Monday, August 17, 2009

Trivial Luxuries

The Supreme court of India has given yet another controversial judgment on August 12th asking IIT-D to withdraw its stand on expelling the under-performers from the institute which is a tradition since the beginning. The decision surfaced after five students belonging to the SC/ST category were expelled on the basis of creamy layer concept.
IIT's are known for their excellence in providing an authentic technical education to cream of the students in the country apart from their contribution in taking the Nation to new heights time and now.Pandit Nehru in his first convocation address in 1956 said "Here in the place of that Hijli Detention Camp stands the fine monument of India, representing India's urges,India's future in the making. this picture seems to me symbolical of the changes that are coming to India." But had he been alive now, would he still stand by his words quoted above??, well let's not focus on his would have been answer now. It has definitely been a long journey for the IIT's ever since their inception, and they have set the standards of technical education which are at par with the Ivy league institutions of the world. Students always take pride in introducing themselves as IITians, they made INDIA proud and who can ever forget the famous IIT alumni like Vinod Gupta(founder InfoUSA Inc.),Mr. Duvvuri Subba Rao(Governor,RBI),Mr.Nandan Nilekani(former CEO,Infosys technologies),Chetan Bhagat(author) and list goes unending. They have made their mark in every field across the globe.
The introduction of the reservation system has definitely done some good for the backward classes but it has many demerits. The OBC reservation has also had an egregious impact on the student community. Reservation for the faculty in IIT's based on caste is an incorrigible mistake on the part of the government, nevertheless reservation is a Precision Weapon in the politician's armory.
Rhetorically, providing reservation for the entry into IIT's is itself a mistake when students really strive for getting through the JEE on the basis of merit. Enabling the backward classes to pursue the education by providing them basic amenities like education, food and money is a tangible solution. Let's not discuss over the issue which is a never-ending debate. Recently, a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan said, “These socially and economically backward categories are to be taken care of at every stage even in specialised institutions like IITs.” in response to the expulsion of SC/ST students on the creamy layer principle,which in turn envisages the support to under-performers. This judgment can never be welcomed by any individual, when the Apex court gives a green signal, who else can actually challenge it's decision?
This decision might well stave off the burden of struggling at IIT's but the plight of such students after passing out of the institute is dubious. These are paltry luxuries provided at the stake of the institution's reputation.

God save India

1 comment:

  1. good one... I hope the Apex court will atleast now reconsider its verdict... This is an issue of National Interest. Now the SC, ST students will become more lazy...
    How can u expect them to study when they are being provided special privileges. Also other students may hold grudge against them. The Govt. should react.

    ReplyDelete