Multiple Shades of Grey - Views of Naren: July 2012

Perpetuation of Violence in Society

I'd recently provided a link on my facebook wall to an article about the killing of a Maruti executive. In addition to condoling the death, a cousin brought this article about a whole lot of other deaths to my notice: Death and the Factory - From Kafila.org. This is a "must-read" article. Be warned, however, that the article, while well-researched, sounds like it has a built-in bias in favour of the "WORKER CLASS" and an equally built-in bias against the "MANAGEMENT CLASS". This appearance does not take away the merit of the contents.

Having said that, deaths - whether at the factory or elsewhere, especially the supposedly avoidable deaths, are increasingly becoming a recurring feature. The reasons, unfortunately, are complex and multifaceted. We need to take heed and do an indepth research into every aspect of the entire issue if we wish to have lasting solutions.

I've tried to pick up stray incidents (both from memory of actual instances which occurred in known circles and news sources) to drive home a few points:

Kasab is still languishing in jail. The case is going on. After a few years, people will question the appropriateness of keeping a guy in jail for umpteen years without being convicted. Unfortunately, that will actually be a right argument. Alternatively, someone will kidnap a politician or businessman or bureaucrat and ask the government authorities to release Kasab. If the government of the day releases Kasab in either situation, on the one hand, we can't blame the government concerned. Its choices would obviously have been limited under the circumstances. But then, one of the siblings / children / nephews of the victims of the Mumbai attack may very well turn into a violent human being seeking revenge. While he/she can't possibly attack the actual culprits, he/she may go and kill any Pakistani / Bearded guy / Muslim person / Urdu speaker / Spouse or child of one or more of the culprits. The circle of violence, revenge, mercilessness would have expanded its scope once more. Sad, but true.
The Hindu dated July 26, 2012 carried an article about a 37-year delay without acquittal or conviction of those accused of involvement in the killing of a central minister LN Mishra. If the accused is actually innocent, what frame of mind do you expect him to have when he eventually comes out? Love and passion for peace? Certainly not. On the other hand, the descendents of LN Mishra will be justly wondering as to why justice has not been done after all these years. What if one or more of Mishra's family members choose the path of violence? The circle of violence, revenge, mercilessness would have expanded its scope once more. Sad, but true.
Right now, Assam is virtually burning. A few hundred houses have been burnt down. Dozens have been killed. Over 300000 persons have been uprooted from their homes and are presently in relief camps. Wonder what will happen to their school/college life, their jobs, their farms, their belongings which survived the arson, their critical documents like a ration card, an education certificate, an insurance policy document, a bank passbook, etc.? Would those impacted in such a brutal manner for no fault of theirs be inclined to be men and women of peace?
The old case of the murder of Aarushi & Hemraj. Are the parents guilty or not? Either way, what about the others (like the other household servants) who were accused and tortured by police officials? Where's any kind of justice for them?
A couple of days back, I read about a little girl who was killed because she fell through a gaping hole in the school bus in which she was travelling. The mob that gathered around bashed up the driver of the bus. In what way was he even remotely guilty? Even if he can be held responsible in some manner, who gives such a right to the mob? Who was actually responsible to "take care" that the bus was in a "fit and proper" condition? Who was supposed to certify the bus and provide a "Fitness Certificate"? What action can we expect to be taken against any of those who are guilty? Even assuming that our legal system works, they'll probably be suspended for a few days/weeks/months - or at worst get thrown out of their jobs and may be spend some time in jail. While in every manner such punishment meted out would be in line with our existing laws, how is that ever going to compensate the enormity of loss of a human life? What prevents the victim's near and dear ones from becoming violent human beings?
Within walking distance from my home, in two separate incidents on two different days, two school-going children were KILLED while trying to cross the road or waiting to cross the road in what were termed "traffic accidents". One instance happened at a point where the bus turns from a narrow one-way road towards a slightly wider two-way road. (For those who are familiar, the turning point from St. Mary's Road, Mandaveli to Ramakrishna Math Road on the way to reach Mylapore tank). It is easy, for instance, to blame the bus driver who drove the bus that killed one of those kids. However a few points need to be noted about this particular incident:
- At the time of the accident, it is physically impossible for any vehicle to have been "overspeeding". To even keep moving would have been a challenge for the driver of the bus.
- Precisely at that corner, I remember having navigated a pothole on several days before and after the accident. A two-wheeler rider who is not familiar with the pothole would notice it at the last minute and swerve to the left or right. It would be very easy for a bus which is coming right behind to take evasive action to avoid the two-wheeler. I don't know whether such a thing happened on the fateful day. Who is responsible for the pothole at that spot?
- Precisely at that corner where vehicles take a turn, the width of the platform (if any) ought to be measured in inches and not in feet. Who is responsible for this?
- Right at that spot, there is a small shop that repairs bags (and I've been its customer on a number of occasions). Chances are bright that it is one of the many "platform shops" of the city which is perhaps violating a dozen laws pertaining to encroachment. Chances are bright that it might have been "regularised" at some point of time in the past several years either "officially" or "unofficially". Either way, it is as wrong as it can be. Who is responsible for the shop being there?
- Diagonally opposite to that very spot that I've described above, there are enough and more "hand-carts" selling fruits. These carts have been parked right on the road. Permanently. Who is responsible for this? Obviously, another "accident" is waiting to happen out there.
- School kids, elderly men and women, youths of all hues often cross the road precisely at this spot without bothering to look around at the traffic, often continuing their conversations with their friend with whom they are walking, or, worse still, chatting on their mobile phones. And then they blame everyone else when a vehicle bangs into them. Should we, the citizens, learn to maintain a modicum of discipline at least while crossing the road? Who is responsible for ensuring that all our citizens have some civic sense?
At Guwahati, a young girl was molested in public view, while a TV reporter was shooting the entire "scene". Without going in detail into other aspects, I just wish to highlight the proposal by the authorities concerned to actually take action against the bystanders who were watching the "incident" without trying to intervene?
- What do those authorities think? Are all citizens Rajnikants and Jackie Chans rolled into one? Laughable, to say the least.
- Wonder if these people remember Keenan and Reuben? If not, they ought to look at Keenan & Reuben fought for the right cause - Obviously, ordinary citizens are damned if they do and damned if they dont.
- The very same authorities (and, for that matter, the Shobaa Des, the Suhel Seths, the Arnab Goswamis of the world) may not actually intervene in a similar situation. And if they do, they deserve to be appreciated for their courage, just as we appreciate Keenan and Reuben. But to demand that all of us should be like Keenan and Reuben? Crazy.
A few years back, two persons I knew were involved in a very simple case of a procedural lapse for which the authorities concerned had filed a case against him. Despite the entire case being an "open and shut case" involving an acquittal for one and a small fine for another, the case actually went on and on for a long period of well over 2 years and involved over 30 hearings and visits to the courts by both these persons. If our honourable judges are going to be kept busy for such stupendous lengths of time over such simple and petty cases, what hope does a citizen have for quick justice being delivered in criminal cases? Even minor criminal cases would probably go on for nothing less than a decade. That's assuming that the concerned parties do not take the case all the way to the Supreme Court. Apparently, crores of cases are pending in various courts in India. Who is responsible for this? Judicial reforms is a matter of urgency, and we need it yesterday.
When any petty theft takes place in any neighbourhood, the needle of suspicion falls first and foremost on the "deprived" segments of society - the poor, the servants, the labourer, the unemployed neighbourhood youth, the guy who got caught picking a pocket a couple of years back, etc. When the police round up the suspects, there are two possibilities:
- The cops are nice, and refrain from using "third degree" methods such as torturing the suspects. The cops simply ask questions based on the suspicions. The innocent ones have nothing to admit. The guilty ones know that proving their guilt and getting convicted is such a Herculean task that they're likely to get away if they admit nothing. Further, they also know that if they do admit their guilt, they will not only be convicted, but they can also forget about any semblance of normal life forever thereafter. Once they come out of jail, they will be "branded" as criminals. They'll stand no chance of future employment. The society around them will ostracize them. The'll be left with no alternative but to choose the path of crime. Accordingly, in either case, none of the suspects admit anything. Very often, one has to depend on circumstantial evidence, which may or may not be sufficient in a court of law. In many such instances, no conviction takes place.
- The cops use "third degree" methods such as torturing the suspects. Irrespective of who is actually guilty, one of the suspects quickly admits to guilt. The crime is "solved". Conviction is guaranteed. The case is closed. Or so we think. Unfortunately, life is not so simple. Once a suspect admits his/her guilt, he/she will not only be convicted, but can also forget about any semblance of normal life forever thereafter. Once they come out of jail, they will be "branded" as criminals. They'll stand no chance of future employment. The society around them will ostracize them. The'll be left with no alternative but to choose the path of crime. Who is responsible for this? Police reforms is a matter of urgency, and we need it yesterday.
- There is, of course, a third possibility - that of "proper scientific investigation", followed by the real culprits being convicted. Unfortunately, even in this case, life is not so simple. Once a suspect admits his/her guilt, he/she will not only be convicted, but can also forget about any semblance of normal life forever thereafter. Once they come out of jail, they will be "branded" as criminals. They'll stand no chance of future employment. The society around them will ostracize them. The'll be left with no alternative but to choose the path of crime. Who is responsible for this? Police reforms is a matter of urgency, and we need it yesterday.
While I was going down the road in Nungambakkam, just opposite Hotel Palmgrove, a famous landmark near Gemini Flyover, I happened to see a building (if I'm not mistaken, the one that has the offices of Sri Lanka Airways) which had two gates - one for entry and another for exit. Right in front of these entry and exit gates, the building owners / tenants had "very conveniently" created a nice slope to enable their vehicles to move in and out smoothly. The only problem: The slopes were leading up right till the road, physically eliminating an already limited pedestrian pavement. It is easy to claim that everyone does it. Are we going to wait till someone is killed precisely at this spot because he/she happened to be walking on the road? This is just one example, and there must be thousands more in every part of the city.
Right across the city, I keep seeing speedbreakers which turn out to be back-breakers. I'm recently sure that a vast majority of them will not be designed properly nor would have obtained permissions. For instance, parallel to Ramakrishna Math Road & perpendicular to Venkatakrishna Road (at Mandaveli, again near my home), there is a small street called Thiruvengadam Street. To the best of my knowledge, normally, public transport buses do not go through this street. However, I remember not less than 4-5 speedbreakers out here! Not one of them appears to follow the standard design prescribed for speedbreakers. You just need to ask people like postmen, courier delivery boys, etc. to identify and report all such instances and in no time, you'll get a few hundred examples.
Entire areas in certain parts of the city have been de-facto encroached. You just need to go around areas like Parrys Corner, Pondy Bazaar, Ritchie Street, etc. to see what I mean. Are the authorities not aware of it?
Each year, we come across at least a couple of instances of deaths caused by dangerous "Manja-laced" Kites. Don't the kids / parents / sellers who are involved know that these kites are actually dangerous.
A vast majority of flats in our cities have NO fire extinguishers. Those that do, often do not keep them "fit-for-use" every day of the year. Even if they are fit, 90% of the residents (including me) don't know how to use them in case of need. And when a fire does choose to attack us, we blame everyone other than ourselves.
At any point of time, there will be a few thousand "unexpected" potholes, each of which is a potential cause for death. Death. DEATH.

Each of us would be able to come up with dozens of such personal examples. Every instance of violation of apparently trivial traffic rules, design laws, etc. would be superficially minor in nature. However, when the result is loss of life, should we not do something about it?

In our society, there is an insane degree of: