Yesterday was the day that we had a dosa-fiesta in college. It was also the day I turned pro-reservation. But you know what I am not a sociology student, and know nothing about what 'really' goes on when it comes to dalits and OBCs, I'm not a social worker, I am not even a capitalist, and so I probably don't deserve to have an opinion. Plus, my opinion is not balanced and comprehensive, and so I totally don't deserve to express it - but anyway, I want to and it's my blog, so what the heck. I am also a grad-student - so first and foremost - about the dosa-fiesta.
it was the NYC Dosa Cart, serving a hot and crispy masala dosa, with sambhar, chutney, with an mini uthapam and vada thrown in for good measure, for $5. The event was from 6-8, it was publicised on Facebook, and was a stone's throw away from the CS Dept. It was the perfect recipe for festivities and incidentally, for disaster as well.
We landed up at 6:15 and began waiting in the already snaking long line. The Dosa Cart hadn't warmed up yet. Apparently, they forgot to mention 6-8 Indian Time on that Facebook page. Never mind - aaye hain tho kha kar hi jaayenge. Meanwhile, it was almost a mela. The people in the line, before and after us became kindred spirits joined in their anticipation and devotion to the Dosa. All the while people were pouring in. It was a reunion of sorts with missing room-mates, their friends, cousins, ex-lab-mates, buddies - it was veritably a distinguished social gathering of brown people.
As more and more people poured in, we gleefully realized we were amongst the early ones. But to my surprise, the line behind us never grew longer. It turned out that everyone who knew someone, and of course the everyone was desi and so was someone... actually stood exactly where their long-lost friends, relatives, neighbours, and TAs were. The line grew fatter not longer.
How desi is that.
Anyway, finally got to eat at 8:45. What was annoying was that My Very Own friends who strolled in at 6:45 were out by 7. Drat and double drat. Thanks to the awesomest principled yet devoted and entertaining company I had - I stood my ground. Where I would have left (much earlier) in utter disgust, I left (much later) freezing, but with my hunger satiated and my taste-buds delighted.
Now to make the connection with reservations ... I believe in social justice man, not in social acceptance of status quo. Which is what happened yesterday in the trivial circumstance of a Dosa Fiesta. It was easy, damn easy to do the right thing yesterday, which in my case included standing in line for 2.5 hours). When it is really time to stand up against deeply entrenched social biases who will stand up and how many?
Yaar, let's admit it. We're just so 'chalta hai' in our attitude, ki social justice ka ek hi tareeka hai ... laws and reservations.
I rest my case.
