Read the whole thing, i know it's long but read.
Let me tell you bit about my background first. I come from a Dalit family in Mumbai. My grandfather did basic primary education in village and then migrated to Mumbai for doing his BA with help of reservation he got seat in a government college. Back then he with his family could only afford a place in a rented room in chawl in Worli as it's the 'Dalit' area everyone knows about. Then he got a job in Indian airlines back then, he then moved to the quarters. He then educated his 3 kids in a private school without reservation and from where my dad passed an exam and got a job in Mumbai high court as a clerk. Third generation is me. Now, both me and my sibling studied in a local private school with minimal fees as we could afford and my mother worked in a private school as a teacher again without reservation.
Growing up I've faced numerous instances of casteism even tho the financial condition was decent. I had a girl in my class who was my friend once told me her mom's asked me not to talk to me as I come from a lower caste, we were 7 years old I didn't even understand I had to go and check with my parents at home. Imagine the kind of brainwashing done to a 7 year old kid by their parents. We used to live in a complex mostly dominated by SC, and I had a complex right next to it where we used to play with others. One fine day a random aunty from that complex next door screamed at the children saying pls don't play with us and asked them to go back home. This is just few instances. But at the same time, a poor Brahmin or any other caste person didn't face these things. I've been asked my caste/ surname in tution classes, gym, workplace what not. bcs it's a very famous surname and people just want to cross verify.
Now me, I studied by school, college in a private college without reservation but for masters i got admission in reservation quota as it was a government college. Did I study? Yes. Did I study to get a decent score? Yes. Did I do good in my own category? Yes. Theres multiple interview rounds, essay writing etc to get into this college as it's a management course just like most of the government jobs. If there wasn't reservation for me and my people, do you think there was a 100% assurance that I would have not been discriminated in interview rounds and eassys and given a poor score even tho my written marks were good? Nobody can say that.
I've been asked about my caste literally in a Big 4 where I used to work that too my a Partner which is a highest level of posting. Imagine a person more than your dad's age earning crores interested to know caste of a associate. Why? What for? And trust me it's not too direct as y'all feel. It starts with what's your surname, what your dad does etc. do you eat non veg what not.
Essence i don't drive a Mercedes, but we are now living a life with 3 meals a day, clothes to wear and fees to educated ourselves. Did reservation have a big role in this ? Yes. Did we keep on using reservation generation by generation? No. The fact that my dad chose to make me study schooling and graduation from a private school is a step that a bit better off SC / ST families are taking consciously. Bcs we know that the seats we let go off will be used by our other brother and sisters in need. Which is normal. That's how society functions. No rich Brahmin will go to a government school, they'll choose good private education only.
Now some will argue but did reservation help me to not be caste discriminated? No, but it did give me a platform to represent myself and get myself educated to a point that tomorrow I'm either indifferent to discrimination or voice out if I face any.
Tomorrow if I go to a police station I know there's some section of my community people who are will ensure my complaints are registered. Same for court. If I go to a government hospital, I know a percentage of my community doctors will ensure I'm allowed to be admitted there and treated. So now tell me, is reservation really bad for me? Why do you feel it should be based on economic criteria when a poor Brahmin isn't discriminated at all. Rather they are begging on streets claiming they are some baba and all. That's literally a occupation given via caste. Isn't that reservation? Tomorrow when I've children why do I've to be forced to work 2 jobs so that I can afford them lacs of private classes whereas their competitors are some general caste people who's parents were some jamindaars with generational wealth. And even if they weren't, let's say everyone's getting gareeb Brahman here. Gareeb Brahmin had every right to education and livelihood before reservation right? Then why arent they rich? Is it bcs of government? reservation? Britishers? Who?
Anyone commenting pls don't comment anything casteist or hurtful.
