Souptik and Shyamal are two close friends. They studied together from the nursery. They are almost identical in terms of their merits. They had the same goal, becoming a doctor. But due to unavoidable circumstances, they had had to choose their own way. Now, Souptik is pursuing his B.Tech from a private engineering college and Shyamal is completing his MBBS from a government medical college. The lockdown having been declared, they came home. They had been so busy during their college days that they did not even get enough time to call each other up. They could only text. Now, with more free time on their hands, they decided to meet each other one day.
After discussing film, music, politics, etcetera, the conversation trespassed into a different zone that they had not expected. It all started with an offhand remark.
Souptik says, “If I had a quota, I would surely get a chance in medicine. You’re so lucky, Shyam.”
Shyamal giggles awkwardly and says, exhaling deeply, “I might have been luckier than you at least in this regard.”
Souptik replies, “Listen, bro, you’re so fortunate to be in this category. Despite getting the same marks, I wasn’t eligible for any scholarship schemes in which you were eligible. You guys have to pay lesser exam fees than us. You will be getting chances in competitive exams with low cut-off marks. There are so many instances like this I can easily point out to you right now that you actually can’t deny.”
Shyamal says, “No. There is no question of denying what you have said and I probably couldn’t even if I wanted to. But don’t you even think why our government has to put up this peculiar signboard in front of our society? There must be some reason.”
Souptik says, with confidence, “I know all the things happening around with Dalits. I also read and watch the news. But just think one thing: is this completely justified to all the people who come under this reservation system?”
“Hmm…I understand your concern. I already told you earlier I can’t throw your points out.” Shyam hesitates, but continues, “I heard from my grandmother that my great grandfather had to fight against the elites of the society at that time. Our financial condition was much poorer than now. In the prevailing feudalism of the time, the zamindars didn't give the farmers, whose sweat and blood had yielded crops, their fair share of the profits. In many cases, it was bonded labour. You may think I'm telling you a complete cock and bull story. But it is fact and it will remain so."
Souptik said in a husky voice, "I all know about the hardships you went through. But times have changed, many other aspects have come into the picture. Do you think all lower-class people are very poor and being socially humiliated every day? I know many SC, ST families, socially and economically well-established, have a handsome government job, two-storeyed house, personal vehicle and social dignity as well."
Shyam with a smile, "Once upon a time someone asked me: “if Ambedkar were Bramhin, then?” I would agree 100%, provided that you say there must be some rules and regulations to be in the reservation system so that the people from other castes would get the proper chances they are worthy of."
Souptik said, nodding his head, said, "Yes I agree with you, bruh!"
Shyam asked him hesitatingly, "Can you confirm that our society will accept all the lower class people freely? Will the distinction line fade away soon? Can they get a fistful of justice all the time?"
Souptik said, "Maybe I can't answer your questions. But I believe in equality and equity. Something has to be changed, amended."
Shyam said, “We have more stories, discussions to share but now it’s time to have something. Soup, do you wanna have soup? Hahaha…” The word punning lightens the ambience a bit but the conversation continues afterward.
This is a random tête-à-tête between two youngsters who are busier in the virtual world than in the real one. But they are well aware of what has been happening around them. They both live with their beliefs and perceptions. They live in a society where injustice and inequality has reached untenable heights. Where an IIT professor falls prey to casteism and another dishes it out, where the mob beats a Dalit on the mere suspicion of theft, where innumerable women belonging to minority communities get physically assaulted, raped, where we give more importance to one’s surname rather than to that person, where politics is amalgamated with religion, where we are constantly being brainwashed by various elements and a lot more. I don’t want to cite any data or statistics here.
So, the thing is it is very tough to simply surgically remove casteism and discrimination from our Indian society. A so-called developed country like the US is still struggling to end discrimination even after centuries of independent existence; our journey has, historically, only just begun? It will need time and a lot of understanding to make society unorthodox. We should think of it as a revolution that takes a long time. Equality will only be served to everyone, provided that the oppression of particular sections of society dies out forever and the exploitation of this crisis by the people who are just opportunists for the sake of their caste should be curbed at the same time.
The opinions expressed in this piece are solely the author's own and do not necessarily represent the views of the website.
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