Divisive matters!

This blog has, through its pages, been unequivocal that although reservations for the disadvantaged per se is not a bad idea, identifying the disadvantaged on the basis of commune or faith is a retrograde one, and one that deserves to be sent to no other place but the dustbin. Affirmative action loses its meaning when it becomes a sort of divisive mechanism, pitting people against their compatriots. And this is the danger that India faces today.
The Sachar Commission, appointed by the Prime Minister to evaluate the social, economic, and educational status of Muslims in India, has made its submissions, and from early reports, one comes to the conclusion that Muslims are just one step away from having distinct reservations, or at best reservations within the current scheme for themselves. I scarcely expect that any legislation brought about as a response to this commission's recommendations would stand in the eyes of the judiciary, but then politicians are politicians.
Firstly, that a secular state should differentiate amongst its people on the basis of their faith is a most puzzling irony, and that too when its Constitution affirms through

• Article 14: The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
• Article 15(1): The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, or any of them.
• Article 16(1): There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State.

Let it be proven that, as in the case of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes, there exists a bias in the minds of recruiters, when it comes to the Muslim commune. If no such bias exists, then the issue cannot be hoped to be resolved merely by reserving seats for them at educational institutions and at organizations under the State. If the commune remains woefully inadequate as regards to education, social status and economic status, then it would be worthwhile to look first at what the commune itself is doing to alleviate its problems, and whether these measures, instituted by the commune, are effective, and display an inherent desire of the commune to improve its lot.
Let this not be seen as a tirade against Muslims. I have always supported reservations, but only when the guiding principle is economic status. That a rich man is capable to getting all facilities made available to him in this modern age, irrespective of his caste or faith, is a given fact. I would not like to believe that all Muslims or rather a majority of Muslims are so deprived that only reservations can provide them succor.

Should there be a bias, then the Constitution provides those afflicted by such a bias a strong weapon, that being

• Article 29(2): No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.

Moreover, even under the Constitution, reservation was never viewed as an infinite process.

• Article 334 clearly states that reservation of seats in legislative bodies and special representation shall cease to have effect on the expiration of a period of fifty years from the commencement of the Constitution.

So basically what we would end up doing by granting Muslims or any other religious commune reservations solely on the basis of their religion would be to give them temporary crutches, which in no manner whatsoever would alleviate their problems, or resolve their issues. Once a man is given crutches to lean on, and is also made to believe that these crutches are his sole alternative, and without them, he would surely fall, even if his feet were to be able, this man would not be amenable to giving up his crutches.
The basic issue is not so much of ensuring fast development of a commune; it concerns the long-term progress of a people, a people who form an intrinsic part of this nation. Any piecemeal solution to their problems would only go to aggravate matters, only to further deepen the malaise. Let better judgment prevail!