Special Recruitment - I Santhakumar

When we write the history of dalits in contemporary periods, the special recruitment would have a predominant place there. Though the scheme had begun during communist govt.in 1957,it got a good momentum in 1971.The representation of dalits in govt.service was reviewed dept.wise and category wise. The representation of dalits were abysmal.Govt. after reviewing the position, posts were created where ever there are backlogs. This would be distributed among class two, class three and class four. The review meeting would be held by the chief minister every first of January without fail. A new generation among dalits was emerged through this great venture. Very young dalits began to occupy prestigious posts in the dept. once the monopoly of the so called upper castes. The general public began to recognize them as they began to deal with power.There was a migration from the remotest hamlets to cities. Graduation was the minimum qualification for gazetted posts. The education which got momentum through missionary had continued its mission through democratic govts.Concessions were also given to the dalits.Thus a good number dalit candidates,fully qualified, were awaiting jobs like' Veshambel'.There are innumerable young energetic youth without having any other backgrounds, excelled in official heirachy.The economic and social conditions had tremendously increased. Their  families were also become respectable one in the villages out of the sheer caste ridden ambience. It was a compelling situation. Communal tensions were sparked due to local issues. Because almost all who got into higher posts, were dwellers in uphills and in waterlogged areas where there were no established path ways. Many of them have to cross through the narrow strips with the mercy of others. When they became in high positions even the narrow pathways were blocked. The dalits even after became collector in native districts, could not have road to reach home in official car. The very uncivilized feudal mentalities are still governing them. Many of them left their native places because of  the social tensions. Many of them became accused in criminal cases. Even I was also one of such victims of the atrocities of the uppercastes.On the shore of our paddy field an yielding coconut tree was holding another coconut tree of the feudal for along time. In spite of repeated requests he refused to cut it. One day when I went to home on a fine Sunday from Trivandrum, my friends told me that they were going to cut the tree and they did it. The same day I returned to Trivandrum. Next day while I was in the office I got a phone call that one of our servant had been taken into custody by the police and a case registered in which I was the first accused. Immediately I rushed to Parasala police station with an advocate friend. The Inspector was also a relative of the petitioner. He wanted to file the case in the court and I had to take bail from the court. Though I was an officer and thoroughly innocent of the charges,I had to fight in the court. My friends Baburaj ,and Santharam Asst.commissioners strongly interfered but couldn't divert their subordinate from the cooked up case. Finally I was absolved of from the charges after contesting the case for two years. It is unforgettable for me the mental hardships and monetary loss, I happened to suffer, The intention of the feudal was to dismiss me from service after imposing a conviction.

While some of the special recruitees were having outstanding performances, some were miserably flop. Almost all became saviours of their families. The entire burden rest on them viz converting the thatched house in to at least tiled one, look after the aged parents, conduct marriages of sisters brothers and to educate others in the family etc.Actually they were in devil and deep sea. Some found it very difficult to carry out the works for want of home works. Superiors very often tease them in front of others. Some others fully bestowed before the sycophants and even fell in love with inferiors and married. There are many instances in which they married women with two, three children as a mark of eternal love taught in colleges. Some others were officers even before their parents, they didn't even care their family problems In my office one of my subordinate wanted to marry a divorced lady of last grade servant with her children who was older than him. His parents came to my house and requested to divert him from his conviction. He was very stubborn and hence my efforts became futile. At last the poor family left my home with tears. The important thing behind this is that such courage would never be shown in the case of any dalit women. Another group of officers were in the grip of liquor. Actually the liquor was swallowing them. Some even dwelled in the shops forgetting their bounden commitments to their families and the community in large. One known martyr of liquor was late Prem prskash who entered the service as Undersecretary in Kerala Public Service Commission. He would have been the Secretary, the prestigious post,for more than 10 years. While he was holding the post of Joint secretary he was terminated from service for corrupt practices and misbehaviour.He became a normdic in Trivandrum meeting all employees for financial help. Actually he was a geneous.I had many occasions to interact with him about space and celestial bodies referring atlas. Very tall fellow with dynamic features which are not common for dalits.His arguments are un challenging. His vocabulary in English was very good. But who bothers? When a dalit is derailed nobody there to correct him, no society,no godfather and no accepted leaders. This is the boon and bane of dalits.Once he is mistaken, there is no way to escape from it. It will be a strong wepon to others to tarnish him and to initiate action.

The officers entered lower posts gradually reached higher posts. In 1987 there were five dalit officers working as Private secretaries of Ministers. In 1995 there were 18 Additional secretaries in the secretariat. In so many depts.the heads were dalit officers. Many of them rendered outstanding performances. A new judicious atmosphere beyond the feudal feelings pervaded in the offices, was thus created. The interests of all irrespective of caste and creed protected. in the offices. We were the worst hit of the casteism.So our dealings were beyond such feelings. An egalitarian approaches were instilled in the minds of all as we have solemnly resolved to constitute our country into a sovereign,socialist,and democratic country through our constitution. Nobody remember this oath, though it is so cardinal.

The special recruitment created an upper class strata among dalits.The next generation of this upper class satisfies all nutritional requirements for a fertile brain to compete with others which was blatantly lacked by their parents. All other infrastructural facilities were also facilitated

The after effects of the recruitment made many impacts on the age old interests of affluents.Regular promotion to others affected due to the induction of young dalit officers over them. They began to murmur in their assemblages about the danger and even some leaders also came out with vehement criticism to stop the recruitment. The politicians once jealously claimed as their long cherished desire to bring young dalits to the highest realm of heirarchy.But when they realized the impacts, their long cherished desire began to fade.Thus the golden era of dalits in the official stardom is gradually diminishing.

They are forgetting the history. In 1891 the Nairs had given a memorandum to the Highness praying for reservation to govt.jobs as posts were reserved only to Brahmins and Tamil chetties It is popularly known as Malayalee memorial Then there was Namboothiri memorial.Ezhavas also came out with Ezhava memorial. It is a fact that almost all clamored for reservation in Kerala. The upper castes now keep mum on reservation once instituted by them and claim for merit. Can anybody define merit? Is it the charm, beauty, or physique determine the merit? If they claim that merit was pervading before reservation, can they take the responsibility for the pathetic condition of our country?

Accordingly they captured the posts by hook or crook. It is paradoxical that they who oppose the reservation strongly. The present reservation is only for 50%.The 50%is set apart for merits. The reserved 50% is distributed among Ezhava,Muslim,SC/St and other OBCs.8% is for SC and 2% for St.It is amusing that when ever reservation is reffered,only reservation to dalits are remembered, as if we are the only reserved community ignoring others. It can now generally say that all are reserved communities. Almost all are also enjoying concessions in one name or other. When we are living in a country which affirmed to constitute our country in to socialism, is it not our duty to maintain proportionate representation in all fields?.Reservation is not a mere representation, but a sharing of power and participation of power

As it was once blatantly dined and to restore the backlog, special recruitment was introduced.