The Digital Debate : Reservation, Social media and Constitution.

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The Digital Debate Unfolds : In an era where every second counts—whether it’s a quick story, a tweet, or a share—a 15‑second video can ignite a debate that leaps from the individual to the national stage, casting a fog over facts that have been historically explained and constitutionally substantiated. Social media has become the modern town square where millions of Indians gather to voice their concerns. Within this square, a clash often erupts between constitutional morality and popular morality. As the “fifth pillar,” social media sometimes shirks its responsibility to spotlight ground realities, instead becoming a tool for spreading unnecessary confusion in the political arena.

A spark of resentment . I came across a video where an 18-year-old girl said she lost her aspired college due to the reservation system. This was her answer to a media channel's question on what she'd change in society. Her answer got claps, arguing reservations must stop or be income-based. Instead of reducing cutoffs, she suggested giving them coaching classes and financial assistance. This isn't an isolated opinion; it's a growing, imposed, and ignored belief in the minds of young Indians. It doesn't end with the video; comments and other related media connections showcase solidarity with her views and call for ending the reservation system. Hashtags of #ReservationDivideUs, # MeritOverCaste and #Notoreservations spread across media.

Giving an answer to young Indians, starting from the very instant that I mentioned above, new modern media know where and when to ask or begin a discussion on reservation. You can see that they often show their mike to young people. Do only they have opinions on reservation? It's evident that there's a growing fascination with creating a smog around affirmative action in India. Looking through social media, you'll get posts, tags, and hashtags condemning reservation and arguing that it subverts meritocracy, adding that reservation causes erosion of efficiency and largely causes migration. When such an expression is shaped through social media, it segregates people as reserved and unreserved, ultimately creating polarization and communal tensions. Can we analyze it with a little logic and rationality with facts?

The Missing Link : Considering the above constructive fog of reservation, something was missing – yes, the Constitution,

the facts

and harsh realities

are literally absent.

Social media are amplifying resentment towards reservations, neglecting facts and constitutional principles. Discussions on social media often lack legal or formal arguments, this castefogs are reinforced through various measures, creating 21st-century caste segregation.
As the largest democracy, with an equal stake in the country, do all Indians enjoy this stake? The answer is a big NO. Looking at the reasons for inequality, Casteism holds the top position.

The Historical Context : When India gained independence in 1947, key official positions were held by the so-called upper castes. As an aspiring welfare state, India must address its historical responsibility to ensure equal representation. To achieve social justice and adequate representation, the government established reservations. This constitutional mechanism aims to ensure justice and equality through representation.

The problem lies in misinterpreting this system with a flawed perception, viewing merit solely as an intellectual metric, rather than recognizing it as individual ability.
The caste system has historically prohibited a large group of people from connecting with the world and its realities. Therefore Reservations work for the community, addressing the problems caused by graded inequality that prevented these groups from participating in nation-building. The system provides collective and individual allocations, As per Articles 15(4), Article 16(4), Article 338, the state holds the measuring stick of checking social and educational backwardness. The state decides which groups are being backward. In the system Individuals compete within their community's sphere General among genersls, as of OBCs, SCs, STs. Someone from within that community who is best suited gets the opportunity. So the competition is within the community. It doesn't take away anyone else's chance. Making reservations income-based would change the fundamental principle of representation. If the problem is social, why use an economic solution?

How reservation works : To understand reservations, young minds need to perceive Indian history, specifically the struggles of the unsung- unwritten indians. If young people can instantly grasp equations of algebra and mathematical computations, then why not grasp a sense of justice with historical responsibility? The problem isn't of the young minds, but with the structural inequality reinforced through various apparatuses.
They're the mere consumers of profitable education, many of us seen poverty in textbooks, neglected the near neighbourhood poverty. How many young minds are taught about the Constitution and fundamental rights and duty with immense weightage ? Do we ever give a page of paper to explain affirmative action and why it operates in India? What is reason behind operating such a mechanism in India? We rarely teach them the Constitution and about these and expecting them to act as that, what an irony is this?. Until they grasp justice and the Constitution, they'll criticize the remedy.

The path forward : Looking ahead, considering facts and the need for caste census (data) can reduce the issue. However, the sensus lapses, the unequal proportions of the present, have subverting the system.
To address this, governments should educate young minds about constitutional awareness and principles. Emotion-driven arguments can reinforce exclusions and segregation, repeating historical errors. Let's address young Indians' concerns, educate them beyond textbooks, and promote awareness as citizens - as Dr BR Ambedkar said, We are Indians, firstly and lastly.