Since 25th August, Patels and several other “high caste” Hindu's campaign about “reservation” has caused death, destruction and damage to the social fabric of India, especially Gujarat. Patels, Brahmins, Kshtriya, Goldsmiths, Bhrahmkshtriyas, Vaniks, Lohanas and others have launched an agitation which has sadly taken an ugly turn. The provision in the Indian Constitution supported by the Supreme Court decision gives “Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes and subsequently Other Backwards Castes” (OBC) certain preference in government educational institutes as well as government services.
It is well a known fact that the Dalits, the so called “untouchables”, were discriminated and exploited in the Indian society. Same was true, to a certain extent, the fate of the tribals. Together 22 percent of India's population (presently 1, 270 million) who where provided reservation to give them a sort of level playing field or “positive discrimination”. This was mooted by Mahatma Gandhi and supported by many leaders of the Independence movement including Sardar Patel, Nehru, Ambedkar and many others. In the Constitution Assembly, after serious deliberations, the provision was made for reservation policy for ten years from 1950. Sadly an honourable and necessary intention became a political opportunity to create vote banks over the years. It is renewed every 10 years since then.
After the Mandal Report the opportunistic attitude of the politicians encouraged more castes under the label of OBC which now total some 27 percent in the policy of “reservation”. Supreme Court has ruled that optimum 50 percent limit will be available throughout India. The present policy of reservation does not include the upper castes Hindus (some of them mentioned above) as well as Muslims, Christians, Jains- mainly because the reservation is confined to the caste criteria and not based on religion.
The recent campaign under the banner of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) include many other so called high castes. The campaign is lead by the Patel community as it comprises of at least 15% of the population of the state of Gujarat (some say the percentage could be as high as 22 percent!). It is beyond doubt that younger members of the upper castes experience discrimination as almost half of the places in education and government jobs could be, in principle, preserved for the special category under the policy of reservation.
In 1950 those castes who were unwilling to be labelled “low castes” are now clambering to be included in the “reserve category” and that is catch number 1. Patels and others want to take advantage for better education or jobs and are willing to be labelled as “low caste” but there is another snag, it is not possible because of the supreme court judgement.
The agitation of PAAS has brought again the inherent defect of the reservation policy. If every community is added to the quota of reservation then, according to some, the percentage could go up to 140 percent! That is also a very big and bothersome catch. The real fault line is the criteria for reservation. Rather that “caste” based it could be more preferable if it based on social, economic parameters. It is not easy to formulate or implement such a policy but “positive discrimination” has proved to be beneficial in some democratic nations. Though the option is available, the political system is, most naturally, unwilling to rock the boat and that is a real dilemma for all those who see the injustice of the present reservation policy and yet are helpless to rectify it. The agitation of PAAS and especially the pronouncements of its leader Hardik Patel has raised eyebrows if not anger of a large number of well meaning people.
A huge rally of up to 1 million, mainly young high caste persons, predominately Patels, in the heart of Ahmedabad was addressed for one and half hours by Hardik Patel in Hindi language throughout.
(1) If the audience was Gujarati then why did he choose to speak in Hindi? It raises questions about Hardik's motives too. In his address Hardik did not develop the various facets of the policy of reservation or dwell on the options available to correct the system.
(2) A substantial if not major part of his speech was devoted to denounce the government of Gujarat and also the central government of Prime Minister N. Modi. What was the political agenda?
(3) At one stage Hardik Patel screamed, “Hum log puri Hindustan ko apni Aukaat dikha denge”. Who are you? Al Qaida Leader? Aren't you a fellow Hindustani too? How can you use such a provocative, a dreadful tone while addressing the rally of hundreds of thousands of young people?
(4) Hardik Patel challenged Anandiben Patel to come to the grounds and accept the statement. How can you order a Chief Minister in such an arrogant fashion?
(5) Hardik provoked, as several people claim, the rally towards violence by shouting “agar hamare mange nahin sweekari to lanka jala denge.” When you are leading a peaceful protest you do not make such statements which can provoke people towards violence.
In the recent days, Hardik Patel and Lalji Patel, who were closely involved in organising the huge rally of 25th August have revealed their own internal differences and disagreements. Public pronouncements of such leaders have created more confusion and divisions.
Hardik Patel announced a "reverse march" from Dandi to Sabarmati Ashram to begin on Sunday 6th September. Several towns and villages on the route, predominantly with OBC population, called on the government to prohibit such a march which could end up in to confrontation, as it happened in Ahmedabad and some other places on 25th and 26th August. The authorities proclaimed a prohibition and such a delicate situation has been avoided.
Hardik Patel has also given the government ultimatum to grant the permission within one week or else? Such proclamation does not auger well.
Let's face the fact. Prima facie, the present reservation policy is imperfect, decisive and harmful to the interest of the majority population of India, simply because it is based on the criteria only of the caste. There are two other facts to consider. Firstly, due to the increase of education and employment opportunities, the caste itself is becoming less important in marriage, friendship, social exchanges and in business. Secondly, how can those who claimed to be of high caste, who waged campaigns to retain that privilege earlier, now demand to be considered as a low caste to enter in to the reservation quota. This is both illogical and perhaps not acceptable to the majority members of the so called high caste communities themselves.
Social/economic criteria is most appropriate to alleviate the discrimination and disadvantage of those right at the bottom of the society who have been suffering for a very long time. But let's also look at the facts. In the last 65 years, some members of the two generation of those who benefitted under the reservation "quota" should themselves be studied carefully. Do their children deserve to be served by this present reservation policy? Naturally, no one likes to waver the privilege which they have acquired, but children and grandchildren of those who got themselves better educated or received well paid and privileged jobs in the government do not themselves now, presently need that benefit, do they?
Democracy is always dependent on the votes in the ultimate analysis. In India, though there is a long standing commitment to the democratic norms and the ballot, especially for power has been recognised,it is a fact that very often the votes are cast on the lines of caste or religion. Things are changing and gradually, more better value based politics will prevail, but when is a question.
For the leaders of PAAS and others, this is the fundamental issue to consider carefully. By and large, most sensible persons would accept that the present reservation policy is wrong or at least imperfect. What do you replace it with? And how? is the Himalayan question. It is not wise to attempt to change what is required by the protests on the high streets or any other mob response.
In my column, I have mentioned about the famous Bardoli campaign last week. In the late 1920s, the British power was not only so strong in India, but it was supreme all over the world, at least in the imperial domains. The collector, an Englishman of South Gujarat decided to increase the revenue on the farmers sadly when the region was suffering from lack of rain and scarcity of water. The helpless farmers were being forced by the administration to pay up, which was not possible for them. The farmers sent a delegation to Mahatma Gandhi, who was at the time at Sabarmati Ashram. He was, as we all know, a shrewd statesman. It was a very difficult situation and appropriate remedy was needed, but how to go about it was the question. He delegated Valabhbhai Patel to look into the matter very closely. Vallabhbhai Patel went to Bardoli taluka of the then Surat district with some of his colleagues and over the next few weeks visited each village and made a detailed study of the farmers, their farms, their productivity and their economic plight. A very carefully and diligently prepared dossier was presented to the authorities for either waving the access revenue or differ the payment .
The imperial power, naturally, would not budge. Eventually, with Gandhiji's blessing, a peaceful and non violent campaign was launched, covering all the villages around Bardoli. Revenue tax was not paid. Subsequently, the farms, the dwellings and the cattle of the farmers were ordered to be auctioned. The whole situation is amply described in the famous biography of Vallabhbhai Patel called The Patel, by Rajmohan Gandhi- the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and C. Rajgopalachari. It is a 600 page volume written brilliantly without fear or favour on the life and work of the man who is now accepted as the unifier of the modern India from some 500 princely states.
Bardoli Satyagraha became long and painful but remained non violent and peaceful. Let me give one small example. Most of the farmers were Patels. For a Patel, traditionally, a piece of land or a Patalani (Mrs Patel) that cattle is not only a source of livelihood, but is loved dearly as a family member. In one incident, a buffalo was auctioned just for a trivial sum and the purchaser was a non Patel, encouraged and inspired by a deputy collector (a fellow Indian but not a Gujarati). While the auctions was taking place, there were scores of Patels and their family members watching in distress, but they were helpless. Normally, in the villages especially, a Patel could be violent at the slightest provocation, but all had pledged to be peaceful and non violent. Such was the discipline instilled by Vallabhai Patel and his team.
The Patalani was crying, hiding her face in the veil of her sari and nothing more. The purchaser moved away with the buffalo with some hesitancy and slightly fearful of the consequences. After a few hours, he came back with the buffalo and returned it to the farmer's wife saying, "I'm really impressed with your love for the animal and also, the non violent campaign of yours where you all suffer in silence so peacefully".
Eventually, that long and arduous Bardoli campaign forced the Governor of Bombay Presidency and instruction went from the Secretary of State for India, from London to compromise and settle the dispute. The Times of London coined a new word that the India was "BARDOLISED" by Vallabhbhai Patel and his devoted and determined peasants. Gandhiji gave Vallabhbhai Patel the title of SARDAR (the General/Leader).
If an imperial power can be forced to retract its addict, then there is no further to see for the PAAS leaders how to overcome this injustice of the present reservation and quota policy in India.
Patels have faced many a challenge. In 1946, the interim government brought in a law about private money lenders who were, to a certain extent Patels in Gujarat. Many of them lost a lot of money.
In the first phase of the independence, tillers act provided ownership rights to the landless tillers. Again, the largest land loss was on the back of the small farmers- predominantly Patels. In 1973, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, brought in another act which reduced the ownership of large sect of agriculture land and again, Patels had to give in somewhat.
In the last 6-7 decades, the Patels have moved from rural areas to the towns and cities, from agriculture to professions and various business and industries. In Gujarat, today professions, pharmaceutical, constructions, diamonds, trading and several engineering industries are full of Patel presence.
Equally, in the UK, there are at least 200,000 Patels. In the USA, there are more than 300,000 and similarly, there are large number of Patels in Canada, Middle East, Africa, Australia and elsewhere. It is noteworthy that as an ill-effect of the reservation policy, some Patels who were not able to enter the college of their choice, migrated to the west and at least three have acquired businesses worth at least $400 million, in the USA.
Such successes does not diminish the disadvantage to the Patels and other high caste Hindus who are excluded, to progress through education and government jobs. Two things are very clear, one, that the present system of reservation and quota is illogical, unsustainable, divisive and definitely an obstacle for the all round development of India. The sooner it is done with and at the same time, a more fair equitable system is installed aimed at the century's old deprivation disadvantage of untouchables and tribals, the better it is for all concerned. Secondly, Hardik Patel and his friends and supporters, have been conveyed a personal message by me already. Please cool off. You have a just cause but a completely wrong route. You have to choose a more appropriate path because you need to change the mindset of the majority of Indian people. Peace and non violence is the best option. Confrontation could not give you the support of all other communities you so definitely require. Patels may be 15% of Gujarat, or 20%, as some claim. They may be in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh or all over India, but in a democratic set up, unless you have support of a vast majority, you can never win the fairness and justice which you crave about.
If you so frequently quote Sardar Patel's name or claim to be of the same community, please remember one more thing.
Sardar Patel could have been the best prime minister India did not have. He did not choose to sulk or to walk away. He performed so brilliantly in leaving behind him a permanent legacy of one India, United India. That was achieved through his power of perseverance and patience, most importantly, politics with principles.
Dear reader, I took liberty to send previous two weeks as I see it column to the leaders of PAAS in Gujarat, with a covering letter in Gujarati. Informed all of them about the public meeting on Sunday 13th September (details as followed) in London. I've invited five persons from PAAS and offered them hospitality in London for three days.
My message to India has been of some help, if I may say so. While Patels in England, especially London, assemble on Sunday at the Patidar House, 22 London Road, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 7EX, a larger group of Patels and others, a few hundred of them are going to meet at a Chintan Shibir (a think tank) meeting, at Umiya Campus in Ahmedabad to look ahead for a more peaceful and all inclusive approach to this thorny problem.
I'm also grateful to all those who wrote to me (some 29 persons) in the last ten days, giving me their views and advice on this subject. To those three persons who do not agree with me and who are "in a fighting mode", I would say thank you, but I cannot agree with you. As I said in the previous two weeks, dialogue is the only way ahead. To others, I really appreciate that broadly speaking, though they (like me) feel that the present quota reservation regime is wrong, violence is not the way ahead.
All those who could come are heartily invited to the premises of the Patidar House, who have provided the venue (the auditorium capacity of 240). I request all those who are concerned about this subject, irrespective of caste, please come and let us deliberate calmly and constructively.
My friends in India are aware of our meeting here in London and they already know that we will convey them our message at the earliest. Patel is a global diaspora and we here in Great Britain, have some role and responsibility for out kith and kin, in Gujarat and India.
I have conveyed to our friends, Hardik Patel and Lalji Patel and others, in a long piece in Gujarati that please cool off. We are with you as long as you are peaceful, non violent and not involved in any activity which could dislodge us from the path of Prosperity, Peace and Harmony in India.
Let me end up with excerpts from a communication I received from one of my readers on 6th September. All such communications are quoted without their names.
PATIDAR UNREST IN GUJARAT
Irving Kristol’s words published as a quote for the month of September 2015 (AV/GS calendar)
‘Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions – it only guarantees equality of opportunity’
These words have relevance to what is happening in Gujarat.
The reservation/quota system in India is a positive discrimination policy. Positive discrimination attempts to create ‘equality of conditions’ and does not work because it defines a person’s identity and achievements from the perspective of a perceived weakness. It is detrimental to the very person it is supposed to help. Every single achievement is attributed to the fact that this person was given a special advantage because of a perceived weakness regardless of their natural ability and talent. Every single failure is attributed to a perceived weakness and hence excused. This only serves to stifle personal aspiration and creates a self-perpetuating trap.
The trigger for the boiling frustration of young people leading to the formation of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samity (PAAS) is that India the world’s largest democracy does not come anywhere near, never mind guarantee, ‘equality of opportunity’ and tap into the talents of this aspiring generation.
The aspiring generation of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samity (PAAS) need to be clear about what their goals are and exactly what they are asking for from the government. By demanding reservation status they have severely limited their chances of achieving a solution that will meet their aspirations; that is equality in opportunity in education and employment.
The government for their part should welcome the aspirations of this generation with open arms because it is their talent that will take India towards becoming a fully fledged democracy. Instead of wasting time effort and energy on telling these young people that their demands cannot be met because of legal and constitutional reasons, it is time to develop fresh initiatives to ensure ‘equality of opportunity’ in education and employment for everyone regardless of their birth, background, socio-economic status or whatever other category it is possible to invent. For any fresh initiatives to succeed, it would be essential to ensure that there are inbuilt systems for vigilance so that corruption does not take hold.
If the government succeeds in developing a system that ensures ‘equality of opportunity’ in education and employment for all its citizens regardless of background (or any other category) then the reservation/quota system will die a natural death as people will begin to see the advantages of being defined by one’s natural talents rather than any bureaucratic classification.
-CB
Email Smita: [email protected]or Kamal Rao: [email protected] for more information about the meeting on Sunday 13th September.
