LET US EMPOWER AND NOT EMACIATE WOMEN
The recent Delhi High Court judgment, sentencing the rapist and murderer of Priyadarshini Mattoo, to death, gives the signal that even the mighty cannot escape the clutches of Law, In fact, a few months back, in one of my Blog comments I wrote that only women jurists should try rape cases. I am proved wrong. When I read some of the judgments and court proceedings, I certainly feel elated that we have one of the finest judiciary in the world. What I fail to comprehend is that in many cases, when a punishment is given for an offence committed outside, why there is remission in the punishment for good conduct inside the jail? Does the good conduct in the jail, bring down the seriousness of the offence or balm the hurt of the offended?
While participating in a debate on ‘Purdah”, Shabhana Azmi made a statement that there was no quarrel between different religions. ‘There is a quarrel between only the liberal and extremist elements in various religions’, she added. I think, Shabhana has a valid point. The extremists in all religions strive to stifle the voice of the saner elements. Reform can be brought about only by the liberals. When one observes the happenings around, perhaps one is tempted to think that the liberals are shrinking in size and the extremists, assume alarming proportions. Unless every religious group, produces reformers with the zeal of an Eashwar Chander Vidyasagar or a Raja Rammohan Roy, the extremist elements would tighten the noose around the necks of the faithful. After all, every religion, tries to improve the lot of Man and to make this world a better place to live. In the hands of extremists, religions become a tool, to serve their purpose. Religion is not the opium of the people, as Karl Marx said. It is the religious zealots, who reduce religion to the level of opium. .
The third one is the Imrana rape case. I am ill qualified to interpret a religious text, that too of a Faith, I do not belong to. And yet, my common sense tells me that rape is a criminal offence and hence has to be handled as such by the competent court of jurisprudence. We have a secular criminal law that governs us.
Finally, I am never tired of quoting Thomas Carlyle’s excellent lines:
“First make yourself an honest man and be sure that there is one rascal less in the
world.”
While participating in a debate on ‘Purdah”, Shabhana Azmi made a statement that there was no quarrel between different religions. ‘There is a quarrel between only the liberal and extremist elements in various religions’, she added. I think, Shabhana has a valid point. The extremists in all religions strive to stifle the voice of the saner elements. Reform can be brought about only by the liberals. When one observes the happenings around, perhaps one is tempted to think that the liberals are shrinking in size and the extremists, assume alarming proportions. Unless every religious group, produces reformers with the zeal of an Eashwar Chander Vidyasagar or a Raja Rammohan Roy, the extremist elements would tighten the noose around the necks of the faithful. After all, every religion, tries to improve the lot of Man and to make this world a better place to live. In the hands of extremists, religions become a tool, to serve their purpose. Religion is not the opium of the people, as Karl Marx said. It is the religious zealots, who reduce religion to the level of opium. .
The third one is the Imrana rape case. I am ill qualified to interpret a religious text, that too of a Faith, I do not belong to. And yet, my common sense tells me that rape is a criminal offence and hence has to be handled as such by the competent court of jurisprudence. We have a secular criminal law that governs us.
Finally, I am never tired of quoting Thomas Carlyle’s excellent lines:
“First make yourself an honest man and be sure that there is one rascal less in the
world.”
posted by Mahadevan @ 6:14 PM
4 Comments:
At 8:54 PM,
Usha said…
The reason why remission is given for good conduct is because the aim of law is reform not revenge.
I agree with the second point and how the zealots give their religion a bad name. They seem to place more emphasis than the form of religion than its spirit.
And I was expecting a take on Ram Jethmalani's decision o defend sanjay sharma.If they can afford competent lawyers why would rascals want to reform themselves?
At 9:04 AM,
Usha said…
oops that should have been ram Jethmalani's decision to defend Manu Sharma. Sanjay is that other guy who has already been sentenced right? Hope our man doesnt jump on that case too!
At 5:13 PM,
Mahadevan said…
Usha:
In defending his client Manu Sharma, Ram Jethmalani went beyond his professional ethics and started casting aspersions on the character of Jessica Lal, who is not alive to defend herself. I am happy, Renuka Chowdhary pointed an accusing finger at Ram Jethmalani.
It is high time, the victims are also allowed to implead themselves in the case and not leave it entirely to the mercy of the state to conduct prosecution. State prosecution machineries are guided by various factors and not the crime alone.
At 7:00 PM,
Usha said…
Ram jethmalani should be wise enough to realise that he does not need this kind of sensationalism. If he needs to resort to such low levels to win his client's case when he doesnt need to prove anything at this stage of a successful career,one can imagine the way the justice system works in India.
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