The happiness of relief

The apex court has stayed the implementation of 27% reservation for OBCs in central universities. When I heard this, I didn't jump of happiness. Neither did I call up friends to congratulate them for the now visible fruits of their efforts (of speaking on this issue last year). My reaction was more sublime and less visible. The news gave me a peculiar inner happiness, the 'happiness of relief' one gets, when he gets to know that what he believes is right. I am an optimist. Even in this era of pessimism about the systems that we have in place in our country, I strongly believe that though things are in bad shape, they are not rotten, and more importantly, they are getting better with the passage of time. The Supreme Court judgement simply reinforced this belief of mine; and thus that inner happiness. [One could not have expected such a bold judgement by the court, say 10 years back]

The judgement I think, made a stronger statement than what the print and the electronic media reported. According to me, it said 2 things loud and clear -- firstly, "you can't get away with everything" ('you' here referring to the legislature); and secondly, "there is still place for logic in decision making". This was clear by the questions the SC asked the government -- regarding credibility of data on the number of OBCs in the country, and about the logic behind non-exclusion of the creamy layer from the quota benefits. The court even went ahead to say that its all "vote bank politics". I think these are the more important reasons why this judgement should be applauded.

We all know that the 'reservation debate' is far from over. What will happen in August when the next hearing on the issue takes place is yet to be seen. The final judgement can go either ways. But this stay order has certainly brought smiles to the faces of all students, who protested on roads across the country last summer against reservations. More importantly for everybody, including those who did not protest on the roads (but never-the-less discussed the issue in their drawing rooms), it gives a clear message -- "Don't Lose Hope!".