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As a 9-year old in 1989 & throughout the 90s, I believed that reservations are stealing our (savarna Hindu) jobs & medical/engineering entrance seats.
I was wrong.
[My new piece] https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/reservation-vinod-kambli-dalits-varun-grover-6501257/
I was wrong.
[My new piece] https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/reservation-vinod-kambli-dalits-varun-grover-6501257/
The Vinod Kambli incident in 1993 didn't change my views immediately but with more reading over the years (Om Prakash Valmiki's Joothan especially) and real life interactions, the various myths propagated about Dalits in savarna-circles started to crumble.
A Dalit Prof told me a savarna support staff member in his University still doesn't greet him back when he says 'good morning' to him. He responds to everyone else except him - the only Dalit faculty member in that department.
And they have been in the dept together for 20-yrs!
And they have been in the dept together for 20-yrs!
Did the improved 'financial staus' of the professor save him from this discrimination?
Did the improved financial status and 'merit' of the Cisco Employee in San Jose, USA save him from being discriminated against by his two savarna bosses? https://www.news18.com/news/india/cisco-case-tip-of-iceberg-us-based-dalits-worry-over-export-of-indian-caste-system-2698369.html
Did the improved financial status and 'merit' of the Cisco Employee in San Jose, USA save him from being discriminated against by his two savarna bosses? https://www.news18.com/news/india/cisco-case-tip-of-iceberg-us-based-dalits-worry-over-export-of-indian-caste-system-2698369.html
Baloo Palwankar - our top cricketer in the 1900-1910 - was made to sit outside pavilions during the tea breaks of matches he'd win for his team.
Kambli faced slurs by his own countrymen.
Cisco employee is harassed by his own countrymen - while they all live in a foreign land.
Kambli faced slurs by his own countrymen.
Cisco employee is harassed by his own countrymen - while they all live in a foreign land.
There's a thread running through all this. 1905-1993-2020 - there's a strong resistance to let the oppressive power (a nasty privilege, yes) go.
Sadly, reservation is still the most divisive, triggering issue for savarna folks, mainly because of the myths around it.
Sadly, reservation is still the most divisive, triggering issue for savarna folks, mainly because of the myths around it.
Thanks to @surajyengde for asking me to write it, hand-holding through the edits, and sharing space on his column Dalitality. I know getting this space is again a function of my privilege. I hope it makes some fellow savarnas see through the conditioning. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/reservation-vinod-kambli-dalits-varun-grover-6501257/
