This is an old story, very much alive in my mind.

People might remember the weeks of vehement protest at AIIMS, New Delhi against reservation. I think a couple of them laid down their lives too.Then I know a couple of doctors who left AIIMS or who would not practice in India due to “lack of facilities” (a fact which we all have gotten used to listening and reading).

I, as usual, wonder -  rather than protesting against reservation – not letting the underprivileged be a part of the system  – they might have protested for world class facilities, infrastructure, exchange programmes and all those reasons for which Doctors leave India, and the reasons the Medical facilities are wanting.

I have posed this question to many IITians too who particiapted in the protests – Is IIT R or D a world class institute, with competitive infrastructure and research facilities – the answer was always a NO. My next question was – “Then why don’t you protest so badly for these – the buildings are old, campus is unkempt, research is done for US journals and even your hostel and canteen bathrooms stink”.

Anti-reservationists, protest for world class facilities in your campus, not to keep anyone away from the existing India Class facilities!