The issue of reservations is a thorny one- one that provokes a wide range of feelings and opinions from the Meiteis. Meiteis who oppose ST/ST reservations say we are a distinct group of people with a proud history dating back to 2000 years ago and that we cannot be called a tribe. We should not sacrifice the legacy of our centuries old cultural attainments and great civilization for merely obtaining a few crumbs of opportunities in employment and education, they say. Let us lose opportunists, if we must, but no ST/SC tag for us; we are, after all, the Meiteis.

This line of argument is nothing but a manifestation of megalomania and narcissism. In other words, our PRIDE and EGO dictate that that we should merely look on passively biting our nails in frustration even as our equals from the reserved category become IAS officers, get into prestigious educational institutes and get the better of us in almost all fronts of life's battle.

I do totally agree, however, as would any self respecting Meitei, that we belong to a great civilization that has few parallels in the entire North-East. But I also don't relish the prospect of being a potential loser due to systematic discrimination and lack of opportunities in my life. I would rather be a Lyngdoh instead of being a Meitei loser.

And what is all this fuss about pride and history? It simply baffles me no end how our history is going to change if from tomorrow someone starts to call me a tribe. I am sure the Meiteis' civilization is secure, intact and documented in the pages of authoritative historical manuscripts. I am told there are many Meitei organizations in Manipur along the model of VHP which are protecting our historical properties/evidences and body of literature from vanishing into thin air. And add to these, our gun toting cultural guardians and students' bodies which are forever vigilant on any perceived assault on our ethnic pride - the fact which should warm the heart of the most cynical among us to feel reassured.

And unlike the many ST/SC groups in NE, Manipuri (the language of the Meitei) is recognized as one of the well-developed languages sharing the same status as Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati or any other languages included in the 8th schedule of Indian Constitution. What better protection do we want for our identity? How many more specious reasons do we need to keep ourselves chained to a self-imposed apocalyptic fate? I sometimes wonder if we are the only group of people in the world who enjoy inflicting self destruction and pain when there is always a help around in the form of affirmative action.

Here are three significant reasons, among many others, why we should stop linking our inclusion in the quota system with our ethnic pride. First, nobody in other parts of India regard us a forward class of people, instead they pigeonhole us into a group of junglees mentally placing us in the midst of other tribes. Besides our protestations to the contrary and no matter what we think of ourselves, the Meiteis outside Manipur are treated like just another tribe from the North-East. Thanks to the similarity in language, dress, food habits and physical resemblance to other ethnic groups, to the Mayangs it doesn't make any difference whether you are a Meitei or a Kuki/Naga. The fact is you remain a chinkee always. So much for our identity and pride.

The second reason is that reservation system has rather become a political tool of appeasement and doling out largesse to favoured social groups. The original objective of correcting the historical wrongs suffered by the historically disadvantaged groups is lost in the chaos of politics of vote banks. It is significant in this regard that the BJP and Congress are virtually trying to outdo each other in widening the reservation net to include poor sections of the so-called forward class. Soniya Gandhi has even challenged the government to show its commitment in this regard by introducing an amendment in the parliament. So, at any time in the near future, don't be surprised if you read headlines in the newspapers announcing the reservation policy for the Brahmins!!!

The million dollar question is: If Brahmins-the elite social class in India- are demanding reservations, then what on earth is stopping the Meiteis to demand the same privileges?

Thirdly, the great irony is that we do not see the irony of accepting the OBC (Other Backward Class) status even as we refuse to accept the ST/SC status which is ridiculous. If the arguments of the anti-reservation Meiteis are to be followed, then OBC is also an equally derogatory tag to be attached to our ethnic name. In the same vein, I don't see any reason why I should be proud to belong to OBC category. Moreover, to add insult to wound, OBC status doesn't have any teeth in terms of significant real benefits, other than some minor concessions. If we can live under the middle name of OBC, but scowl at the word ST/SC, it is like pot calling the kettle black.

Another bogey raised by the anti-reservation Meitei brigade is the misconceived fear of appropriation of the reservation benefits by the "creamy layer" and therefore their contention that the benefits would not trickle down equally to all the Meiteis. This is a hollow argument. Ours is an egalitarian society and there is little disparity in terms of access to education and economic status. The quota system will only motivate more Manipuris to come out to take chances in the various competitive examinations and we may have a windfall of achievers regularly.

ALSO, in respect to other competitors from other parts of the country with the same reservation advantage, we won't fall short of competence or talent. Even without the advantage of quota system backing us, many of our students have been able to achieve top honours in the general category a la Dinesh Singh. So, with the added advantage of reservation allotted to us, we may eventually see a sea of Manipuri talent sweeping all public examinations in India.

Yet some people argue fiercely that the system of reservation if applied to the Meiteis will inculcate in them a perverse mindset of supplication for concessions and favours. This mindset, they say, will ultimately result in a culture of mediocrity in the society.

To the protagonists of this argument, one needs only to remind that reservations as mentioned in the Constitution are a short-term measure subject to periodic scrutiny and renewal. As they say, all good things must come to an end.

Affirmative action has a justified role in a democracy. It can be described as a social subsidy provided to socially disadvantaged groups so that they can catch up with the more forward communities, i.e, to bring about social equity. There is no doubt that the Meitei community is a laggard today even as political turmoil and social instability is taking a heavy toll on her human resources development. Our society is at an impasse waiting for that succour to pull itself out of the morass it is in. To dismiss affirmative action as demeaning to us is to live in denial of that grim reality.

The Meiteis should forsake their misplaced conceit and embrace the ST/SC tag with no second thoughts. Moreover, in this age of individual excellence, what matters the most is what a person as an individual can accomplish in the calling of his choice. The advent of internet has even rendered geographical barriers insignificant, much less the ethnicity of a person. A little lift will never hurt our chances of individual progress. So, if given a choice, I would definitely root for reservation, for its spoils are too precious to lose. So is our collective destiny.