Reservation, Representation, and Resentment: a Look into India’s Divided Classrooms and Careers

Introduction

In modern India, the issue of reservations and debate on reservations remains unresolved. Launched as a means of uplifting historically marginalized communities, this system has now become one of the controversial issues. In both the classroom and careers, the admissions system has sparked debates over equity, opportunity, and representation.

As the demand for limited seats and jobs increases, the divide between those benefiting from reservations and those who do not is widening. This article sheds light on how India’s reservation policy not only impacts leadership but also breeds resentment, often turning meritocracy into a battlefield of recognition and privilege.

1. The Origin and Intent of Reservation

Reservations in India are specifically designed to correct centuries of systematic oppression faced by Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes, and later for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

• The Indian Constitution, through Articles 15 and 16, provided for affirmative action in education and employment.
• The idea was not to give “special treatment,” but to create a level playing field.

Over time, however, the policy has evolved and expanded with newer demands, such as the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota introduced in 2019, further complicating the landscape.

2. Representation Achieved: Social Justice in Action

Supporters argue that reservation has helped:

• Increase diversity in educational institutions and government jobs
• Provide social mobility to millions from marginalized backgrounds
• Correct historic injustices through structural support

For many first-generation learners and professionals, reservation isn’t a handout, it’s a bridge to opportunity that was never equally accessible before.

3. The Growing Resentment among the Unreserved

While representation has improved, it has also given rise to deep frustration among those in the General category who do not qualify for any form of reservation.
Common concerns include:

• High cutoff marks for unreserved candidates in competitive exams
• Feelings of being “punished” for being born into the wrong caste
• Growing perception of reverse discrimination, especially in urban middle-class circles

Many argue that economic background, not caste alone, should define eligibility for support. Mental health challenges among competitive aspirants — especially after repeated failures — have been linked to this perceived imbalance.

4. The Reality of Competition: More Seats, Same Struggle

One of the biggest myths is that reserved candidates face no competition.
In reality:

• OBC/SC/ST/EWS aspirants compete fiercely within their quotas, often under greater pressure to prove their worth.
• At the same time, General category aspirants face intense competition for a shrinking percentage of open seats — often as low as 40% in some institutions or exams.

The result? A national talent pool divided by identity, each group feeling disadvantaged in its own way.

5. A Fractured Classroom, A Divided Workforce

In colleges, reservation can create social divisions:

• Students often self-segregate along caste lines.
• Bias and stigma continue, with reserved-category students sometimes labelled as “less competent” — regardless of their actual performance.

In workplaces, reservation in promotions has led to fresh debates over performance vs. policy.
Merit vs. mandate — a debate that’s no longer academic, but deeply personal.

6. The Way Forward: Reform, Not Rejection

Rather than scrapping the reservation system, experts suggest:

• Better implementation of the creamy layer rule
• Dynamic quotas that adapt to changing socio-economic realities
• Inclusion of all disadvantaged groups including poor from the General category
• Focus on improving access to quality education at the school level, so that fewer people are dependent solely on quotas for success

Ultimately, social justice and meritocracy must coexist, not cancel each other out.

Conclusion

India’s reservation system was designed to heal, not divide. But somewhere along the way, representation has turned into resentment for many. The solution lies not in ending reservation, but in reimagining it — with empathy, fairness, and future readiness.

If India must rise as a truly equal society, then both opportunity and understanding must be distributed more evenly — across castes, classes, and communities.