What of OBC elite? The problem is simple - the upper OBCs have evolved into a ruling social block, but without having produced a cultural elite. This exceptional phenomenon has created an equally exceptional problem - the upper OBCs are now preordained with an inner-structural crisis. In absence of any counteractive movement from within to redeem that crisis, they have become an embarrassment for the country and a problem for Dalits/Tribals and most backward castes (MBCs). That inner-structural crisis has made upper OBCs dynamism-deficient, with gruesome consequences. In the absence of a cultural elite of their own, they are deprived of any moderating force from within. This has brutalised the social conscience of this new ruling social block. The community has turned irrational in its socio-political conduct, and necessarily violent toward Dalits. While there could be dozens of Dwija intellectuals in every State capital, and many dozens in the Delhi approving Mandal I and Mandal II, there would not be one upper OBC (UOBC) intellectual in the entire country questioning this block's claim over Mandal reservations. This has led to a more fundamental question: why are UOBCs not adequately represented in institutions of higher learning? Are they socially stigmatised? Do they lack resources? Have they been prevented from entering better schools? Even a frail mind would answer in the negative. Consider the consequences. In the recent Mandal II agitation, India's two leading news channels - NDTV and CNN-IBN, decided to do pro-reservation stories. One way to showcase the value of reservation was to profile achievers who had once used this privilege at the entry point in education and jobs. Without any exception, all the stories featured Dalit achievers, though Mandal II deals with UOBCs alone. There is a history behind this. During upper OBCs anti-Brahmin movement in Tamil Nadu, sufferings of Dalits were highlighted to morally legitimize their voices. When the UOBC movement in northern India begun replicating the Tamil experience, here too Dalits' suffering were highlighted. How the Upper OBCs have been treating Dalits in return? Why does this happen. The Upper OBC intelligentsia would tell nothing about it. As a matter fact, the UOBC-defined OBC movement has been one-dimensional. The movement has not acknowledged problems within, and hence no self-correction. To the movement, the problem is with the Brahmin-led Dwijas alone, and that must be fought. The latter part is well taken, understood and nearly done. The problem within remained unaddressed and worsened geometrically. The Dalit movement had an altogether a different take. Many non-Dalits acknowledge Dr Ambedkar as the social philosopher of the 20th century India. Didn't Dr Ambedkar know that Dalits were out of education system because of the Manu made-Hinduism sanctioned code? He knew well, and fought well. Yet, the first slogan he gave to his people was to educate. Didn't Dr. Ambedkar know that Dalits ate meat of dead animals because they had no other source of protein? Yet, he asked his people to stop eating meat of dead animals. Many more things he fought- which were inner problems of the community. Did similar things happen in the UOBC movement? The OBC movement all over India fought the "Other"- Brahmins and the Brahmin-led Dwija dominance. The UOBC movement was in essence, anti-Brahmin, anti-Dwija, but not anti-caste. In other words, the UOBCs fought Brahmins, and not Brahminism. The anti-Brahmin movement in Tamil Nadu placed an excessive importance on Tamil language. Because the UOBCs are not correcting their "self", the doctrine of reservation became disputed. It is time; the UOBCs stopped investing in guns and real estate, and prioritized investment in education. Dalits have served Brahmins/Dwijas for ages. Why should they serve a new ruling social block which prefers tractors over good schools? ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> See what's inside the new Yahoo! Groups email. http://us.click.yahoo.com/2pRQfA/bOaOAA/yQLSAA/1dTolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥««¤»¥«¤»§«¤» This is ZESTCaste whose members watch India's painful journey to society's de-casteisation. Members are encouraged to post messages to ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. 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