Caste Based Reservation

I have always been opposed to caste based reservations. Maybe since birth. The reasons can well be attributed (or maybe imputed would be the right word and why I use this is something that will be clear by the end of this post) to my environment; people around me, my parents, my relatives (largely) and also my friends. Being born a Brahmin, I presumed that I was the best and this thought of mine got cemented over the years, when around me, I saw most famous and revered people belonging to this "homogeneous" group. When I was a kid, I was particularly interested in history and I used to watch the mini series on Dr Ambedkar that was aired on National TV. During my summer vacation, when I was at my uncle's place and in the evening, when I had switched on the TV to watch the program, my uncle was furious. He switched off the TV saying "What a waste of time. He has screwed our lives".

Over the years I have lived with this prejudice. IIT was dominated by Brahmins, so was IIM. My conviction grew stronger. But all through, somewhere at the back of my mind, I thought I was missing some basic fact, but the environment around me always suppressed the the thought.

Now when I look back, I feel I was wrong, maybe partially, but I was definitely not right on my anti reservation stand. It is important to take a step back and assess the situation.Compare yourself with a backward caste person. The need for reservation is backed by just one factor evolution. Assume two sets of people, totally identical with each other. One is set is made to do A type of work, while the second one is made to do B type of work (which requires a totally different skill set than A with no overlap) . This happens for scores of generations. What do we finally get? First set is adept at A, but a dodo at B and vice versa. Now, to add to the complexity, assume A is a superior job, which evolves and becomes superior with time (basically intelligence driven), while B is a mundane job, which is actually stagnant (manual, straight line job). At the end of many centuries, the progeny of first set has grown exponentially (in all respect - superiority, intelligence etc), while the progeny of second set is stagnant. Now there is, lets say, a competition between two, where the test is on skill set A. Progeny of second set is bound to fail. It is not a war of equals. You can't make Hussain Bolt run against Stephen Hawkings and hope the victory will make Bolt proud.

Now there are two possible solutions to it. First one is to leave everything as it is. But that'll create great inequality and it would be like two different species staying together. The other one is a caste based reservation, where there would be a short term sub optimality, but in the longer run equality will prevail. We are a country, not a factory which looks at only maximizing its profits. The next question is how many years should reservation continue. That is a question to be answered by evolutionary scientists. But definitely, it'll take time for us to wash away the sins committed by our forefathers.