What do we attain by a Death Sentence?
Some months
back - Medha Patkar had raised this
issue in an interview. She is with a strong opinion that the law pertaining to
death sentence/capital punishment should be abolished. She gave numerous
examples citing from writings of Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar .... which justify
that No state has a right to take anyone's
life irrespective of the crimes committed.
I am not
blindly following her opinion , neither do I have a deep insight or study in
this matter that I can expertly comment on it. My point is that, does really
death sentence solve the problem?
Some say
kasab's hanging will create fear among masses and no one will dare to do such
act....atleast a dozen of high profile assassins were hanged over the world till date... Right from Godse in 1948 to Samant Singh
(Indira killer ) in 1989.......still it dint stop the LTTE to kill Rajiv Gandhi
!!! So does it really serve the purpose?
The point
that my conscience feels BINGO about opposing death sentence is that - an eye for an eye makes the whole world
blind - which comes from Gandhian philosophy....what right does anyone have to
take life of anyone?
Death erodes
the entire possibility of a criminal to improve......I am not saying that given
a chance , Kasab will improve or he will repent, But if not hanged -ATLEAST
DOOR IS OPEN FOR HIM ..... his execution strips off even the slightest chance
of this positivism !!
Criminals
serve their punishment behind bars...but while doing so the Law gives them
rights to develop themselves. To learn and earn degree as well ! to cite an
example Nalini (one of the members of the LTTE assassins of Rajiv Gandhi) has
earned a post-graduate degree in computer applications, topping the course
among jail inmates who appeared for the examination in Tamil Nadu. During her
20 years of prison life, she completed
her HSC, graduation n post-graduation as well she cud give time (though a
zilch) for her children (the very reason for which her death sentenced was
exempted) . Her Death would have made a full stop to all this !!
So Kasab could have served the punishment for this heinous Act !!! No Doubt,.... but why deprive
him if he was interested to develop himself ?
My such argument would seem a crazier one for you all, but think as a
human being, he is serving the sentence
, a life time sentence, A prison life is not a bed of roses ! he will suffer,
will have to bear a torture.... he can’t escape that....but what if while doing
so, he completes his education? .....will it not enlighten him to understand the
gravity of his crime? will it not churn out his conscience? And will it not
take him to the path of penitence? AGAIN
- this is highly suppositional...and i can see the ridiculous smiles on
your faces ! :)
And As I
google about all this, I find a fresh news about India opposing the UN draft
resolution to ban Capital Punishment (or death penalty) .
Among the
nations voting against the resolution were India, Bangladesh, China, Korea,
Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kuwait, Libya, Pakistan and the US.
Those who
voted in favour included Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Israel, Russia,
Nepal, South Africa and UK.
At one end,
We severely condemn the Law system of countries like Saudi, which give harsh punishments
like chopping hands/feet for crimes like Rape
- argument is such punishments are an epitome of merciless and violent
action violating human rights !!
and At other
end, We are OK to give a death sentence !!! so is it not merciless???
The problem
is we become so apprehensive about Kasab's act and the anger stops us to think
the other way...I don’t know whether I am right or wrong ! But I just keep on
thinking whether Death is the ultimate solution? Will it erode issues of
terrorism? Is it a panacea for all evils? Or should one think of human values
of compassion, sympathy and mercy (which some of you may feel a bit
idealistic! )
- Gaurav
