saying the same when it comes to language
> preferences or would you want special consideration for
> Tamil then?
eh? what is the possible connection to reserv debate? why tamil? i want no special consideration for tamil or any language.
> Merit or Poverty are not that strong an argument because
> both of these factors can be fudged and misrepresented.
egg-zackly! that’s why i began searching for articles with worthwhile arguments with substance. unfortunately, too many people who criticize reservs are content only to abuse. like mister sandeep here, good example.
so can someone please give me arguments to make?
On 04.05.07 Tushar Saxena says:
Mr. Emperor
You can say something like this:
If the reservationists really believe in their goals that is the upliftment of every person in society and an equality of opportunity for social mobility, then they must accept contrary points of view which have always worked, and do work and will work to secure just that end.
One such scheme is school vouchers…which effectively subsidizes the consumer of education, and not a school. Any economically marginal person should be able to get a loan or grant from the government to choose any school he/she can be admitted to.
I’m jus sayinnnnn son…u havent been looking much have you??
http://www.deeshaa.org
Dig into his archives..he has solutions.
On 04.05.07 socal says:
“too many people who criticize reservs are content only to abuse.”
Maybe it is so because the argument for reservation is also based on abusing upper castes. Of course there is going to be some bitterness.
“so can someone please give me arguments to make? ”
Not to defend Sandeep but questioning the motives, credibility of reservation seekers whose behavior qualifies well enough to evoke sobriquets that you term abuse is also an argument against reservation. Of course he is capable enough to argue his side so I won’t speculate further on that. Just as the case for merit is seriously undermined by questioning the criterion for judging merit but not merit as such similarly the case for reservation can also be debilitated by questioning its advocates’ motives, which is what Sandeep has done effectively imho.
There are different ways to argue against reservation. Questioning can go along- why is it needed? is/are the reason(s) really true? what are the measures to gauge those reasons? are they fair measures or biased for or against reservations? is the responsibility placed only on one side or do the reservation benfeciaries have any justification for its continual?
The strongest argument I believe is that of equality. Because it directly confronts the fundamental basis of reservation, that being of perceived or alleged inequity. Maybe you should look for writings of Dipankar Gupta, Pratap Mehta for arguments in mainstream media.
And, if you don’t mind, maybe you can share what you’ve been arguing with your peers or friends whom you consider equals and find challenged enough by their positions. I am particularly interested in knowing what their arguments were that you yourself thought or deemed trumping your known.
You are under no obligation to do so, to state the obvious, but it would be nice if you do nonetheless.
Cheers,
On 04.15.07 pro-reservationforlife says:
the problem with u ppl is that u upper caste ppl have enjoyed power for centuries and when a downtrodden person looks up straight into ur eyes u can’t take it…u upper castes are used to ruling lower castes so u can’t see them improving in life…AND MOREOVER EVEN IF THERE WAS NO QUOTA U PPL WILL NEVER MAKE IT TO THE MERIT LIST ‘COZ U WILL KEEP SHEDDING CROCODILE TEARS TILL THE COWS AND BUFFALOES CAME HOME INSTEAD OF STUDYING…but india is going through a social change and ur power will cribble oneday and one more thing HIGHER MARKS ARE NOT THE SOLE CRITERIA FOR MERIT…WHAT ABOUT DONATIONS?….WHEN UPPER CASTE UNQUALIFIED PPL COME THRU BACKDOOR INTO STUDIES…THEY CAN’T BE CALLED”MERITORIUS”…..quotas should continue till equality is established in society
On 04.15.07 socal says:
What do you consider to be “equality?
On 04.16.07 Tushar Saxena says:
socal, its useless to even attempt discussion with ignorant fools like pro-reservationforlife who have never learnt the art of critical thinking, and have been deluged by propaganda for life.