FORMER Prime Minister Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda has brought back a core issue to the national centre-stage by suggesting to the Parliament to think if reservations should be granted on economic basis and not on caste basis. Though many political parties may not appreciate this suggestion, its quite likely that some of them may want to give the idea appropriate consideration. If that happens, a great national cause will be served in favour of meritocracy as against the mediocracy that caste-based reservation promotes. Seen from this angle, Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda has done the nation much good through his oath-breaking suggestion. Of course, this thought is not at all new. In the past too, many people -- thinkers as well as political leaders -- have tried to push the idea of reservations based on economic criteria.

 

Though that thought never got a political support, its social appeal has always kept expanding all along -- so much so that many civil movements sprang up in the vast Indian landscape in the past quarter of a century. Their main argument was that quality is never decided by caste, but by an individual’s potential and capabilities, no matter if he or she is rich or poor. So, if the concept of social affirmation is to be applied to offer a level-playing-field to everybody, then the standard of help should be economic paucity rather than caste, the promoters of the movement argued. Of course, those who supported caste-based reservations felt that socially-deprived classes also needed a level-playing-field since their social backwardness pushed them back in the race. This though also had a solid base and therefore the larger society accepted it. Despite this, the idea of reservations based on economic criteria did not die -- and has now come up through the suggestion of a person of the eminence of Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda, which the society and the Parliament can only ill-afford to ignore. It is not fathomable at this stage if Mr. Deve Gowda’s suggestion would get considered in Parliament at all. But there is no doubt that when a former Prime Minister raises the issue, he knows what he is doing and saying.

 

It must be admitted that there are crores of Indians who detest the idea of caste-based reservations, and someday their desire to pull the issue to the forefront of national thought would earn a recognition. Mr. Deve Gowda, however, has played his cards well. Taking every precaution not to hurt any social susceptibilities, he has wondered if the Parliament could take up the issue. Even that also required enough courage ‘to be in the right with two three’ -- to use the words of English poet James Lowell. If Parliament chooses to take up the issue at any future date, Mr. Deve Gowda’s name would be remembered. What is of critical importance to the larger Indian society today is not a caste-based social affirmation but one based on economic criteria. Mr. Deve Gowda has re-started the thought. In time to come, the nation, the larger Indian society, may pick that up for detailed consideration. If at any future date the nation decides in favour of discussion on the issue, it will benefit itself in the long run. The opposition to caste-based reservations is not at all from a political standpoint. Much to the contrary, it is based on a universal goodwill about a right stance the nation should take. It must be stated again and again without any political pull or pressure that the nation’s real growth is in reservations based on economic criteria. Merit-base reservations, also, is another way to deal with adverse social parallax. But suffice it will be if the Parliament listens to the wise counsel of Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda and takes up the issue without delay, and without fear of or favour for anybody.