Read Editorial with D2G – Ep CXXXXII

In Read Editorial With D2G
May 13, 2016

LIKE TINA

READ BEFORE YOU PROCEED:
 D2G wears no responsibility of the views published here by the respective Author. This Editorial is used here for Study Purpose. Students are advised to learn the word-meaning, The Art of Writing Skills and understand the crux of this Editorial.

MEANINGS are given in BOLD and ITALIC

That Tina Dabi has topped the civil services examination at age 22 is an extraordinary achievement. Her success is about individual excellence, but it is about more than that. The powerful symbolism of a Dalit girl topping the IAS list must not be ignored. To be sure, her middle-class background — both her parents are engineers — may have relatively insulated her from the social and economic oppression a majority of Dalits in India are forced to endure (If you endure a painful or difficult situation, you experience it and do not avoid it or give up, usually because you cannot – सहना ) and eased her pursuit of success. Yet, Dabi’s journey can become a source of inspiration for scores of students from underprivileged castes and communities — to fight prejudice (Prejudice is an unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people or things, or a preference for one group of people or things over another – पक्षपात) and win against all odds. Symbols have the power to move people, to motivate them to break the limits set by history and society. Symbols can empower communities in unexpected ways. Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar recognised well the potential of symbols and used them astutely (If you describe someone as astute, you think they show an understanding of behaviour and situations, and are skilful at using this knowledge to their own advantage – चतुर ) to undergird (provide support – समर्थन ) their respective emancipatory (If people are emancipated, they are freed from unpleasant or unfair social, political, or legal restrictions – मुक्ति ) visions.

Even as we celebrate the symbolic resonance (If something has a resonance for someone, it has a special meaning or is particularly important to them – गूंज ) of Dabi’s achievement, this is also a moment to remind ourselves of the structural constraints that still hold back others like her. Systemic discrimination and institutional infirmities (A person who is infirm is weak or ill, and usually old – निर्बलताओं ) continue to prevent a large section of India’s population from realising its true potential. Despite the long history of social justice movements and constitutional safeguards, caste inequality remains an inescapable reality. Its dominance as a social institution may have diminished over the years, but caste continues to manifest itself as an instrument of power, including in the state’s institutions. The case of Rohith Vemula, who took his own life after what was, by all accounts, a tortuous battle against institutional discrimination, is telling. It was only the latest reminder that there remains a larger battle to be fought against deeply entrenched and routinised prejudices. Solitary success stories, however heartening, become meaningful only when they help build the momentum against the injustice and biases embedded in society. Dabi must not remain the exceptional hero. Her story must help open up greater possibilities of change.

Significantly, the second rank in the UPSC examination has gone to a Kashmiri Muslim. Athar Aamir ul Shafi Khan’s success is a welcome departure from the dominant Kashmir narrative about alienation, violence and oppression (Oppression is the cruel or unfair treatment of a group of people – उत्पीड़न ). As in the case of Dabi, this country needs many more stories like his.

***********************