Unite Against Reservations

I am writing this blog because I came across a comment on Indian Express in response to P. Chidambaram's statement that India needs reservation. Some person commented that he agreed with PC and that uplifment of the "unconnected, underprivileged and disenfranchised masses" was the need of the hour -- or some crap like that.

I went to google.com and searched for .. disenfranchised, it means - deprived of the rights of citizenship especially the right to vote, and it got me thinking .. What disenfranchisement are they talking about?? aren't these the only sections of the society that choose to exercise their "enfranchisement" .. meaning they go out in hordes to vote .. that's why they are called "vote banks" and hence their appeasement and the term "vote bank politics".

Come to think of it .. Why do Indian politicians appease minority communities, backward classes and ignore the majority?? it doesn't make sense .. does it? Where in the world does this happen?? Its insane. The reason, however, is simple .. they are a clearly defined section of society .. which politicians "know" will act in a certain manner .. either you have their votes or you don't .. its binary .. period. Essentially these sections of society enable politicians to win elections.

Take election day for e.g. during election day there are parties going on in their localities, biryani is served, there are special busses and trucks sent out to ferry voters to polling station. How many times have you been taken to a polling station?? We treat the day off for election day as any other holiday, and much rather be lounging on the sofa nursing a cold beer and think -- kya ho raha hai desh ka??

For all practical purposes, we are out of the political process in the country .. and we are suffering. It is common sense, if you were a politician .. wouldn't you invest your time, money and efforts on winning?? Where would you place your bets?? a minority whose 100 votes you can count on provided you do certain things or a majority which might have a 1000 votes but its all Russian Roulette -- its anyone's guess who they will vote for?? Think about this as Marketing 101.

As the middle class .. our downside is, we are fragmented and politicians don't know what they need to do to appease us. If you look at it .. the middle class is screwed from all directions .. hell why should the salaried middle class pay income taxes when a majority of the country cheats on theirs and an even greater number does not even file?? Do they think we are stupid??

Most of the senior leaders belong to upper castes or are very rich, they don't care a hoot about the minorities nor about backward classes and they care less about you .. the middle class. All their children study abroad, and don't need to work .. politicians make enough in one life time to feed their next seven generations.

I call upon the educated masses of India to come out and vote to throw out the parties who patronize these so called "vote banks", isn't that what democracy all about guys?? Stop whimpering with pithy comments on message boards .. it'll get us nowhere .. let's pick up the gauntlet and fight

I implore all the educated people of India -- to go out there and cast their votes during the next elections -- give the politicians what they need most -- and they will sing your tune.

I know .. there is not one we can vote for .. I wish someone could request Narayan Murthy to form a political party, he will have my wholehearted support and millions more.

But till that happens .. we need to do something in the interim .. play with what we have.

The plan is simple and I don't take credit for coming up with it either. Some time back I received an email related to how gas companies in the US would bump up prices at the pump during the summer knowing fully well that people will travel during summer and buy gas no matter what the price. The idea was to pick up one Gas company and buy only from those pumps .. yes, you will pay the high prices at that company's pump but guess what?? you are not giving your business to the rest. Basic economics follow, others will be forced to lower their price to attract your business and "theoretically" balance will be restored. Of course there are a number of operational challenges, which is why the plan probably never took off.

What if the same concept is applied to Indian politics?? The fact of the matter is -- no matter how much we crib -- the main issue is that as the "educated middle class" in India we are not significant in today's scheme of things for Indian politicians. As much strength we have in numbers we are not a clearly identified group nor do we act as one. How do we become a significant group in the eyes of politicians?? We need to help politicians help us and fight for us. The only way we can do it is by gate crashing the political process "Understand the system and beat it".

In the next election, let's choose a party, it could be any party for that matter, the smaller the better, ideology is immaterial, agenda is immaterial, person is immaterial, except for the fact that it should be a national party and make them win an election with our votes.

This party will get our vote regardless of their stand on reservation this time round, however we will vote for some other party if they don't appease us i.e. take a stand against reservation else we will vote for someone else next time round. By the next Lok sabha elections, see how this issue of reservation vanishes into thin air. Let's mete out some shock treatment.