It’s a great joy for me, and for many others I guess, to see such a positive step taken by the Goa University towards implementing Reservations. Although it took 30 long years, I welcome the decision and appreciate it. Records show that Goa University has never had a single Scheduled Tribe teacher or professor in the last 30 years. Records also show that there was no adequate representation of other reserved categories. But now, for the first time, the University has recruited Assistant/Associate Professors from the reserved categories. Although it doesn’t yet meet the criteria of adequate representation, it surely is a positive step in that direction.
Many people have fought for reservations in Goa, especially for reservations in jobs and education. And the fight for reservations in Goa University started way back in 2013 with two female candidates from the Scheduled Tribe writing a letter to the concerned authorities about how a candidate from outside the State, who was ineligible for the reserved post, was appointed when there were eligible candidates from Goa belonging to the reserved category. After they wrote the letter the University was forced to withdraw its appointment. I am one of the persons who fought for reservations in Goa University and also one of the selected candidates for the post of Assistant Professor.
But as it’s said, ‘There is no free lunch.’ Being recruited against backlog vacancies for reserved posts brings with it a lot of things like, shame, a feeling of inadequacy, fear, etc. It is not easy to deal with these things. I know it is going to be difficult for all of us as we will be identified as candidates who ‘got in’ through reservations and were not ‘selected’ on merit. I know how it feels and we all will be struggling to prove that we are as good as the general candidates. We also would want to be identified as having capacities at par with the general candidates.
Recently there was a news item about how a Dalit professor in IIT Kanpur was being harassed because he was selected through a reservation quota. Although no one might say anything to us on our face, but I feel that we are all capable of identifying forms of caste-based harassment/discrimination. I really do not know how exactly we can deal with this, but I am sure there is a way out. One way would be trying to get into ‘their’ circle and act as if everything is fine and be blind to the elephant of caste discrimination that occupies a large space in the room. Well, who would like to get into trouble, right? Ignoring the elephant may seem to keep us out of trouble, but we will certainly lose our selves and not gain respect for our views and perspectives which come from our tribal or caste identity.
The other way is to respect our location and perspectives, and believe that we deserve better and that’s why we are here. This is a difficult path. But if we succeed in doing that then I think it will be a greater victory for us. Seeing us fight for ourselves and valuing our views, students who have been injured by caste, gender and other types of prejudice might also learn to value their own selves. This could make our classrooms and the University inclusive, vibrant and lively for both, the discriminated and the privileged.
But this will be possible only if we realise our self worth and do not feel that we are not as good enough as those who come on a merit basis. We need to remember that we are selected on the basis of our interviews and we haven’t just ‘got in’. We have come this far despite the dices being loaded against us. True, being recruited against backlog vacancies makes it a whole lot difficult for us.
For me, just writing about this issue has been difficult, so putting it into practice will be a much bigger challenge. I am excited about the possibilities as well as frightened of the consequences.
The author is Assistant Professor, Department of
Sociology, Goa University.
