The Issue Of Education in The Movie "Aarakshan"

The movie ‘Aarakshan’ is a story, primarily based on the legal theme of reservation and education, which are widely discussed topics around the world. Furthermore, the movie is based on the 2008 Supreme Court Verdict on the endorsement of reservations for the ‘Other Backward Classes’.

It is a drama based film on the extremely controversial topic of reservation in educational and work institutions. Firstly, it depicts the reservation system for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes along with the Other Backward Classes.

The movie also demonstrates the wretched condition of the individuals belonging to the reserved category, who don’t get jobs because of their low-class and remain unemployed. They are not considered meritorious and are discriminated against the general public. Secondly, it portrays the harsh reality of the education structure which includes poor quality of education taught, lack of teachers, high prices of coaching classes and deprivation of proper and worthwhile education to the underprivileged, highlighting the huge gap between the upper and lower class due to class, caste, socio-economic background

‘Aarakshan’ is a story of Dr Prabhakar Anand, a noble and virtuous man who is also the principal of one of the most prestigious colleges in Bhopal, the ‘STM college.

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’ He is an extreme believer of moral ethics and principles. His interests are directed towards providing quality education to the deserving and underprivileged. Unlike his colleagues who are concerned in materialistic gains and vested interests, Dr Prabhakar Anand works selflessly towards helping the disadvantaged and neglected children, irrespective of their caste, gender or economic background.

He is pitted against his own peer, Mithilesh Singh, the Vice Principal of STM college, a politically-driven wicked man who firmly believes in capitalization through private coaching centres and has a certain disregard for the announced verdict and provokes students against further reservation. He guarantees admission to the meritless son of a renowned local minister, showing his greediness and self-centeredness.

As the movie progresses, he uses malpractice, deceit and unprofessional conduct, to ensure that he is profited and gains revenue by occupying and taking classes in Prabhakar Anand’s land, thus rendering him homeless, depriving him of his own right to property and enjoyment of land. Left unfortunate and homeless, towards the end, Dr Prabhakar Anand leaves no stone unturned and uses education as his sole weapon for defeating his peer and helping those in need.

The 2006 Indian Anti-reservation protests were protests that were against the decision, taken by the Government of India, which proposed to offer 27% of the seats in premier educational institutions. The crowd was mainly divided into two, one favoring the proposition made and the other against it. The ones who were against this proposal believed that the Government was discriminatory, entirely political, unjust and paid no heed to meritocracy. This proposal was also in direct violation of article 14 and article 16 which states that everyone is equal before the law and shall not deny any person equal protection of the laws within the territory of India and there shall also be equality of opportunity for all citizens, in terms of employment or appointment to any office under the State.

Despite the opposition, on 10th April 2008, the Supreme Court upheld the law for provision of 27% for candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes, excluding creamy layer. A five-judge Constitution judge headed by Chief Justice K.G Balakrishnan, concluded that the 93rd Amendment Act that aims to provide better access to the the lower castes in educational instutions does not violate the basic structure of the constitution. It was also mentioned that Article 15(5) of the Constitution is constitutionally valid and Article 1(4) and 15(5) are not mutually contradictory.

In the movie also, there were mass demonstrations, rallies, and protests against the announced verdict. In an iconic scene, it was brought up that the reserved category was “scared of working hard.” “Don’t use history to hide your weaknesses”, “everyone should be given an equal chance and opportunity” were some of the accusations, depicted in the movie against the reserved category. For defence, the other half of the crowd believed that they had been abused and insulted for too long and it was time, they demanded their compensation. The individuals belonging to the lower class felt that they were deprived of opportunities and equal status because of their class or caste.

The movie also goes into the depth of the meaning of education system. When a free coaching centre was opened by Dr Prabhakar Anand right next to the coaching classes opened by Mithilesh Singh, even though the latter suffered monetary losses because of the increased popularity of the former, he could not file a case against him as there was no injury to the legal right of his. This is similar to the legal case of Gloucester Grammar School, 1410, in which the defendant had set up a rival school in close proximity to the plaintiff’s school. Due to the increased recognition, the plaintiff suffered damages. However, he was not entitled to any compensation as there was no infringement of legal right to the plaintiff.