When an OPEN opens up....

Senior college... First year... 2nd or 3rd day probably....they made an "Important announcement"
A fellow came to ask, who all were eligible for scholarship, few people put their hands up, I was one of them. Then he said the "Scholarship" forms are available in office and the eligible students are asked to fill the same within a week.
Next day, I went to college with all my mark sheets, I was standing in the queue, with pride of having the first pay cheque in my name...
Came my turn, I handed over my documents, and asked for the form, the person at counter checked my docs and threw a weird question at me, "Where is the Caste Certificate?"

I was like 'whatttt?'
I said, I don't have any. He replied, "Then you are not eligible for for the 'Scholarship'."

and I was like 'whattttt again'
I got all confused, I was topper of my college, I secured 88% in 12th board exam (to be more precise it was the time when marks were not given like Khirapat)

So the point is, definitely I deserved a Scholarship, it was as simple as that.
Then, how can not having a caste certificate matter????

It took me some time to get over the depressing fact that the SCHOLARSHIP was not for Scholars rather it was for the people with so called "Low Caste" tag.

The first thing that popped in my frustrated mind was WHY IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE WILL YOU CALL IT A SCHOLARSHIP, IF A TALENT IS NOT AT ALL A PART OF CONSIDERATION??????

I feel pity for the nation where the Caste certificate speaks louder than your Mark sheet.

I feel bad, really bad when a reserved gets the seat and not the deserved one.

I feel broken, being in a nation where a Caste determines your need (that has ultimately became a greed...)

And for this thing, though I love India, I am NOT proud to be an Indian.

I just don't understand, how can giving reservation be an equality measure?
Coz it's purely an attempt of division and not integration...

I mean seriously, we never knew the caste of our friends until the "SCHOLARSHIP" came in the picture....