Page 13 - The Indian EYE 091622

OP-ED SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 | The Indian Eye 13

The Queen’s stamp, caste quota

and Chinese media

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

hen he died a premature
death in 1952, George V’s
Whead graced not only the
stamps of the Old Dominions —
Canada, Australia and New Zealand
— but it also covered now-forgotten
territories such as Aden, Basutoland,
Southern and Northern Rhodesia,
the Ascension Island, British Guy-
ana and, of course, Zanzibar. India,
Ceylon and Ireland had departed
and South Africa was in a twilight
zone after 1948, but the red-colored
British Empire — the largest empire
in history — was still a living reality.
By the time she departed, there were
doubts whether Scotland would re-
main a part of the United Kingdom.
The territorial truncation was,
however, accompanied by a signifi-
cant enlargement of Blighty. During
the high noon of Empire, Great Brit-
ain was principally a white country The Indian flag at half-mast at Victoria Memorial as India pays tribute to Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II in Kolkata on Sunday (ANI)
with regional variations. As decol-
onization took shape, the Mother Jharkhand government’s decision employment and official schemes. online in China.
Country, or the mythical ‘Home’, to expand OBC reservation to 27% That’s true in a limited sense – be- The Chinese strategic communi-
became the favored destination of are part of a long list of additions cause the number of government jobs, ty and political leadership view Modi
large numbers of migrants from the to official backwardness classifica- seats in government education insti- as being politically astute in pursuing
Indian subcontinent, the West In- tions. These additions don’t always tutions and even welfare schemes India’s national interests by balancing
dies, different parts of Africa and, go smoothly, and they are also piling face hard budget constraints, and relations with major powers. Many in
of course, Ireland. In 1975, when up. Hattees’ demand for ST status relative to demand their availability China also believe that Beijing should
I first went to Britain, most of En- in HP is resented by Dalits in the re- is going down. So, more and more have pursued a similar balanced ap-
gland — apart from London — was gion. Gujjars in Rajasthan agitated castes end up fighting for a shrinking proach to the Ukraine conflict. Chi-
White; now, there are times you feel for ST status, driven by the grouse pie – while the one big truth about nese public opinion seems to be of
that English is the third language in that Meenas benefited from it. Now India’s socio-economic change in the view that the Indian government
parts of the Kingdom. Until the mid- they are slotted as MBCs in a 5% the last three decades is that reforms has been more successful than China
1980s, there wasn’t a Black or Asian bracket. Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s have pulled millions out of poverty. in convincing its public to support its
face in the House of Commons (al- OBC quota in local body elections -- Editorial, The Times of India position.
though three Parsee gentlemen won has been ratified by SC after the state It was a revelation to the Chinese
elections before 1945). Today, under satisfied the triple test laid down by Modi and media public that India could pull-off such
two consecutive Conservative prime the court to grant reservation. In the an intricate diplomatic manoeuvre in
ministers, the posts of home secretary south, Tamil Nadu has mastered this rime Minister Narendra Modi a heightened international crisis situ-
and chancellor of the exchequer have dubious game. and President Xi Jinping are ation. One consequence of this seems
been given to non-Whites. The pos- From the earlier formulation of Pmeeting for the first time in to be that many in China are begin-
itive aspect is the sense of inclusion; reservation as an exception to the the post-Covid world, at the 22nd ning to challenge the strongly-held
its negative feature is the creeping norm, the exception has begun to Council of Heads of State of the official view that India has already
overdose of Woke attitudes. dwarf the norm. EWS quota, cur- Shanghai Cooperation Organization aligned with the US to contain Chi-
rently before a constitution bench, at Samarkand, Uzbekistan. At least na. They notice India’s assertion of its
-- Swapan Dasgupta,
The Telegraph (India) tips central reservations well over the one reason why this meeting could strategic autonomy.
50% line. And it’s not just that 77% be happening is the visible change in -- M S Pratibha, The Indian Express
A shrinking pie of Jharkhand’s government jobs will Chinese public opinion about India,
now be in the reserved pool, many and especially Prime Minister Modi, Every week, we look at what the top
he Centre’s decision to grant states are similarly inching towards in the wake of India’s principled commentators in the Indian media are
ST status to the Hattee com- the 100% mark, leaving little for merit. stand on the Ukraine crisis. India’s talking about and bring to you a slice
Tmunity in poll-bound Him- Many see quotas as avenues eas- assertion of an independent foreign of their opinions and comments
achal Pradesh and the in-trouble ing their access to higher education, policy has generated much discussion

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