Most people of my generation got their first exposure to the complexities of national politics through the dark phase of the Emergency. And as it lifted, peer pressure in the hostel messes was intense to go and work for the then Janata Party candidates taking on the Emergency gang. At the Punjab University campus in Chandigarh we also had a good candidate, former Congress Young Turk and rebel (the late vice-president of India) Krishan Kant. Literally hundreds of students bunked classes to go paint the town with his posters, and anti-Emergency slogans.

Now what, you might wonder, is the relevance of this three-decade-old story — a common occurrence in early 1977 — to the raging issue of OBC reservation in institutions of higher learning?

Well, let’s go back to 1977. Elections swept, Krishan Kant found a few moments in that heady aftermath to thank his student volunteers. Of course he delivered a small speech condemning the Emergency and extolling Jayaprakash Narayan and his brand of socialism. Then he added, in sheer gratitude, “I thank you for what you have done for me and for democracy. Please come to me if you need any help. And, whenever each one of you gets married, please see me. I will give you a coupon for an LPG connection out of the MP’s quota.” So much for a reward of that stirring victory against authoritarinism — a gas connection when you got married!

So, remember that dark phase in our history from our own lifetimes. When a gas connection, a Bajaj scooter, a telephone connection were all part of the largesse the political class could dispense to our eternal gratitude. Or, we had the option of waiting in line for 15 years.

... contd.