Problems galore

Prakash Ambedkar's views in "Affirmative action policies are under attack" (1-15 May, 2018) depict an acknowledged hangover prevailing among so-called Dalit intellectuals. Their aim is to preserve a status quo which is averse to let the Dalits join the mainstream social life. Like others of his ilk, Ambedkar too makes use of wrong statistics. The Scheduled Caste community is not "stagnating" at 15 per cent, but witnessing a proportionate increase and stands at 16.9 per cent of the total population, as per the 2011 census. Next, the Vedic religion never advocated a birth-based caste system but based on one's profession. A kshatriya became a brahmin (Vishwamitra) and a shudra became a rishi (Valmiki). With time, a caste system based on birth became a tradition.

NEERAJ KISHORE SHARMA SUNDERNAGAR, HIMACHAL PRADESH