Thread by @kikumbhar

Unfortunate to see the example of a single postgraduate degree in ​a single subject in only two institutions out of several hundred, being used to erase/overlook the historical underrepresentation of oppressed caste communities in the medical profession and in medical specialties

All the more unfortunate when one notes that alternative avenues for the same degree are available more to "open" category students than to OBC, SC, ST students. The former, in general with a few exceptions, have far more resources and the "right" contacts compared to the latter

That is, an avg Brahmin or Kayastha student will far more easily be able to access the degree in another institution, even a foreign one. After graduation that doc will, compared to eg a Dalit or Adivasi doc, face far less obstacles in starting practice or gettin a well-payin job

On a more big picture note, do we kno how many dermatologists India has, and how many of them are OBC, SC, ST and how many "open"? Almost all medical specialties in India are numerically dominated by members of the privileged castes
(Plugging here an appeal for the #castecensus)

Does that mean OBC, SC, ST - who actually are the numerical "majority" in India - do not have smart doctors among them? Or does it mean that the historical usurping of higher education by the privileged castes has continued to cast its dark shadow even in medical specialisation?

Occams razor suggests the latter. And that imbalance needs to be corrected

Reservations hav nev been claimed as the "most perfect" remedy for the centuries of underrepresentation & discrimiation against India's marginalized. But no other remedy comes close to it in effectiveness

Most imp, as long as casteism and caste-based discrimination continue to dictate our social life, reservations will continue to be the only major safeguard for our underprivleged youth

So if u want reservation to go, work towards annihilating caste. Better, let's work together.