Sun is rising as usual in the east .I am standing here outside the
school, waiting for my 10 yr kid. He studies is class 2.Only this year he
could get admission into the school. For the last 5 yrs admissions were
closed for the general category students.
School bell rings. I can see a lot of happy children coming out of the
gate, I waited for half an hour and my kid came at last after other
children. General students are not allowed to cross the gate unless other
OBC/SC/ST students have crossed the gates.
OBC/SC/ST fathers drive away their children in classy cars. But I have
to walk back home with my kid a 5km stretch. I lost my car some years
back when Govt. came with a rule that general people have to deposit a
tax equal to cost of their cars .Failing which I had to sell the car.
As far as buses are concerned, the seats in buses are reserved for
OBC/SC/ST. So no place there also. After walking some 5km in scorching heat
I finally reached home. It was Wednesday ... shit no electricity. Every
mon, wed, thu, sat is power cut in the houses of General category
population So that SC/ST/OBC can be uplifted by providing them with every
opportunity and in that consideration electricity is an important factor.
Its 10:00 pm in night no electricity at home. It's very hot inside the
four walls of home .So I dare to step out in park with my wife and kid.
I seated myself with my family on a secluded bench in garden. It was
hardly 5 min. a guard came to us strolling in the park. He asked me what
caste you belong to. I said with some hesitation. G..General. He asked
me to pay a fine of Rs.200 and get out of the park. My Fault... The
bench I was sitting on was meant for again the SC/ST/OBC. For their
upliftment peace of mind is on essential things. So govt came with this
decision to Reserve benches for them. Kudos to them...
It's early in the morning ...the newspaper wala just knocked the door.
I took the newspaper and started reading, its independence day. I never
used to forget these days some 20 yrs back. My kid hardly knows w h at
15th august is, because I never told him any stories of greatness of
our country or anything rel ated to country. I don't feel like telling
him the failures after freedom.
On front page of newspaper, in a corner there is a news about a OBC
member getting 6 months imprisonment in "BAL SUDHAR GRAHA" from a juvenile
court for murdering a six year old girl .Yes the rules have
been amended ,since the last 5 years. The Culprit was a 25 year old OBC
so age relaxation was provided for trial of crime. So he was taken to
juvenile court, since there is an age relaxation for OBC/SC/ST.
About 11 am some one gave me the BAD news about demise of one of my
neighbor and friend Mr.Mehta. I went to his house for condolence next day;
his body was lying there still rotting in the heat. I asked his son
about the Cremation .His son told me "Many reserved category have died
yesterday so we are not getting entry to cremation ground" . This rule is
the latest from Govt. Where the seats in cremation ground will be
reserved for SC/ST/OBC for their upliftment.
Finally next day Mehta ji was cremated. I could see sun seeing through
the Flames burning a liberated Body, liberated from caste n creed. I
was surprised sun still sets in the west?
It was about 9 pm, I was about to sleep in my bed my son came to me
with innocence in his eyes, inquisitively he asked me the question what is
reservation?
I asked him where u listened that he suddenly burst in tears.. I asked
him to keep... quiet but i could listen through his sobs "mujhe bhi
reservation chahiye (i too want reservation)".
How can I convince him it's no other toy in the market I can get for
him?
He kept cryin g that night, claiming many of "his classmates have got
reservation".
To make him quiet I said ok; ill buy you reservation at your next
Birthday . HOPE he understands the bloody concept soon.
Bye Bye India
An ode to the unknown soldier
8 years ago
