Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Both sad and shocking” (October 22). When men can be so blinded by caste hatred that they can set two sleeping toddlers on fire, there must be something terribly wrong with the Indian psyche that takes such perverse pleasure in torturing fellow human beings.
Notably, contrary to media reports, the official version is that there was a fight between two neighbours who belonged to different castes. However, it is hard to dispel the impression that, at the heart of the quarrel is the reluctance of the upper castes to accept the rise of the Dalits as equal citizens.
Unfortunately, after each such incident, politicians react in the most partisan manner, immediately blaming the ruling party in the hope of gaining the sympathy of Dalits.