Former Maharashtra Information and Public Relations Department director Devendra Bhujbal has proposed restricting reservation benefits to the first generation within eligible communities. Speaking at the 15th Swatantryaveer Savarkar Literary Convention in Thimphu, Bhutan, Bhujbal said families that have already benefited from reservation should not repeatedly access the same opportunities if this prevents more disadvantaged students from benefiting. His proposal was presented as a policy view at the conference and does not represent a change to India’s existing reservation framework. Current reservation rules vary by category and applicable legal provisions.
Reservation benefits should be restricted to the first generation only, says Devendra Bhujbal at Bhutan Savarkar Conference
Reservation benefits should be restricted to the first generation only, so that the real needy students from the same community can avail the benefits of reservation, asserted Devendra Bhujbal, former Director of the Information and PR Department, while speaking as a keynote speaker at the 15th Swatantryaveer Savarkar Literary Convention at Thimpu, capital of Bhutan.
He further argued that benefits should reach families who have not previously gained from reservation, so needy students are not compelled to compete with socially established members.
Bhujbal said his proposal was intended to ensure that children from politically, economically, administratively and socially influential families do not repeatedly dominate opportunities within reserved categories.
His remarks were presented as a policy view at the conference, rather than as an announcement of any change to India’s existing constitutional reservation framework.
India’s reservation framework operates through constitutional provisions, legislation and judicial decisions, with eligibility and implementation depending upon the particular category and applicable government rules.
Supreme Court reservation jurisprudence includes the creamy-layer doctrine in backwards-class cases, while Bhujbal’s proposed first-generation approach represents his own formulation presented during the Bhutan conference.
Reservation benefits and the debate over social equality
Bhujbal also linked social equality with caste reform, referring to Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar during his address.
He said one common thread in the thought and public work of Savarkar, Gandhi and Ambedkar was their engagement with the abolition of the caste system and social reform.
Bhujbal urged followers of all three leaders to work together, particularly on efforts aimed at dismantling caste-based divisions and creating greater social equality across communities.
He further said such initiatives should not depend exclusively on governments, and called upon community organisations, leaders and activists to voluntarily participate in caste-reform efforts.
Conference president and author Sudhir Sevekar, addressing delegates, spoke about the importance of translating Savarkar’s commitment to scientific temper and rational inquiry into everyday practice.
During the introductory session, Bhau Suradkar, president of the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Mitra Mandal in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, presented an overview of the organisation’s activities and journey.
Professor Magar conducted the proceedings, while several speakers addressed different aspects of Savarkar’s life, writings, ideas and public legacy during the conference held in Bhutan.
The programme also included cultural presentations, adding an artistic component to discussions focused on history, social reform, Savarkar’s life and contemporary interpretation of his ideas.
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Devendra Bhujbal’s ‘Zhep’ released in Thimphu
A separate highlight was the launch of “Zhep,” a book written and edited by Mr Devendra Bhujbal, during the conference .
The book was released by conference president Sudhir Sevekar, Bhau Suradkar, Professor Madhav from Bhutan, and other dignitaries attending the 15th Savarkar Conference in Thimphu.
“Zhep” profiles people from diverse fields whose careers and public contributions are presented through inspirational success stories documenting achievement, perseverance and professional or social impact.
Those featured include Dr Vijay Bhatkar, Dr Raghunath Shevgaonkar, Vikas Kharge, Tukaram Mundhe, Nayana Gunde, Sadanand Shete, Dr Vijay Shirishkar and Sudhakar Torane, among others.
The book also includes Dilip Swami, Bhavesh Bhatia, Annasaheb Tekale, Radhika Bhandarkar, R R Lemade, Maruti Kadam, Ram Kajrolkar, Krishna Divate and Umakant Rasane prominently.
Other profiles cover Sharad Chaudhary, Nandkumar Patil, Amol Moholkar, Sukhada Pradhan Singh, Pramod Zinjade, Subhash Khakal, Professor Dr Manisha Chalse and Dilip Pathare in detail.
Anil Rajpise, Shobha Jopule, Virag Madhumalati, Ashwini Bhoir, Punita Bhadsawale, Dr Shyamal Sardkar, J P Desai and Yagnesh Save are also featured in the volume.
Personalities and writers featured in ‘Zhep’
The remaining names listed in the volume are Akshay Jadhav, Manish Gavai and Alka Bhujbal, completing the collection of personalities highlighted through biographical success narratives.
The stories were written by Devendra Bhujbal, Professor Dr Nareshchandra Kathole, Sunil Chitnis, Nandkumar Ropalekar, Mehboob Kasar, Nitant Raut, Rashmi Hede and Vijay Hokarne collectively.
News Story Today is listed as the publisher of “Zhep,” which was formally introduced to attendees in Bhutan’s capital during the international conference gathering in Thimphu.
For Sprouts News, the event brings together two distinct themes: Bhujbal’s intervention on reservation and caste reform, and the overseas release of his biographical collection.
Bhujbal’s first-generation reservation proposal could generate further discussion because implementing such an approach would involve questions of legal definition, eligibility, category-specific protections and constitutional requirements.
The Bhutan gathering, meanwhile, provided speakers a platform for discussing Savarkar’s life, social reform and historical interpretation, alongside the international launch and wider circulation of “Zhep.”
