Misplaced Sympathies

My late brother used to say that God's greatest gift to mankind is "forgetfulness' - How else can you explain man's ability to swallow even the biggest of the misfortunes that could befall him- like losing the spouse or a dear one in the family. It is a custom in part of south India that immediately after the cremation of the dear one, the person who did the last rites has to have a full meal which should include a sweet. It looks atrocious at the outset and I found it difficult to gulp this when my parents passed away. But, it is done as a symbolic measure to urge the 'karta' that life has to go on and one is encouraged to slowly digest the loss and move on with life! What is more surprising is to see at times the karta enjoying the sweet forgetting the tragedy that has befallen him! So frail is our memory or strong is our penchant for taking life on that we forget easy !

But unfortunately, this appears to be followed in letter and spirit by us even for the criminals and convicts, who have undergone free and fair trial even through the highest court of the land. Of late, it has become a fetish to sympathise with the accused and take up cudgels against the victims!

How else can one explain people sympathizing with the killing of the forest brigand Veerappan in an encounter? Have we forgotten the numerous heinous killings he made in the name of self defense and how he deceived a well intentioned forest officer into the jungle in the guise of a discussion on surrender, skinned him alive and left the body hanging down a tree for days? Even now, people visit his grave periodically and pay their respects as though he was a Kattabomman, who fought the British!

I also saw some episodes in a popular TV channel as to how the once notorious 'Auto Shankar' is also being made to appear as one who has gone astray only due to circumstances!

And recently, the clamor of many of the 'popular' personalities asking for pardoning Sanjay Dutt is unbelievable! While people may have their own justifiable reasons, some of them are appalling which includes "He has suffered enough", "He has been working for the good of the society", "His parents were working towards for the cause of Indians". Some take refuge under legal ambiguities and say that he has not been accused as a terrorist and only as an arms peddler! Reports in the media unveil the atrocious manner he has been (proved to be) hobnobbing with anti national elements, possessed and provided protection for illegally conceived arms which were subsequently proved to have been used for a bomb blast in which 257 innocent public lost their lives. It also accuses Sanjay Dutt of having approached unlawful sources for illegal possession of arms for his own security!

I am not here to debate whether the above accused were terrorists or bandits or criminals. It is for the learned courts to decide based on the evidences and arguments of Police. I am only surprised at the misplaced sympathies of the "high and mighty" totally ignoring the decision of the highest court of the land. I am not surprised at the political and business support but the voices of some of the erudite are being so vociferous in their shout for the pardon of Sanjay is what is making me think of the view of justice in our land.

If after doing a criminal act a person has turned a new leaf before the judgement is delivered, does it entail him for a remission? Records at our prisons would give out reams of paper containing the names of such color turned leaves.  Or are we trying to exploit the delay that is associated with the deliverance of justice in our judicial system? This in no way means he/she can be absolved of their criminal acts. As they say, many unprofessional criminal acts are being done only at the momentary flare of tempers or loss of senses, which the majority of people will repent when they are cooling their heels. For those who do not, they are hardened and habitual criminals, about whom I do not intend wasting our time here. The points is one has to not only repent but also pay for their misdeed whether done casually or in a calculated manner.  

As I had already mentioned my intention is not to debate whether these are criminals are not and I am also not concerned about it. My worry is only about the learned people taking cudgels against those confirmed of their accusations, declared as offenders and delivered of sentences to be served. Are we setting up a wrong precedent? Will this precedent be quoted in future for any hardened criminal to come even out of gallows. With education  we also have some responsibility to the society and I wish the learning is used only for the good, for an 'Athenian blockhead is the worst of all blockheads' !

It is also shocking to hear people saying that it is too harsh a punishment! My dear friends, whom are you questioning, the Supreme Court of India? Are you in any way suggesting that the court is incorrect in its analysis and hence you are trying to go above the same? This too for a paltry 3+ years of imprisonment? Yes, paltry- considering the nature of the offense proved.

When I was in Himachal last week I saw a news report in a local newspaper wherein a lady had stated that getting impacted by the Mumbai Bomb blast, she had undergone 25 surgeries and still the shrapnel embedded in her are creating problems for her, but she has no more money for medicines. The tragedy is that the dole of Rs 25000/- announced in a grandiose manner by the Govt is yet to reach her even after 20 years of the incident!

Pray tell me who has suffered 'enough' - whether this lady with bomb pellets in her belly or people like Sanjay Dutt on whose shoulders ride the film industry's 250 crores !

I only wish our learned brethren fight for the real, suffering victims rather than the rich and affluent who could afford to engage lawyers who charge lakhs per appearance.

Let us not bet on the wrong horses and even involuntarily subvert justice.

Let us not allow our memory , rather the loss of it, to blind our views.

Let us not use the delay in the deliverance of justice to the benefit of the accused.