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How is it that what was explicitly forbidden by the Constitution-classification based on caste-has become the rule? How is it that what were enabling provisions have become mandatory minima? Where does the figure 50 per cent come from? How is it that in practice it is exceeded blatantly? Are the benefits not being hogged by a few, the better-off among these castes? Has the creamy layer been actually hived off? How is it that what were begun as reservations at entry became reservations in promotions also? How did this become a right to accelerated promotions? How did that become a right accelerated promotions with consequential seniority? How did that become a right to have the prescribed standards diluted-to the point of being waived altogether? Even in educational institutions. Is this any way to become a knowledge super-power?

As there has been no caste-wise enumeration and tabulation since the 1931 Census, where does this mythical figure-OBCs are 52 per cent of the population come from? And what did the 1931 Census itself say about its caste-wise figures?

The race then was to get one’s group recognized as a higher caste. How has it become a race to get it anointed as backward? Are the backward castes, the weak ones who need protection and special privileges? Are they not the dominant, and domineering castes? Who is most responsible for atrocities on barijans?

How have the Courts come to acquiesce in such wholesale perversion of he Constitution? Is their role to cheer such perversion on? Or is it to conserve, to protect the Constitution?

Where will this process end? Has it not already enfeebled the State structure? Has it not already riven our society? Has it not subverted parliamentary democracy? Has Pandit Nehru’s warning not come true-that This way lies not only folly, but disaster?

With trenchant evidence from the Archives of the 1930s and 40s, from Censuses, from judgments of the Supreme Court, with telling facts about the situation that has already come to prevail on the ground, Arun Shourie nails the perversion of the constitution, and urges a complete reversal. The weaker sections must be helped, but by altogether different methods.

A must for our times. A must for strengthening our country.

REVIEW

Acclaimed by the International Press Institute as one of the World Press Freedom Heroes of the last half-century whose work has sustained freedom. Acclaimed as a Star of Asia by Business Week, as the Business Leader of the Year by The Economic Times for his pioneering work on privatization. Acclaimed by Indian CEOs as the most outstanding Minister of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s Government. Winner of the Magsaysay Award, the Dadabhai Naoroji Award, the Freedom to Publish Award, the Astor Award, the International Editor of the Year, the Padma Bhushan and several other distinctions, Arun Shourie is one of India’s best-known commentators on current and political affairs.

-He held several portfolios in the NDA Government –including Disinvestment, Communications and Information Technology. This is his twentieth book.