Caste discrimination on the basis of the practice of untouchability was the older form of the discrimination, but in today’s world, we face it in the walk of everyday life while applying for colleges to getting certain jobs. A quote that was given for uplifting those who faced high discrimination in earlier times now bites us back when those who are privileged enough use the quota to get ahead of others even when we know that some others who did not get in were a lot more deserving. Quotas on the basis of economic background and for people with disabilities makes a lot of sense, they deserve the opportunity. But to have to face someone who knows that the minimum score will get them a freer pass while the rest of us work so very hard is not acceptable in today’s society. 

Quite obviously, like in all cases, there are a few exceptions. There always will be those who do have the merit and for that very reason are there where they are irrespective of a quota to further help them. However, these are the people who would even make-do without the quotas. So, why are the premier institutes of our countries like IITs and IIMs still endorsing in quota system when the rest of the country is striving to get into them? These are the places which should admit only those students who have that merit and capability to get the top ranks in JEE Advanced or top 1-2 percentile in CAT.

Below you’ll see the cutoffs for IIM-A ranging from the years 2000-2013. Notice the cutoffs for the general category and compare it with the rest. If you were of the general category, putting as much effort as possible and going crazy to get admission in this institute, and then you were faced by someone from a well-established family with half the merit that you have and is arrogant that their caste certificate will do wonders for them (I’ve personally known such people), would you deep down like to let them have that free pass? Of course not, because today they are not faced by some kind of discrepancy to get sympathy and as a result of easier access, it is not relevant in today’s world.

Even if they do get in, what about when they are sitting in a classroom full of hardworking students who have the primary knowledge of what the professor is speaking about? They need full help to cope and they would grow frustrated and wonder why they took such a chance to damn themselves. It also creates a discrepancy for the teachers as they are unable to cater to all the students alike. Perhaps because of this very reason, at some point teachers realized that you cannot help everyone even if you wish to and so they decided to keep up with the level of education that they are required to impart. 

When it comes to primary education, it is the duty of the government to ensure the same and they have been doing so. But, when it comes to higher education, how does it make sense? The form of discrimination may change but it does not get erased with economic status, that being said, the brightest to fight alongside the brightest, irrespective of what caste they belong to is the only fair that should be made available for an equal ecosystem. Reservation would not provide the solution to that.