India, May 11 -- Dear Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Ji,

I first heard your name when my friend, an IAS officer, now retired, served under you in the Petroleum Ministry. Recently, I had occasion to write an editorial on the reforms that you introduced in the University Grants Commission (UGC), which evoked violent protests, especially from upper castes in Uttar Pradesh.

I do not know who said it, but I know what he or she said: the best way to destroy a society or a nation is to destroy its education system. Let incompetence and corruption thrive in education, and society will begin collapsing. There is also a saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

On May 6, you unveiled your guidelines on School Management Committee (SM...