Game-plan backfires

Game-plan  backfires
Only a foolhardy team management and captain would have persisted with Ravindra Jadeja for a crucial match, after the ‘pasting’ he got from the Aussies in the previous match (‘Beaten Black & Blue’, DNA, May 10). If the idea was to instill some confidence in Jadeja, it backfired horribly. To put things in perspective, India lost to West Indies by just 14 runs, while Jadeja ‘magnanimously’ gave away 27 runs in 12 balls.
—Chandramohan, via email

Caste politics
This refers to your editorial ‘Depoliticise caste count’ (DNA, May 8). Exactly the opposite may happen with this belated decision. Already enumerators are in the field and one wonders how soon and effectively this decision would reach them throughout the country. If information about people belonging to ‘other backward castes’ is going to be taken, the only categories that will be not be tabulated according to castes will be those belonging to open category. They will stand to lose further with the new decision. If the British used religious differences to divide the nation, what stops the politicians from doing the same with caste now? This decision will help those caste-based political formations which are supporting them to continue in office. 
—S Subramanyan, Mumbai

II
It is most unfortunate that after 1931, a caste-based census is to be carried out this year. Caste has no relevance in modern India. There shall be more unwanted demands like reservations on a caste basis and so on after the census. It serves no purpose and is a direct hindrance to economic development. Hindus are most tolerant and liberal people in the world but our power-hungry politicians wish to drag India to an uncivilised era — just for their own greed.
—Mahesh Kumar, via email

Follow their principles
Apropos ‘Grand plans, special train on Tagore’s 150th anniversary’, (DNA, May 10), we need to reconsider all these plans, including the formation of national committees, associations, providing special trains, et al .  We can pay true homage to great personalities by observing and practising their principles in our daily life. Whether it is Gandhiji, Tagore or any great personality, naming a road or building a statue would neither propagate their principles nor would it be any real proof of our true reverence. I agree with the writer (‘The ‘inner’ Tagore’, DNA, May 10) that observing the essence of Tagore’s principles like unity, respecting the feminine transcendental aspect of human life and so on in our life would be a real tribute to Tagore.
—Shilpa Ghosh, via email