The NewSense

11 March, 2010

HUBLI: Some men parliamentarians are fighting over women’s quota bill against ruling government but the UPA government has already passed this bill in Rajyasabha with the support of major opposition parties like BJP and left. No political party has rejected this bill straight away. Though some of them did ask for some amendments, no body dared to oppose this bill. After all every parliamentarian (men) fears women in their domestic constituency (home). But one thing is true, once this bill is passed and implemented in the coming elections; only then these men politicians feel the heat of women quota. Today they are more than pleased in passing this bill in the house. But the day their constituency gets reserved for women they really feel the pinch. The total political scenario of the country will change once this bill is implemented and next 5-7 years of politics of India is interesting to watch. I am not sure to what extent this bill helps women but democratically it gives them good opportunity. But the practical problems of this bill will surface only once it is implemented and hence one can really watch out 2014 elections. We have first women president and first women loksabha speaker. And the president of the ruling party is also a women and even the opposition party leader is women. What better political environment was needed for passing this bill? But one thing is certain may be from 30-40 years from now people will really question this move and don’t get surprised if the bill is withdrawn in the next generation elections.

Let us hope at least now the nation will start developing as women take more responsibility in the countries administration. It is said that a woman’s mind is cleaner than a man’s because they change their mind quite often. I hope this will also bring change in the Indian political arena and wish to see a clean politics in the country once 33% of reservation is implemented. The men’s game of politics is over and now it is women who are going to score in the Indian parliament. Any how they are wiser than men because they know less and understand more. And once they understand the politics of India with mere 33% reservation they can rule the nation. Congratulations to every woman of India on this historical event. I don’t know whether you deserved it or not but you have got it now and I know you are going to flaunt it also.

For a common man who is not so politically active, it does not make much difference with this bill. But some where in the remote corner of his mind it hurts. You can say it as male chauvinism. But one can’t help it and alone can’t fight it. My sincere worry is whether women will be able to utilize this bill for good cause? Are they able to exercise their right as elected member without the influence of men? Do we in India have enough potential women leaders to cater 33% reservation? Let us wait till next election, things will become much clearer or complicated by that time.

And for a common woman of this country what benefit this bill is going to be. Most of our women believe in Indian traditions and busy with their daily house hold life. They hardly have any political knowledge and majority of them are not even able to understand what 33% reservation means for them. Common women would have been more pleased if they would have been allowed 33% discount on sarees and cosmetic purchase rather than political reservation. Any way it is boon for women if they use it properly otherwise their husbands will use it for their political benefit. It is up to women now to make merry of this law and men will be at their mercy once the law is implemented.

Once the women quota bill is passed in loksabha and 33% reservation is granted for women, do you think reservation business is over? No never. India is democratic country and it keeps introducing one or the other reservation bills once in a five years. This will go on till the last seat in loksabha is reserved. In Indian democracy you need to be reserved not to be deserved. Here your caliber and intelligence is of no use as long as you are not under reservation group. Just wait for some time we will have quota within quota in women 33% reservation and then one fine day we may come across reservation for minorities, reservation of converted people, reservation for ex-service men, reservation for the families of victims of terrorism, reservation for the flood victims, reservation for people who have suffered from racial attacks, reservation for NRI’s.etc..etc. The whole democratic system gets reserved one day and people who are democratically reserved will survive. As long as people in India keep accepting such reservation schemes without any agitation, politicians keep introducing such bills for their political benefit. Even after 60 years of independence if we seek reservation then something is basically wrong with our system. And if the system either it is political or non political is run by the people who are chosen by reservation not by the merit, such system in non productive and it will never benefit the country. Merit should be the only criteria for the selection. These reservation bills further divide India into different segments rather than uniting the country. Believe me very shortly we are going to have reservation for gay people and don’t get surprised if there is quota of 33% for lesbians within the gay quota. It is not a laughing matter any more. It is the impotency of the people to accept every kind of reservation in India. If there is going to be any reservation for impotency in the future then majority of us are eligible for it. We are the people who are responsible for present status of our country.