jagdish123

> at the expense of higher-caste Indians, or at the expense of all other demographics, or at the expense of white people?

I am assuming you mean: demonstrably meritorious members of socially priviledged groups. Well, what gets lost in the discussion of merit is how an individual achieves it and how social factors that are outside their hand influence them in reaching or never-reaching their true potential. Reservations, in my opinion, should be seen as lending a hand to individuals who find themselves subject to antagonistic social structures that are a product of divisive and elitist thinking spanning hundreds of years. It is not a tussle, so as to say, between one group versus another, but a collaboration between the two halves of society (one which enjoyed a higher position in the social hierarchy for centuries and the other which was exploited) to realize the best in all of us. This might understandably entail priviledged members of society letting go of some of their priviledges they enjoy due to their birth in a certain family.

> That caste reservation system you mentioned is fundementally flawed.

The caste reservation system has been pivotal in bringing social issues faced by the lower castes to mainstream politics. Only when some lower caste members made it up the social ladder through reservations, were they able to articulate their issues and lend a helping hand to others in their social groups.

> For example, it will favor children of low caste individual who already benefitted from the system and is at economically very priviledged position over children of a high caste individual who are economically disadvantaged.

Economics does play a certain part in social dynamics. But social advantages trump any economic disadvantages. Even though a lower-caste member might be in an economically advantageous situation, they are still subject to the social dynamics, put in place by the upper echelons of the hierarchy, that are antagonistic to their upliftment. This justifies caste-reservation so that we, as a humanitarian society, can lift up everybody.

As an Indian, coming from a lower caste family, this makes me happy. India already banned caste discrimination years ago and it had a positive impact on marginalized communities. The next step might be to follow something akin to caste-reservations that we have in India, to level the playing field for communities that have been marginalized for centuries. Advocating for more lower-caste Indian representation in private companies can be a good start. It can be a part of DEI initiatives that we have seen so many companies embrace.

Overall, this is a positive development. But we still have a long way to go!