The Question of Hindu-Muslim Unity in India

For more than 1000 years, Hindus and Muslims have inhabited this ancient land in somewhat perfect harmony. Their dwellings occupied a common landscape in primordial villages. Their children played and learned together. A chunk of stories are told about the comity of these two, tales of their acceptance of each other abound,  of donation of land to wealthy merchants from Arab who came to reside in what is now called Kerala, of giving daughters in marriage alliance to these wealthy merchants by locals Hindus. Bloody battles have been fought between kings who belonged to these communities but premise was mostly territory, religion the least. No credible evidence exist of religious violence among common masses leave alone riots.

[Image via Amit Arora/Vimeo.com]

Why then these two communities which were actually never two, which were never different, which embraced each other for so long are hell bent on confronting each other now. Why almost on the daily basis newspapers are replete with stories of violence in the name of religion.

Some 2500 years ago Buddhism and Jainism came to fore as a reaction to Brahminical ritualism that pervade the social milieu and made an indelible mark on Indian society by strengthening existing argumentative traditions (like Shashtratha) on religious discourse, imparting it a tolerant and pacifist character. Religion was discussed, debated and deliberated rather than being decided by swords.

With the invasion of Alexander from northwestern front, gate for further invasions was opened and this ensued attacks by Parthian, Greeks, Scythians, Huns , Shakas and other Central Asian tribes etc. These tribes came and settled in northern western region and got embedded in Hindu Varna System adoption same traditions and sometimes even same Gods and Goddesses. This veritable and disparate stream of tribes which never ceased approaching India gave Indian society a tolerant character.

Continued political invasions made people impervious to political changes that took place at highest level unless it affects their common social life. In this regard Indian villages were certainly little republics. This political tolerance engendered tolerance towards admission of social groups in Indian Society unless this induction creates a substantial turmoil in existing social order. With a certain amount of conviction it can be argued that Indian society was largely tolerant.

Islam that appeared in India was a tolerant, pacifist, and Sufis form of new religion as it came to India through merchants and traders predominantly rather than through Ghaznaviads and spread through Sufi order. It was this reason that it did not create any alteration in existing social order that already lay entrenched. The fairly accommodative contemporary political framework that carried forward the argumentative tradition under able administration diminished any probability of backlash against Islam. It is true in regard to village councils that existed and were inclusive of all caste and religions which rendered fair justice. It is believed that although there might have been no concurrence on certain matters, there was a fair “value consensus” on most matters and it got enforced through village councils, aided by a system of mutual exchange between both communities, which engaged in give and take of ideas and adoption of each other’s practices, rituals, thoughts and beliefs. In the long run, assisted by simple and independent village life, people intermingled, got enmeshed into a single community. There was an inherent sense of tolerance which led to non-interference in each other’s religious chores.

It is evident from revolt of 1857 when Hindus and Muslims fought against British on premise that both of us follow one God while British being Christian have faith in son of God so they are “kafir”. Cow slaughter was voluntarily given up at many places. This was remarkable instant of Hindu-Muslim unity based on their value consensus.

Having suppressed the revolt, the British advertently decided to erode this value consensus by creating fissures. But the major dent that British made was to have done away with the village councils which were carriers of value consensus.  Later both Muslim league and Hindu Mahashabha sided with the British in widening this gulf which eventually led to partition.

After partition Nehru picked up the threads of economic growth, some people were left behind two three generations. Identity politics that ensued, to get greater participation in this growth did indeed benefit some communities but the Muslim community was left behind. This adventure with identity politics led to polarization of society. For the purpose of grabbing power, all avenues of identity politics were exploited, religion was invoked, fear psychosis created and riots engineered.

What is often missed is that there were existing fissures that were exploited. Unplanned urbanization has led to lack of homogenization in Indian cities, or in other terms ghettoization has occurred which have led to alienation of communities. This has replaced tolerance that existed due to intermingling with ignorance due to lack of concern. In villages too, value consensus has eroded due to uneven development and due to lack of an all inclusive village council. What replaced them was exclusionary caste panchayats, which didn’t care about the overall value consensus and preached their own values. New generations lacked respect and concern for other community, which is a side-effect of consumerist culture. Terms like Mullaji, Khan Sahab, Chaudhary Sahab etc are no more in vogue and rightly so, but it shows the lack of comity and respect wielded earlier.

Media and communal politics created certain perceptions like many Hindus believe that Muslims are pro-Pakistan and therefore they reproduce more so that they can create a Pakistan out of India. A part of south Delhi dominated by Muslim population is often called “mini Pakistan”. Indian Muslims have come to believe that Hindus are kafirs and that they are responsible for eroding common composite culture called Ganga Jamuni Tahjeeb. These perceptions and erosion of value consensus have antagonized these communities and fissures flare up whenever someone incites them knowingly using agendas like “love jihad” or “cow or pig slaughter” and “honor of daughters and wives”.

These misperceptions need to be countered as in the face of a belligerent China and a complex world order, India has to create a niche for itself and fulfill dreams of peace and prosperity seen by our forefathers. Every majority community has a responsibility to make the minority communities feel protected and empowered to speak their mind. It is a sin to doubt the loyalty of any community to India but it is a travesty of our nation that minorities are made to prove their loyalty again and again. But those ignorant minds who doubt, should remember that Indian Muslims have proved it time and again. India fought four wars with Pakistan, during these times Pakistan tried to drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims by inciting communal passions. But history is witness, Indians fought as one and not as Hindus or Muslims or Sikhs or whatever. Indian Muslims disproved Jinnah’s prophecy when he said that if congress “attempted to exert any pressure on Hyderabad every Muslim throughout whole of India, yes, all the hundred million Muslims would rise as one man to defend the oldest Muslim dynasty in India.” But Indian Muslims did not fight for Hyderabad, but they fought for India. How many Muslim names has one heard of involved in scams and scandals? Think and ask yourself who is the real patriot.

Misconceptions about fertility rate remains. The level of fertility may be higher in Muslims but the reason for this I believe is lack of awareness, non availability of contraception, mullah’s grip over naive people rather than any conspiracy. Evidence to prove my point is the low fertility rates among the educated Muslim families. Further, similar level of fertility were present in Hindus too, two or three generations ago. One can ask him or herself of how many children his or her grandmother had.http://jamiajournal.com/2014/03/02/the-question-of-hindu-muslim-unity-in-india/

Premarital Sex- Court Judgement invokes Debate

It is often held that there is no absolute truth just perspective, but there is something called reason. But there are certain recent judgments of Indian judiciary that defy reason as well as absolute knowledge. Being captivated by absolute power which scorns any accountability is innate human tendency. This tendency seems to pervade the mind of our honorable judges while delivering these judgments nowadays.  One can see a pattern of everyday injunctions based on baseless assumptions.

A recent pronouncement by Delhi High Court judge on premarital sex invokes discussion. The judgment held that premarital sex is “immoral” and against “tenets of every religion”.

We have seen khaap panchayats or a group of self appointed god men declaring acts as moral or immoral or against tenets of religion but never before a court since courts are invited to declare an act legal or illegal based on the strict adherence to law. And in those cases where law is silent, judges are required to restrain themselves and not to practice judicial promulgation, as they may not be well aware of the ground reality, for which every democracy has a proper channel called legislature. If someone has to decide what collective consciousness can be it has to be the legislature which represents and is accountable to people not judges who are not elected and can be removed only by a tedious process.

Judgment has raised a question, which is to decide what is moral or immoral. And is a collective morality on all issues even possible in a country that encompasses huge diversity in its every nook and corner. It is lack of knowledge and understanding about Indian on the part of learned and honorable judge and the above said case, as there are tribal and non-tribal communities in India where premarital sex is not at all immoral. Muria and Gond tribes of Central India have special homes called Gotul or Ghotul where girls introduce younger boys to sexual life and its fundamentals and where unmarried couples are supposed to enter into and test their sexual relationships. Verrier Elvin, anthropologist and ethnologist and tribal activist indicated the same in his book The Muria and their Ghotul. It can be said with convenience that premarital sex plays in Muria play a definite role in selection of future life partner.

India is a diverse country, people of all major religion of the world reside here, hundreds of tribes carry out their distinct cultural and traditional practices, thousands of dialects are spoken, and regional variations in traditions are immense in people of same religion. This diversity was precisely the reason why Article 44 of the Constitution i.e. to enforce a uniform civil code was made a Directive Principle of State Policy, rather than being placed in Part III of the Constitution that could have coerced state to go for homogenization thus wiping out immense cultural capital imbued in social moorings in India and which could have endangered the unity of the nation.

The judge has relied on religion to make his point while forgetting that there are people who do not profess any religion, there are communities who cannot be called to be under ambit of any religion. Although there are enough examples to show that premarital sex was prevalent in ancient India but even if religion prohibits something would it be reasonable or rational to proscribe the same things now, more than thousand years of the period when all the major religion of the world have establish themselves. If religion is to prevail we should bring monarchy back and abrogate hard earned democracy and all other modern institutions and principles too.

Indian judiciary is always commended to bring justice closer to poor by bringing right to food, right to sleep, right to work etc under Fundamental right to life with dignity, thus hailing itself the guardian of their protection. Sex, like food and sleep, is a biological need thus should be considered as a part of right to life with dignity, at least to the extent that when two consenting adults are willing to engage in it, state shall not intervene. Then there is sexual activity among those who are in live-in relationships which our judiciary has not rendered illegal or even immoral and right so. Further speaking sex is part of expressing a person’s feeling to other and thus an inherent part of freedom of expression yet another Fundamental right. The judge should have remembered that consensual sex above age of consent is not forbidden by any law in India. Logic of age of consent itself gives credence to premarital sex.

In recent times many judgments seem to decide what two consenting adults can do in their bedroom. State should rescue itself from private domains and acquiesce itself strictly to sacred contract, focusing on governance and developmental issues, violating which it could engender chaos and tyranny.

January 23, 2014

Is Love Marriage a Sin?

Couples continue to be killed for marrying against the will of their families, mostly because these marriages, as are vaguely declared, do not conform to the socially sanctioned moral procedures. Most of the time these marriages are either love marriages and have no consideration of caste or religion; this is why they have become major bone of contention, as they are not prescribed by fossilized caste based society.

It is hard to fathom any logical reason behind the widespread resistance even while many medical researches indicate better future prospects of the children born out of intimacy brought out by love marriages. Even the reading of religious texts, mythology, ancient inscriptions tow the similar line. If religious texts and mythology is supposed to be highly reflective of the contemporary society, then certainly we have a very mature tradition of love marriages for at least last 3000 years. We even have historical element at our disposal to support our line of thought.

If epics like Mahabharta are to be  believed as representing historical happenings, then I dare say, that many of the marriages that solemnized were not only love marriages but again there was no consideration of caste. To name a few, King Shantnu and Ganga, King Shantnu and Satyavati, Arjuna and Subhadra, Bhima and Hidimba, Abhimanyu and Uttara and there are many more not so well documented like that of Rishi Parasara and Matsyagandha (Satyavati). While Shantnu and Bhima belonged to Kshatriya clan, Satyavati and Hidimba were either tribal or belonged to what was called lower rung of society.

If ancient secular literature is to be read in this light then both of the major texts of the Gupta period concur with my presumption that love marriage would have been common phenomenon then. For example Abhigyanshakuntalam composed by Kalidasa brings out the love story of King Dushyant and Shakuntla, who gave birth to Bharat on whose name the tribe Bharatha name to be recognized and later the name of our nation was christened. Mrichchhakatika by Shudraka deals with the love affair of a poor Brahmana trader with a beautiful courtesan.

Many convincing arguments can be presented in favour of presence of practice of love marriages among common masses like presence of twelve type of marriage (many of which are rather irrational) in religious texts, large number of instances of love marriages in fictional literature and mythology. While lack of phenomenal number of such example in chronological history of common man can be attributed to the lack of the interest of nobility in his life and absence of record keeping behaviour of common man.

But still there are many examples in history such as Yami, sister of Yam insisting on love marriage while her brother protesting. Prabhavati, (daughter of Chandragupta 2, a Gupta period Vaishya ruler) marrying Yakataka prince, a Brahman. Medieval history too has specific instances, the most exemplary being the young Jahangir marrying 35 years old, widowed, but vivacious Nur Jahan. Inter-religion marriages were quite common too. Presence of large number of sub-castes also indicate inter-caste marriages that might have taken place while commingling of dominant clans with tribes was a very common phenomenon.

So if one is to consider the historical aspect than it can be said with certainty that love, inter-caste or inter-religion marriages are not sin. Love marriage can also be seen from socio-philosophical angle as they ensue gender equity, put a brake on retrograde practices like dowry and helps in breaking fossilized social structures that obstruct development of healthy society.

June 14, 2012

Irony of a girl in India: Sex object, Second Gender, Equal Partner?

“Girl” what comes to mind when one got to hear or read this word? There are two prominent versions that represent the forefront of mind’s horizon. In the first version, what human mind characterizes is the appearance whose most likely adjectives connotes an ultra modern figure, dressed in skimpy clothes, tight jeans and clothing whose appearance gives the glimpse of promiscuous entity. While the second version being strictly conservative in nature depicts a portrait where woman has been reduced to degraded wretch, shrouded in the veil of male hegemony, wrapped in the so called societal moralities, carrying on what ‘wise man’ euphemistically called household or motherly responsibilities.

Ever though both these versions plague our psyche, why do ‘men’, even in this ‘satellite age’ still cling to old, irrational and decrepit system of thought? There are no easy answers to it, only conjectures, and the one which suits the ordeal and which satisfies the maximum quest is conditioning and commissioning of human mind.

An unfortunate legacy that is passed on to future generations has survived is the onslaught of Western Modernism. A legacy has silently taught us that we ‘males’ are superior than our female counterparts since our physical built is far stronger. Similar arguments are common with regards to intellect and spirituality. Some people will use this line of argument while forgetting the pain enduring prowess of a woman which is far stronger. If to tow an egalitarian line then we can refer to, Gandhiji who once remarked “woman is companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity…..if by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior, if nonviolence is the law of our being, the future is with woman”.

Reverting back to the original visualization how both of these descriptions are instrumental in culmination and perpetration of the worst crime against woman’s dignity and her modesty, namely “rape”.

First visualization is the handiwork of the neoliberal media advertently propagating sexually explicit content. We visualize whatever we see. Major newspapers that boost of being most widely distributed dailies have turned into soft porn magazines often carrying “superfluous and unsuitable content” and have terribly misused the freedom of expression and ethical limits that comes with this noble profession. Television advertisements are replete with fairness and freshness agendas often intruding into very private domains. This commoditization coupled with ‘item culture’ of our cinema has portrayed woman merely as “sex object” and has done an irreparable damage to woman’s dignity and further aggravated the modesty concerns. Robbing woman of her individuality it has perpetrated a notion that woman is a promiscuous entity whose modesty can be outraged at whims and pleasures and she is nothing more than the integrated package for relishing carnal desires and a subsidized “keep”.

The second visualization is outcome of traditional practice well entrenched through centuries. Arising out of discriminations, prejudices and social antagonism directed to keep her backward it prevents her from developing into a individual. This continued devaluation and disempowerment of woman that starts at her birth and from that tender age continues till her death infuses in her psyche in a rather subtle manner that she must not transgress the societal boundaries. This whole phenomenon also contributes its bit in making woman meek and timid eventually making her vulnerable to criminal tendencies including rape.

Had the society endorsed the principle of gender-equity espousing man and woman as equal creatures and forwarded that woman too commands respect in equal measure as man, it would have been tougher for criminal tendencies to act against her. It would not have been easier to invade her body without her consent and then woman too being psychologically strong would have resisted any such attempt tooth and nail.

Some of my “so called learned friends” will argue that the woman’s attire or what she wears is also in some way responsible for rapes thus making her culprit and shifting on her all the blame. This is very simplistic view of the deeper malaise. Indeed it is an attempt to save ourselves (males) from the blame for the ill fate we have brought to our mothers, sisters, daughters and friends and to absolve us of all the responsibility that we should bear towards bringing to her respect, equality and dignity. It is my humble opinion that man’s manliness is not in running away from this blame but in correcting the previous wrongs and in respecting her dignity, providing her space for equality.

June 1, 2012

How women are treated during their periods

Since ages woman have always been subjected to sanctions and dictums from more privileged male counterparts in every feudalistic society like ours and even the most optimistic prophet will stumble to foretell when it will come to an end. Her freedom had been curtailed accusing her of licentious and promiscuous behavior, prerogative to don what she wishes had forcefully been snatched voice & even in her own matters, has been muzzled.

Society is replete with prejudices that stink of anathema towards her socio-economic development and obstructs her progress as an equal human being. These prejudices manifest themselves in practices like female foeticides, denial of basic rights, partiality in providing education, good food or clothing and other accessories. Eve-teasing, harassment (physical, mental and sexual), rapes, marital rapes, women trafficking, prostitution are only few names out of horribly lengthy list of ignominious acts perpetrated against woman.

People like me who belong to middle or lower class, are witness to despicable act of wife beating in our neighborhoods. Women even sometimes fall victim to institutionalized apathy. The methods of sexual torture adopted, or the Finger Test conducted on rape victims are the most abominable acts that need to be condemned in harshest words.

The painstaking efforts of activists, reformers, rational and progressive thinkers, Government, NGO’s has met with some considerable success for the emancipation of women. But this success is restricted predominantly to metropolitans where woman are holding managerial, intellectual, political or other respectable positions. The goals are still elusive as far as rural landscape is concerned and only combined concerted effort of all the aforementioned will extend the contours of the bright daylight up to those women that still reel under the shadows of male dominance.  

A cruel practice

Sorry, as I apprehend my social or anthropological incompetence to question or scorn the “millennium” old traditional practices, deeply entrenched and ossified by accumulating fears of indigenous culture being subjugated by western culture, however, horrendous or inhumane these practices might be. I enunciate the practice that offended me when I heard it from one of my friends. And then I launched my so called “investigation”. I elucidate what I found out as I heard, witnessed, discussed and deliberated with my friends, teachers, people and clerics belonging to divergent communities or strata of life. I wish to narrate two correspondences.

Women or young girls are still barred from entering kitchen, religious structures, or from touching utensils or anything that is considered holy or from reading sacred texts during their natural periods. Their access is restricted to a single room where they are rendered shabby treatment flagrantly abusing their sense of dignity and liberty. The practice is entrenched uniformly across the spectrum of society, only the modern societies have liberated themselves from this blot.

Out of the people that I “cross examined”, an educated female friend of mine was very critical of this traditional tract “We are degraded and treated like wretches, we are held in disdain as we might have committed some serious felony and are scorned as sinners”. Then commenting on rural and urban divide in the context of this practice she commented, “Belonging to metropolitan culture is boon to us while our rural sisters’ reel under scruffy treatment meted out to them by elderly women who sometimes connive with their male counterparts. You see how the girls in villages use dirty cotton clothes which sometimes cause serious bacterial and fungal infections that give rise to STDs (Sexually Transmitted Disease) and sometimes even cancer”. “Girls feel humiliated when they had to rush to toilets during their periods because of absence of proper stuff required and lack of knowledge. Non availability of toilets is one of the major reasons of high girl dropouts from school and consequently low women literacy”. When I entreated her to remonstrate and demur she lamented, “Pranay, we have accepted it as our preordained destiny. We are victims not only of amorous desires of man but also of religious and traditional structures”.

In another instance I landed a young cleric into an unusual discomfiture when I enquired, “Is it true”. Initially baffled at my question he calmed down and reluctantly replied in affirmative. “These practices have continued from million years, now we can’t change them”. When I further pressed him, he bulged, to my dismay “Don’t you see, during this time women are full of dirt and filth, aren’t they unholy”? I remained tightlipped, only reflected that how can a process in which lies the source of continuity of human life be unholy. I couldn’t get the answer. Do you have any answer for it????

March 20, 2012

Muslim Youth can bring the change in Community

“The status of Indian Muslims are below the conditions of Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes” was the summary of grave indictment of not only the economic conditions of community that failed to unite as a formidable political force but also of the farcical notion of minimal secularism endorsed by majority community which repeatedly failed to disburse justice, social and economic; liberty of thought and expression; and freedom of faith and worship to minority communities.

Sachar Committee report in a stark revelation pointed out “the overall percentage of Muslims in bureaucracy in India is just 2.5% while Muslim constitute above 14% of Indian population”. It is not only disturbing but also unfathomable that the community, which endowed nation with its first Education minister, lies at the lowest pedestal of this platform. What went wrong? What was the glitch?

Political “use” of the community in the name of Muslim vote has done more harm than good to it. The absence of a credible leader who can enforce a vision for the development concerns has squandered the communities’ unity into the cruel playful hands of proxies who had consistently used the community for their political aggrandizement and backtracked on the promise while being in power.  

The political fragmentation has rendered muslims powerless in demanding their justifiable rights often enjoyed by classes that are higher in economic status and consequently not unworthy of these benefits. It’s high time to put a brave front before 2014 elections, Muslims should start uniting themselves and press for reservations in jobs, educational institutions etc and demand better dividends in exchange for their valuable votes.

Communal and majoritarian politics has imbued a sense of alienation that has further entrenched and ossified its problems. The Hindutva movement inculcating itself in horrendous demolition of Babri Masjid and in carnage of Muslims in Gujarat has pushed the community to ghettos. Instead of fighting for justice the community segregated itself from mass politics, belittling itself to be a hapless child, while its protector turned its back onto it. This segregation has manifested itself in real and perceived discrimination in jobs education development cultural promotion. This lack of amalgamation with society has backfired, consequently resulting in poverty, lack of education, awareness, and problems of mistrust and misunderstanding with other communities. Its time to learn from past experiences and thrive to build a solid foundation of amity and peace with others. It’s time to clear all misjudgments of understandings and to press harder for justice.

Lack of Muslims at higher designations in government set up can be stated as one of the reason of its systemic and systematic neglect and discrimination. Firstly the serious lack of educational institutions particularly devoted for the welfare of the community and secondly the alleged proclivity towards religious education over modern education can be behind these lacunae. Biased or prejudiced media sections propagate their own agendas that further vilify the community and had added to its woes.

Young Muslims holds the key for the desired change of attitude for upliftment from the present conditions, for betterment and for overall development of community in particular and nation in general. Young Muslims who are taking part in societal development aggressively will bring back volley of justice. They are the ones who will rise above petty considerations and cut the strings of consistent injustices perpetrated systematically upon the community for decades. It’s not easy; it will be a huge task, indeed a challenge. If they fail, it’s not the community only that will fall, but a whole world will fall. Do you accept the challenge??????

February 29, 2012

Who will reform the criminals?

This gruesome incident, although common occurred when I had boarded bus No 429 from vicinity of Old Delhi railway incident and finding all seats preoccupied, adjusted me in gallery, supported by elevated platform. Near me stood Kyamuddin, a frail man with squeezed face, and a girl dressed in yellow tops but to be honest I didn’t’ noticed color of her jeans.

While I was relishing (with my eyes closed) Gazals sung  by Gulam Ali, a boy about 18 appeared from nowhere and inserted himself forcibly between me and Kyamuddin. I opened my eyes to ascertain his intentions. His personality wandered miles away from that a decent boy. Ruffled hairs, wandering eyes, embarrassed face, and mutilated clothes gave me an impression of him being a pickpocket. Instantly I signaled to him that I was ‘consciously’ awake. Apprehending my judgment he displaced far from me .He then unsuccessfully attempted to steal contents of another young man’s pocket standing beside him. Realizing what was going on, this young man clubbed both his hands and slapped and abused him incessantly. Two three other boys waged past through me and hurled upon him a volley of punches, kicks and slaps. He turned black and blue and blood started to ooze out of his mouth. Sensing trouble he was evicted from bus.

After restoration of calm I asked Kyamuddin whether this punishment will teach him a lesson not to repeat his dastardly act again. Kyamudddin out rightly rejected my assertion and further added that tortured at the hand of humiliation, guilt of failure will prompt him to prove himself good at this profession again. Two questions instantly raided faculties of my mind. One, if this treatment will not deter him, what was the use of it and what should be prescribed then? Another, why so many people jumped into foray to test their strength on this pitiful creature?

Reasons

It has been proved time and again that all crimes are committed under the state of “psychological imbalance” caused by different factors. Dostoyevsky astutely conveyed the point through “Crime and Punishment”. In the light of this knowledge search for reasons becomes imperative. Why and in what situation crime was committed, what were justifications suggested, if any by the perpetrator?  Pondering over these questions prepares a background to understand the cause of tragedies. Lack of education, moral and ethical degradation, economic hardships and easy way to earn money lie at the root of small crimes such as loot, pick-pocketing and chain snatching etc. Disparity in wealth distribution, attraction to lavish and exuberant life style prompts teenagers to adopt unethical ways to earn easy money.

The second aspect of problem is an insidious frustration coupled with anger that is brewing up in common masses, reason being the flaws in justice delivery system. People now believe that no purpose will be solved by approaching the ‘over archaic’ police administration or ‘tortoise paced’ justice system. Rather than wasting time and money in due processes they find it better to disburse the “justice” at their own even if it leads to deplorable human right violations.

If steps are not taken to reinvigorate justice delivery system, ramifications can be unimaginably harsh. Nation might be plunged in a dismal state of spontaneous violence that might put our democracy in peril.

What shall we do?

All of us witness similar incidents in our daily lives but we tend to ignore suspecting moral bankruptcy of people involved. What we need is introspection, a soul searching for the reasons that lead to the culmination of such problems. We ought to take a rather sympathetic view and tread reformative path as Gandhiji said “Hate the crime not the criminal” as there is always a possibility of reform of the person involved. Even Shaheed Bhagat Singh espoused Reformative theory of jurisprudence “Reformative theory is now widely accepted and necessary for human progress. It aims at reforming the culprit and converting into a peace loving citizen”.

So it is a humble request to all fellow rational people to adhere to reformative practices rather than venting their ‘justified’ anger on less fortunate creatures. Many a crime can be averted and it will be a huge step forward for civilization, away from barbarism professed now in name of retributive and deterrent principles. 

February 6, 2012