The interview nowhere discusses the main issue in the title. When did reservations start in India?
It is wrong to say the reservation was first started by the British. In fact it is part and parcel of Hindu society since time immemorial. The Hindu society is divided into watertight compartments as far as professions or means of earning livelihood are concerned. It is certainly not based on merit. It is the western education and thinking/ideas which has softened the division. Any way what is the basis of untouchability? Certainly merit is not the answer. The death of meritocracy?
The very basis of division,casteism, in Hindu society is the death of meritocracy. It is certainly not based on merit or economic condition. At that time, why didn't they think of economic factors as the criterion for backwardness? It was simply that the people were not denied their legitimate rights on the basis of their economic condition.
The original idea was to continue this reservation for just ten years. They thought things would change in that period. Reservation which was meant for just ten years has been going on for nearly 60 years.
The reason was not altogether vote-bank based politics. In
