Scrap Caste-Based Reservation

Apex court’s order to probe assets of Mayawati on Taj Corridor issue is unlikely to cause any hindrance of the former UP Chief Minister in our ugly political system based on caste-based politics. Any action against the crowned queen of Scheduled Caste voters makes her even much stronger than earlier for her caste-loyalists. It may be noted that her loyalists took it with pride for their castes when Mayawati exhibited an ugly show of her diamond-studded jewellery at her hi-fi birthday celebrations. It is indeed regretful that we are facing evils of a democratic system of governance where factors like caste-based reservation are included in our Constitution for a non-qualitative political system.

Unfortunately, right-thinking persons have no say in our democracy voted by a human-jungle where notorious politicians rule with all means of crime and corruption. Much can be changed if all factors of ‘reservation’, are replaced by new category of ‘Reservation’ for families where parents may be having maximum two children!

Subhash Chandra Agarwal
New Delhi

Praiseworthy and Valuable

The various matters reflected on different issues (of The Day After) are really appreciable. Your vision and analytical views towards political, economical and social scenario of World are highly praiseworthy and valuable for society.

Rajendra Darda
Minister of State for
Home (Urban), Govt. of Maharashtra

Crown of Thorns

Your cover story (September 16 issue) "Mulayam Crowned" was very thought provoking, particularly the analysis by M. Shamin in the story "Maya Mili Na Ram". It is fantastic how your editorial team anticipates the shape of things to come in Indian politics, which even god cannot guess. But don't you think that Mulayam singh’s crown is a crown of thorns. His position is no better than that of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who has to manage a pack of political horses with a tendency to pull in different directions at the slightest provocation. With the sale and purchase of legislation in UP, the Aya Ram and Gaya Ram of yesterday Haryana look like misled angels. How will Mulayam manage to keep his pack of cards intact in this game of political bluff? Will he remember that a crown of polluted thorns does not make one Christ?

John Rajesh
Agra

Daughter of the Depressed

You should not underestimate Mayawati "the daughter of the depressed" as M. Shamin has described in the story "Maya Mili Na Ram". You can hound and hunt her but she will certainly hit back and hit hard. And BJP brothers, who betrayed the BSP sister, should remember that if she can go, they can also go. Their Rajbhakts and Rambhakts will not stand by him but Maya's Dalits will stand by her like rock. Wait and you will see.

Rajwati
Khurja

Plagued Both

THE Congress and the BJP were plagued with neo-castism. The Jats, the Brahmins, and the Rajputs, fed up and frustrated, were holding rallies, demanding their reservation for all contenders for power. This is what your story "The Countdown Starts Now" had brought out. I will suggest that can we not send both these plagued parties for a long holiday.

Simon D' Souza
Panjim

Speechless Agony

I am a great admirer of your editorials. They are in tune with the pulse of the people like us. We must listen to President Kalam when he says build the nation, not just temples and mosques. We must not continue in speechless agony. We must think and act.

Manish Shrivastava
New Delhi

India of Our Dreams

I read your The DayAfter story regularly and wonder how you raised issues years ago, which bother us even today. In August 1987, Your story said, "The common people find the India of their dreams is still too distant that their dreams seem to have been shattered" But sir, that was 16 years ago. I feel that even today India of our dreams remains a distant dream. When will it become a reality?

Nina Sharam
Bhopal

Cycle Wise

YOUR "Mulayam Rides the cycle" in the Fish Bowl was very clever. You seemed to have advised the Congress to push the cycle and not to join the cycle ride. You know that one who rides the cycle falls-Ha!Ha!Ha!

Rishi Pal
Lucknow

Poor Printing

Dear Sir, I am one of your regular readers. I feel really great to read your magazine and recommend to others because of its unique way of presenting facts and analysing them pragmatically. The features also carry interesting topics for leisurely reading.

But, to my utter disappointment, I found the September 16-30 issue of poor printing quality.

The inside pages of the issue contained some very good news, views and pictures but the quality of printing marred all the hard work done by your team.

Hope in the future issues you will be careful in these matters.

Picture Perfect Mualayam

Sir, to be honest I am an irregular reader of your magazine. But I never miss to see all the photographs you use. I was really impressed by the cover photograph. Mulayam was picture perfect in that.

Followig the UP drama many magazines used Mulayam Singh's different photoragphs. But none treated him the way you did. The treatment was really special. The Mulayam treatment.