If only you would let us forget it

Dear
Mr Prime Minister

I am a 17 year old boy. Living in one of the big metropolitan cities of India. This year I gave my 10+2 exams and secured 90% marks. I was really happy with my performance. My dream of studying in top universities seemed very close. I put in my application for the college I always wanted to study in. I was sure of getting through with such good marks. The list came out and my name was not on it. I was devastated, all the nights I had spent studying hard seemed like a waste.

My next door neighbour who is of same age as me. Came in to give the happy news that he has gotten an admit in the same college I had applied to. But how I asked because he had only 50% marks in his boards.

Someone told me because he belonged to a lower caste he had a quota in all the colleges in India. Which meant that he could get admission even if he had less marks. He went to the same school as me. His father is a govt servant same as mine. We went to the same tuition classes. Then why should he get special status. Apparently my upper caste forefathers had done injustice to his forefathers. Reservations was a way to compensate for the sins of my ancestors.

For the first time in 17 years he felt inferior to me. Call it my resentment of not being able to make it to the same college....In spite of getting way more marks but every time I saw him I had a feeling of hate. Every time we met I felt like I was higher than him and though he dint show it... I am sure he felt lower.

So you see Mr Prime Minister from being equals we moved up and down. All thanks to reservations. And its kinda funny because reservations was a way to bring equality in Indian society.

If you really want to bring equality.. then teach them how to walk with honour instead of making them feel crippled by giving them crutches..

The modern.. young India will forget castesim if only you would let us forget it....