The need of the day in India is to encourage more 'deserved' than 'reserved'

India, and especially Gujarat and its large community of Patels, have recently been in the limelight, but for the wrong reasons. On 25th August the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samity (PAAS) organised a huge rally of about a million young people in the heart of Ahmedabad. The speeches were relayed worldwide via TV and social media, initially creating enormous excitement and some justifiable concerns about the anomalies in reservation quotas in place for government jobs and at educational institutes. 
What begun peacefully turned violent at about 7:50pm when police raided the Dias and detained Hardik Patel. There were only about 500 people present on the ground and, with no electricity generator on site, it was dark. Suddenly, thanks to social media, the entire state of Gujarat erupted in violent protest and within a few hours, amidst a sea of destruction and damage, 10 people were dead including one policeman. People throughout Gujarat, all over India and the Indian diaspora abroad have been shocked and shamed with this ugly turn of events. 
British Indians, especially of Gujarati origin, have been expressing their views through Asian voice and Gujarat Samachar and our comments and news coverage in the 29th August issue are full of what I would call a sensible approach under enormous strain. I personally took the initiative to write to the chief minister of Gujarat, the leaders of various protest groups, the media in Ahmedabad, as well as Patel community leaders in India, UK, USA etc. A public meeting was held on 13 September in the UK and a detailed report including an 8 point resolution plan was published in our papers.
Today, when I write this, I am happy that PM Narendra Modi has completed his visit to USA and the mass rousing reception he received everywhere in east Coast especially in San Jose, illustrates the hope, confidence, calibre and commitment of the overseas Indians. Thanks to efforts of my old friend Ramesh Patel of New York, the trip was not overshadowed by the terrible events in Gujarat, and thankfully sanity is prevailing. 
The chief minister has sent me a six page letter which has been widely distributed and Anandiben Patel and her ministers have held several meetings with concerned groups. The Gujarat government has conceived a new plan to help bright students based on economic criteria rather than focussing on caste, and initial feedback to the plan has been favourable. 
The prime minister Modi has also made very measured and welcoming comments, which have helped to assuage the feeling of discrimination and hurt of high caste Hindus. Significantly, Shri Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the RSS has reiterated his plea for the revision of the reservation policy. Of course, this has not prevented opportunistic comments from other parties keen to take advantage of any discomfort for the BJP led governments of India or Gujarat. It is deeply disturbing that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, described by Hardik as a part of the Patidar community, has been trying to pour oil in the fire. 
Last Saturday he kicked off his grand alliances campaign for the first phase of the Bihar state election with some dramatic statements, claiming that the BJP is manoeuvring to scrap the reservation quota policy which is a 'fundamental right given by our forefathers'. An experienced and capable politician of Nitish's calibre should have refrained from provocative and incorrect statements. Bihar, as well as India, needs economic and social development and division and caste warfare will not only delay development but could damage the fabric of the Indian society. 
India is still backward because some selfish politicians encourage 'reserved' more than 'deserved'. If the need is to focus on quality rather than quantity than it’s vital to give a chance to merit based enrolment in education as well as government services. The sensible way forward is to develop a system which helps those at the bottom of society escape the centuries old policy of discrimination and exploitation, and to define a fairer, more just set of criteria for determining need.
Access to jobs, education and economic betterment for all of society, as explained eminently by Hasmukh Vasava - himself from ST and a top class managerial spokesperson - has expressed in his column last week, should be considered urgently and with due care and compassion. The general opinion is clear: the present reservation and quota system should be abolished because it's associated with caste and not economic necessity. It was supposed to end 60 years ago, but politicians for their own selfish reasons and short term benefits have kept extending its practise.
I genuinely appreciate the British Indian community, whatever be the caste have taken a correct and bold step, inspired our brethren in India and the USA. 
Welcome NaMo
In 5 weeks time PM Modi will come all the way to UK to celebrate Diwali with us. In recognition of the significance of this trip and it’s timing, there is enormous excitement up and own the country. Wembley stadium will be packed not only with British Indians but several contingents from various parts of Europe, Africa and elsewhere. London has a special place not only on the global stage, but also as a focus of the Indo-British relationship which is over 400 years old and grows stronger every day. 
Approximately one in six Londoners are of Indian origin, with about a million people living in London. Wembley stadium can accommodate only 70,000. What a pity. Welcome PM Modi. I have always publicly said since 20th August 2003 when, as chief minister of Gujarat Narendrabhai Modi inaugurated Shakti hall in our offices, that next time you should visit UK only at the invitation of the British government. I am really very delighted that fate has embodied my faith. Welcome Narendrabhai. Enjoy Diwali with us and let there be bountiful and manifold successes for both our countries as a result of your visit.