2 contrasting letters.

Letter 1:

Hi!!
Today is one of the happiest days of my life!! The Supreme Court has okayed the OBC reservation! Which means that people like me can get into IIM,the place of my dreams and what my family would love for me to get into,at only half the struggle that those poor unreserved candidates have to slog night and day for!

Although I am not so poor-we have an independent house and 2 cars-and have had a good education-and I am not so dumb either,ah but who cares!! Now my getting into IIM is so much easier. Although the Supreme Court has said that the "creamy layer-" by that I guess they mean me,are to be excluded,we can bribe a clerk in the Government Office to get us a certificate saying that we are underprevileged,and life will be a cakewalk after that! Even if that fails,and the clerk tends to be a bit stubborn,we'll pay him cash and give him a bottle of the finest Scotch and the latest mobile phone as gifts. Hell,a little bit of money for a lifetime of comfort. It isn't such a bad bargain right?

I feel sorry for my friends who belong to the unreserved category,but I'm sure this is payback for the centuries we've suffered as a people. Many of my friends are not as well off as I am,and they're also writing the CAT exams-without reservation,mind you-I don't know what their chances are. I guess I stand a better chance than them,although many of them are more hard working than me. But in the end.it's all about me,and I'm happy for this.

Sometimes I wonder whether I'll go through my whole life being branded now that this quota will be implemented. But so what? My family and future generations will be in comfort,and it's a fair trade for a few uncomfortable moments now and then.

I am so pleased with the Government that my vote will surely go to them-and the elections are coming up soon!! I really thank them for finally giving us a voice with which we can speak-the voice of a quality education in a premier institute that is otherwise nearly impossible to get into if I would written it without the quota in my pocket. Thanks so much!!

Letter 2:

I can't believe that they're going through with it. I thought that truth and fairness would always prevail,but now I realise how naive I truly was! I come from a middle class family,and I got into Engineering College on my own merit and a free seat,at that. And until now I was working really hard to get into IIM,but now that this quota has been implemented,I honestly don't know what my chances are. Because I know for a fact that I am hard working,but now an OBC candidate who works half as hard as me will be selected! And he will be picked up by all the multi nationals! I also know that I am not as brilliant as most of the people who get through the cut throat competition. But then an OBC candidate will get the same mark as me-which means he would not have been selected otherwise-and get into IIM-A! Is this fairness? Is this Justice?

How can I look at my good friend-who is now one of the previleged lot-and not be envious of him? Won't it affect our friendship? Won't it create a rift between people like me and people like him? How can I control my anger when he gets into any esteemed institute of his choice and I don't,when we've both worked exactly the same?

I guess the only option for me is to go abroad now,if I don't get into IIM. What other option do I have? I don't want my children to suffer the same way I have. They deserve a better life than this,for sure.

I thought the days of casteism had come to an end. Now with this quota,it's come back with a bang,bigger than ever.Thanks for listening. You may know of me but do pray for me and people like me,it's the only thing that will work for "us," as opposed to "them."