Death..!!!



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A morbid topic, or a headline one would say.. Depressing, Mood breaking, the embodiment of darkness. Many other words that describe one of the most hated and feared word in a human being's life, but a stark reality that all of us have to endure at some point or the other.



Why have I selected this as my thought? Why so morose? No, have not gone through this, thank God, but a similar incident on a known person shook the floor beneath.. Literally..

All started with a simple message on my FB wall... "Dear Friends, Our class mate "ABC", who we all studied with, is no more. Was not well, and unfortunately have to announce that he has left us."

A two liner. One would think that ok, we all know that every one who comes has to leave one day.. But what was shocking was that this was a friend we all grew up with, who we had studied with, played with, fought with, passed off through college.. Just about 2 decades ago....



As time passes, we all get a year older, and of course, we don't fall in the 20+ category any more, but then neither do we fall in the 50+ category or the 80+ or whatever... The entire group being in the 40 - 45 range, an incident like this was not even in the horizon.. Not that we are great fit people, but of course, like every "young" person, we too thought that death was far away if any thing else..

Further details gave light that our class mate had a brain problem, which came some where about a decade ago, he suffered, got cured, and appeared suddenly after a long time.... This time unfortunately, no time for realization, cure, or even a second chance... It was simply, Life at First sight.

The suddenness with which Death comes and claims a person, not giving him a time to introspect, fix things, not considering what needs to be done, what not.. How would the persons family manage, how would his children, who were still in school go through life, their Dad not being there any more for any of their key events in life. As they grow older, who would guide them on key decisions, who would they look up to. They would never get a chance to tell their friends.. Hi.. This is my Dad..

Brought a stark realization, that no one is past this. We all live with a great belief that we will live until forever. We never think about tomorrow, never about how our families will move on, what will happen to them, once we are gone, or for that matter any one near and dear goes away.

I don't aim to be negatively inclined, nor do I expect myself or any one for that matter stop living in the fear that we may die tomorrow.. But at the same time, it is a part of life, it will always shock us, shake us, make our hair stand on end when we hear about it.....  I guess that is what Death is all about...

In memory of my friend Anil who passed away recently.. May his soul Rest in Peace..

The Nirbhaya Effect: Justice at last !!

So, the death penalty has been declared. Finally.

Every one commented on it, the media channels are all about it, well circulated in the News, some putting in updates every two hours.. The Judges view, that there should be no leniency (the +The Times of India  coverage) and the satisfaction on the mother of the deceased, finally being at peace.

For sure good coverage and not my thought for today. Had an earlier post on Nirbhaya, but the thought was more on another vote topic also discussed in the +The Times of India. Will the Death Penalty act as a Deterrent to Rape? Good thoughts no doubt, however though people believe that this will prove as one, have my doubts.

The death penalty in the Nirbhaya case, undoubtedly is what was deserved by the culprits, but the fact also remains that the judiciary acted more in fear of a backlash from the people, rather than give it on it's own accord. Whether the Sessions court in Delhi hand down the punishment fearlessly, is more known to the judges, but all said and done, a bold decision.

The verdict being a deterrent for future rape cases, may not necessarily act as one. The Nirbhaya case, was, is and remains a rare case that sparked a nation wide furore from K to K, probably never before seen. The sheer madness with which the act was done, was enough to provoke even the mildest of the mild to vent his frustration at the social structure in which India seemed to reside.

The rapists know this very well and probably understand the fabrics more than the educated masses. The amount of loopholes that the Secular structure provides, the caste system on which the entire country has been created, the anti community feelings that harbour within communities, the illiterate masses that are managed by shrewed guiltless politicians, who still live in the framework and the mindset of the invaders and communities that think that women are simply objects of fulfillment of pleasures known only to man, the ever increasing number of cases that are pending, collecting dust in the courts... Why will this verdict be a deterrent?

Fast track courts were supposed to deliver verdicts in short periods of time. The Nirbhaya case, took 9 months. Surely one would say, arranging proofs, evidences, etc, however considering the culprits were apprehended immediately, the verdict could have come in six months earlier. That, I feel might have sent in a stronger message, along with a Central decision to move all such cases to the fast track courts and taking it out of the regular courts. That might have sparked a fear among wannabe culprits, that the Government means business and is no longer in a mood of protection.

This will require change, a lateral shift in the thinking, and a willingness to put the electorate first over and above personal goals and the desire to stay in power indefinitely. No doubt, the verdict will see appeals, including possible mercy petitions to the President, however one would not be surprised that this too might be a political manoeuvre, to ensure that the timing if it does come to the President to be rejected (possibly already decided), should be at election time..

After all some Aces have to be managed close to the chest. Now whether the country sees beyond this single instance and insist on a justice path that is short and effective, or is buoyed by a single call and the rest forgotten, is our call.

I probably know how I will react and probably quite a few more, but do all is the perennial Million Dollar question..