May 15th 2002, 2 30pm

I and appa were sitting somewhere in the middle of a large hall, facing a comp. it displayed a list of colleges and branches. This was when I was ‘counseled’ to choose the college where I study now 😦 There were 11 free seats and a equal number of payment seats in mech engg. I opted for the latter. Not because of “panna thimiru” but because the free seats were RESERVED.

The reservation of seats at this time didn’t seem to affect me much, as I had a very modest cutoff, and was never near to missing a good coll. Even some meritorious students who missed Anna univ or govt. colleges had some good coll like SVCE, SSN or CRESENT to choose from(nevertheless, some losers choose Velammal).

Now, after 4 yrs of engg education in TN, I can confidently state that the coll u study doesn’t matter much; Cos u get absorbed by an IT major if u have a good aptitude and communication skill(remember, both r independent of coll education).

April 5 2006

Arjun singh announces a proposal for introducing quota system in IITs and IIMs on the basis of ones community(OBCs and SC/STs get > 50% seats).

Does this mean that those who benefit his are socially and /or economically backward? NO. A metropolitan born and brought up OBC guy who gets the same education and social status as a OC guy, stands a greater chance of getting into IITs and IIMs. Isn’t this shady? Only below average and average city students, who come under the reserved quota get to be benefited, while some other above average OC candidates get a raw deal.

This will in turn reduce the image and quality of these institutions, as it is the students and not the infrastructure or staff, who determine how an institute is. A very good e.g. is the coll I study in. Does being constantly ranked among the top 3 engg coll in TN mean that the staff are great and the infrastructure amazing. ABSOLUTE BULL SHIT.(The staff are blank and facilities suck.)

Let me conclude by giving some probable suggestions. The govt. must make sure that not more than 2 generations of a family use the reservation(if grand dad and dad have used it 4 their education or job, the son is not entitled under the reservation). This paves way for the really needy to be benefited.

Also the time duration for the implementation of this quota system must be specified. This would determine after how many years I’d appear for cat as I have no hopes of even getting a call if the above said proposal is implemented 🙂