THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
In a truly equal society, progress for one group would be celebrated by all. Yet, history shows that whenever marginalized communities begin to rise, social conflict almost always follows. As Dr. B.R. Ambedkar famously pointed out, the dominant groups in society are rarely disturbed by the suffering of the oppressed; they are disturbed when the oppressed demand equality. Conflict does not start when people are kept down—it starts the moment they begin to stand up.
“It is your claim to equality which hurts them. Thev want to maintain the status quo. If vou continue to accept vou lowlv status ungrudgingly, continue to remain dirty, filthy, backward, ignorant, poor and disunited, they vou to live in peace. The moment you to rise vour level. the conflict starts. – Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar”
This dynamic explains why the debate over India’s reservation (affirmative action) system remains so intense. Critics of reservations, such as commentator Arun Shourie, often argue for an end to quotas in the name of “merit” and efficiency. They suggest that because caste discrimination is officially illegal on paper, everyone should compete on equal terms. However, this perspective overlooks a fundamental truth: paper laws do not instantly erase centuries of social privilege.
When critics focus purely on test scores and professional qualifications, they treat social advantage as individual talent. A student from a dominant caste often inherits family wealth, elite social networks, and superior educational access. A marginalized student often lacks all three. Calling this a “level playing field” ignores the massive head start that privilege provides. To dismantle quotas without first dismantling the hidden advantages of caste is to lock in inequality while calling it fairness.
This issue becomes even more complex when viewed through the lens of political ideologies like Hindutva. While such movements aim to unite all Hindus under a single religious identity, they face an internal contradiction. Admitting that caste oppression is still alive and growing threatens the idea of a unified society. As a result, mainstream political discourse often tries to downplay internal caste divisions, treating the system of reservations—rather than the caste system itself—as the source of division.
Ultimately, genuine equality cannot be measured by what the law says on paper, but by how power and opportunity are distributed in real life. Pushback against marginalized groups is not a sign that affirmative action has failed; it is proof that the old status quo is being challenged. Until the social barriers that keep people oppressed are fully dismantled, tools like reservations remain essential for building a truly just society.
Reference
1.https://www.boloji.com/articles/7046/deadly-enemies-of-merit-and-excellence–iii?hl=en
2.https://scroll.in/article/1022716/how-arun-shourie-was-wrong-about-vp-singh-narendra-modi-and-br-ambedkar?hl=en
3.Worshipping False Gods, Arun Shourie
