Importance of being biological Sir - The realization of their mutual dream must be cause of great jubilation for the doctor, Baidyanath Chakraborty, and the parents of the test tube babies (photograph in 'Metro', Jan 28). This indicates how many couples in the city alone take pains to have a biological child. Chakraborty must be lauded for giving their dreams shape. Going by the sheer numbers of test tube babies, it seems that for many couples adoption is still not an easy or immediate option. It seems to be a 'last resort' for most couples, who would even spend beyond their means to have a biological child than adopt one. How long will it take for people to realize that the difference between a biological and an adopted child is illusory? Yours faithfully, Parag Chatterjee, Calcutta Female of the species Sir - What does the women's bill mean for the women of the country? The plan of some politicians to ostracize women from mainstream politics is more atrocious than caste politics. Caste and creed are artificial distinctions while the difference between the sexes is natural. Unlike the former, the latter cannot be exploited for long. Therefore women will soon have to be given their rightful quota of seats in the legislature. Yours faithfully, Rana Ranjeet Kumar, Jamshedpur Sir - The political implications of the bill for women's reservation in legislative bodies can be far reaching if it becomes an act in the future. Thirty three per cent reservation is likely to bring about a tumultuous and dramatic change in national thinking as well as in patterns of voting. Regional political satraps and fringe groups are likely to hear their death knell in the bill. This is foreshadowed in the agitated demeanour of the likes of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mayawati while N. Chandrababu Naidu, Mamata Banerjee and M. Karunanidhi are silent. It is clear to all that political life will not be the same after the bill gains the status of an act. Yours faithfully, Jitesh Sonee, Calcutta Sir - The country again witnessed a mockery of democracy over the tabling of the women's reservation bill ('Bill of entertainment', Dec 25). No one is really serious about it . If tokenism continues to play as big a role in future, women's liberation too, will be in danger of regressing. Yours faithfully, Niloy Sinha, Azimganj Bolpur Sir - Is it not telling that some frontrunning women's organizations of the country have themselves opposed the government's prescribed death penalty for rapists ('Women oppose death for rape', Nov 1)? A reconciliation may be reached if capital penalty is made the maximum, and not the only, punishment for the crime. Other forms of punishment like rigorous imprisonment could be retained with the provision of the most extreme punishment in the most despicable of cases. Yours faithfully, J.C. Bose, Calcutta Sir - Lowering of the age of women to 60 for claiming concession as senior citizens while the cut off age for men remains at 65 is discriminatory. This may be a politically motivated decision on the part of the railway minister, Mamata Banerjee, as this may ensure electoral support for her of women above 60 years. Yours faithfully, Dhaneswar Banerjee, Bolpur Letters to the Editor should be sent to: The Telegraph 6 Prafulla Sarkar Street Calcutta 700 001 Email: the_telegraph_india@newscom.com