As the man who transformed in Bharat's electoral practices, I am astonished that he thinks reservation is a rather unimportant abuse.
This is rather less surprising for the simple reason that though he checked the most blatent abuse of the electoral process using his administrative abilities, he could do little to change politics itself. In that sense he is not very well qualified to pass judgement on the politics that is being practiced. Reservation is one sympton of the deep malaise that afflicts Bharat's politics. Those are things Sheshan was unable to change or cure.
The very many young people who have looked up to him for his great achievements are going to be disappointed at his comments. I agree with them that the way reservation has been used as a political tool exposes the bankruptcy of Bharat's politics. This politics has entrenched false promises when delivery when the proper exercise of a true democracy would aim to deliver the required places in Bharat's institutions. One writer has commented that Seshan's Bhraminical backround inclines him to a politics that constrains any other caste from challenging the Bhramins supposed supremacy, hence reservations has served them well enough. Politics should rise above the politics of caste, and reservation is the pillar that ensures it stays at its heart. I agree with the students that their admission should entirely on the merits. It requires a fundamental channge in institutions to ensure this.
