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Reservation has now become a burning problem in India. The people who belong to the so called 'upper castes', speak against reservation. This is really a challenging subject before the nation. When the Constitution of India came into existence on 26th January, 1950, the National leaders had no other option other than providing 'reservation' to elevate the low castes to the top level from their miserable living conditions. Even today, we can observe that only a slight change has occurred in their plight in some parts of the country as the result of the reservation. In my opinion, only through education, a change can be made in the poor conditions of the down trodden people.
Though I wrote much about reservation, my real dream is a casteless society. But how long will it take to achieve this ? We can't change the people overnight - within one week or one month. We plant a tree and the fruits are taken by the next generation. Similarly, if we educate our children in the right way, the result will come automatically. For this, the educationists who prepare the curriculum should be aware of a child's mind, its growth, adolescence stage etc. They should know that these children are coming from different religions, castes, subcastes and languages. The most important thing is that the student community includes both boys and girls. In short, they should have a thorough knowledge about what India is. Bearing this in mind, they must be able to prepare a syllabus suitable for an Indian child so that the child can understand all the peculiarities of this country and as a result, after the education, he/she makes a decision to serve the nation wholeheartedly. I don't forget the fact that different Commissions have submitted their Reports regarding education, to the Government of India.
One Saturday, after the lunch, when I was sitting in the front verandah, I saw a wonderful scene - uncle Yacob, aunt Leela and uncle Yohannan coming to our house, climbing the steps. Hearing the sound of their talks, my father and mother came outside. They were welcomed and I waited inside to see what would happen next. Aunt Leela started to speak, "how long Yohannan will continue as a bachelor like this ? Now, we have seen a girl and almost decided everything. Therefore, vellyettan ( the eldest brother) shall abandon all the past enmities and cooperate with his marriage." My father said, "I have forgotten the past. I have great pleasure to attend the marriage". Hearing the news, I found that it was dangerous to remain there because they would call me near them. Eventhough I had gone to grandfather's house many times, I and uncle Yohannan didn't talk to each other till that time. He was coming to our house after many years - after the conflict took place in the family. Therefore, it was difficult for me to speak to him. I slowly went out of the house through the kitchen door and ran to Mr Johney's land. I wandered through that rubber plantation which was arranged as different plots. When I returned home, the guests had already gone. Seeing me, my mother began to talk to my father, "look, where was this girl until this time ? Everyone enquired about her. She is like your mother, a lonely person. She wouldn't take part in the conversations of the women workers of the Puthiyaveettil House". Hearing this, I became very happy. My paternal grandmother was not a talkative, slandering person. So, I might have inherited some of the characteristics from her. But in school , I couldn't experience much difficulties in facing others except in extracurricular activities.
( 19 )
Reservation has now become a burning problem in India. The people who belong to the so called 'upper castes', speak against reservation. This is really a challenging subject before the nation. When the Constitution of India came into existence on 26th January, 1950, the National leaders had no other option other than providing 'reservation' to elevate the low castes to the top level from their miserable living conditions. Even today, we can observe that only a slight change has occurred in their plight in some parts of the country as the result of the reservation. In my opinion, only through education, a change can be made in the poor conditions of the down trodden people.
Though I wrote much about reservation, my real dream is a casteless society. But how long will it take to achieve this ? We can't change the people overnight - within one week or one month. We plant a tree and the fruits are taken by the next generation. Similarly, if we educate our children in the right way, the result will come automatically. For this, the educationists who prepare the curriculum should be aware of a child's mind, its growth, adolescence stage etc. They should know that these children are coming from different religions, castes, subcastes and languages. The most important thing is that the student community includes both boys and girls. In short, they should have a thorough knowledge about what India is. Bearing this in mind, they must be able to prepare a syllabus suitable for an Indian child so that the child can understand all the peculiarities of this country and as a result, after the education, he/she makes a decision to serve the nation wholeheartedly. I don't forget the fact that different Commissions have submitted their Reports regarding education, to the Government of India.
One Saturday, after the lunch, when I was sitting in the front verandah, I saw a wonderful scene - uncle Yacob, aunt Leela and uncle Yohannan coming to our house, climbing the steps. Hearing the sound of their talks, my father and mother came outside. They were welcomed and I waited inside to see what would happen next. Aunt Leela started to speak, "how long Yohannan will continue as a bachelor like this ? Now, we have seen a girl and almost decided everything. Therefore, vellyettan ( the eldest brother) shall abandon all the past enmities and cooperate with his marriage." My father said, "I have forgotten the past. I have great pleasure to attend the marriage". Hearing the news, I found that it was dangerous to remain there because they would call me near them. Eventhough I had gone to grandfather's house many times, I and uncle Yohannan didn't talk to each other till that time. He was coming to our house after many years - after the conflict took place in the family. Therefore, it was difficult for me to speak to him. I slowly went out of the house through the kitchen door and ran to Mr Johney's land. I wandered through that rubber plantation which was arranged as different plots. When I returned home, the guests had already gone. Seeing me, my mother began to talk to my father, "look, where was this girl until this time ? Everyone enquired about her. She is like your mother, a lonely person. She wouldn't take part in the conversations of the women workers of the Puthiyaveettil House". Hearing this, I became very happy. My paternal grandmother was not a talkative, slandering person. So, I might have inherited some of the characteristics from her. But in school , I couldn't experience much difficulties in facing others except in extracurricular activities.
Oneday, one of my classmates, Ramani, asked me, "where does your mother work ?" I always expected this question and was confused for a moment. I answered, "no, my mother doesnot go to work". She was surprised and asked again, "why ? Are you rich then ?", to which I answered, "one year before I was born, my mother used to work in the paddyfields. Once, she walked through the small ridge of the paddyfield, carrying the sheaf of corn on her head. Unfortunately, she slipped from the ridge of the paddyfield and fell in the ricefield. She felt great pain and Ayurvedic treatment like massaging was done on her waist. But as the pain continued, she was brought to an Allopathy hospital in Kolenchery. The X - ray was taken and it was found that there were three cracks in the waist. The doctor scolded them for adopting Ayurveda in such a situation instead of taking her to an Allopathy hospital. From that time, she has been experiencing backpain. After this incident, she hasnot gone to work outside". I told the story of my mother which I had been hearing everyday at least five times. The word 'backpain' horrified me everyday at least twenty times. When I explained this story, my classmates in Std V asked me many questions..'how will you live then ?', 'your frock is costly,skirt and shirt ( I wore shirt instead of blouse, like boys ) are good looking', ' you have good sandals, 'how will you be able to purchase all these things ?" Some of them said, "she is not poor, she is rich, her mother is not working."
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