Monday, May 17, 2010
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR AJMAL KASAB
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR AJMAL KASAB
Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist and the lone culprit captured by the Indian Task Force on the fateful night of Terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, on 26.11.2008
has been sentenced to death by the trial court on various counts including the killing of 86 innocent people. Death sentence is given in India in the rarest of rare cases and what could be the rarest of rare case than the attack on India and killing its citizens.
Every time a death sentence in pronounced by a court, a serious debate starts to justify or otherwise the need of death penalty. It is argued that 95 countries have banned death penalty and 35 countries are on the way to do so. Presently over 60 countries have the provision of death penalty.
It has been argued that death sentence is unconstitutional as the constitution guarantees the fundamental right to live. At the same time, it is also true that if death sentence is in the statute books, it is legal. So many arguments have been in circulation both for and against death sentence ever since the civil society realized that eye for an eye or tit for tat is not the solution to reducing such heinous crimes as this type of punishment has not proved as a deterrent.
Moralists may argue that God has given life and He alone can take it away. Humans have no right to take life of anybody whatsoever may be the reason.
Philosophically, all the criminals need hospitalization as they are mentally sick and all the people reporting sick should be put in Jails as most of time they fake their illness.
Arguably punishment of any sort for any crime big or small is not deterrent. Crimes do happen in spite of or because of the punishment. The question therefore is how to balance the life of the accused and the victim. In the eyes of the victim the accused should be given example ray punishment so that no one dare to do so in future. The punishment may not reduce the pain or loss of the victim but it will give him the consolation that justice has been done and the accused, hopefully, will realize his mistake.
On the other hand the accused has his own reason for committing the crime. He might have killed in self-defense or to save his or his family’s honor (honor killing) or to take some revenge or for economic reasons, or simply by accident or as in the case of AjmalKasab , a brain washed highly motivated member of a terror gang. There can many reasons for people committing murders in cold blood.
In the early years of human history, might was right. People with might ruled over other people. With the evolution of human civilization, the need for legal justice system might have also evolved. This went through various phases of change before it came in its present form. It is therefore the considered opinion of our great social reformers that crime should be punished in direct proportion to the degree of crime.
In this background the concept of capital Punishment does not appear to be out of place particularly when the murder has been committed in well-planned manner with the sole intention of taking the life or lives of people. Ajmal Kasab’s case falls within this category and he should be hanged. True he was only a tool in the hands of his handlers in Pakistan but that does not reduce his crime.
H. P. Lakhera
May 9. 2010
Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist and the lone culprit captured by the Indian Task Force on the fateful night of Terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, on 26.11.2008
has been sentenced to death by the trial court on various counts including the killing of 86 innocent people. Death sentence is given in India in the rarest of rare cases and what could be the rarest of rare case than the attack on India and killing its citizens.
Every time a death sentence in pronounced by a court, a serious debate starts to justify or otherwise the need of death penalty. It is argued that 95 countries have banned death penalty and 35 countries are on the way to do so. Presently over 60 countries have the provision of death penalty.
It has been argued that death sentence is unconstitutional as the constitution guarantees the fundamental right to live. At the same time, it is also true that if death sentence is in the statute books, it is legal. So many arguments have been in circulation both for and against death sentence ever since the civil society realized that eye for an eye or tit for tat is not the solution to reducing such heinous crimes as this type of punishment has not proved as a deterrent.
Moralists may argue that God has given life and He alone can take it away. Humans have no right to take life of anybody whatsoever may be the reason.
Philosophically, all the criminals need hospitalization as they are mentally sick and all the people reporting sick should be put in Jails as most of time they fake their illness.
Arguably punishment of any sort for any crime big or small is not deterrent. Crimes do happen in spite of or because of the punishment. The question therefore is how to balance the life of the accused and the victim. In the eyes of the victim the accused should be given example ray punishment so that no one dare to do so in future. The punishment may not reduce the pain or loss of the victim but it will give him the consolation that justice has been done and the accused, hopefully, will realize his mistake.
On the other hand the accused has his own reason for committing the crime. He might have killed in self-defense or to save his or his family’s honor (honor killing) or to take some revenge or for economic reasons, or simply by accident or as in the case of AjmalKasab , a brain washed highly motivated member of a terror gang. There can many reasons for people committing murders in cold blood.
In the early years of human history, might was right. People with might ruled over other people. With the evolution of human civilization, the need for legal justice system might have also evolved. This went through various phases of change before it came in its present form. It is therefore the considered opinion of our great social reformers that crime should be punished in direct proportion to the degree of crime.
In this background the concept of capital Punishment does not appear to be out of place particularly when the murder has been committed in well-planned manner with the sole intention of taking the life or lives of people. Ajmal Kasab’s case falls within this category and he should be hanged. True he was only a tool in the hands of his handlers in Pakistan but that does not reduce his crime.
H. P. Lakhera
May 9. 2010
FLYING HORSES....STORY
FLYING HORSES
My name is Roshan. My Mom calls me Ro and so do my friends. I am okay with this. In fact, I sort of like it. Montu and Pintu are my best friends. We are almost of same age. We are in different schools but in the same Grade. We gel very well together. Quite often, we are allowed ‘sleep over’ nights on weekends and this time it is at my place. We do a lot of catching up during these nights.
There are good many things to be shared about the school, mates, teachers, new books, games and so on. After dinner and ice creams, we watch some favorite movie. We try to excel each other in getting the latest entertaining DVD from the store. I have picked up “Flying Horses” for this night.
A few words about my best friends will not be out of place here. They have their dreams. Montu wants to be a Hollywood star some day. He is always up-to-date about leading Hollywood stars. I wish he would be equally up-to-date about his homework too. Many a times I have heard his parents asking him to finish his home work before he is served dinner. It is however to his credit that he always gets good grades in all the subjects. I guess he has a good grasping power and he can retain what he reads.
Pintu on the other hand is very hardworking and articulate. He also gets good grades. He dreams to graduate as a lawyer from one of the best Law Schools in the world. Not that
he wants to make a lot of money but because he wants to help people who cannot afford costly legal fees.
I would not like to say about my dreams. I am not shy of telling but to be honest, I have none. I want to be best in whatever I do. What if dreams do not come true? I think we are still too young to decide. Our Head Master says our dreams may change as we grow. We are a family of doctors, engineers and bankers. I think I will keep the options open. My grandpa assures me that his retirement fund will be managed by me should I decide to become a investment banker.
A few words about my sister Ruhi also otherwise she will feel bad that I have not included her in my story. She is a nice girl, irritating at times but overall tolerable. She ties a Rakhi (a sacred thread) on my hand every year on Raksha Bandhan. I have to give her a nice present and promise that I will protect her forever. I do not understand this. You have to give a gift and also protect. She should give me a gift for protecting her. Well a custom is custom. I would anyway protect her, as she is my sister
We comfortably settle on the sofa set and mount the DVD for play. “Flying Horses” is a story of a warrior King who travels to distant lands to expand his Kingdom. His wins all the wars. His strength lies in his fast, and intelligent Flying Horses in his army. His mounted army is a force to reckon with. No body dares to challenge his army. We three are glued to the TV, watching in awe the fast and furious actions of the flying horses and the solders mounted on them.
I get highly involved in such movies as if it is my own story. I guess it happens to others also but they do not admit. My friends often make a joke at my expanse but just ignore. Of course the identity with the Hero sticks as long as the movie is not boring.
I am gesticulating, guiding the hero, warning about the enemies coming fro behind. Not that the hero is listening but then as I said above all it is my personal encounter. It is my duty to help him. His win is mine. His happiness is mine. His sorrows are mine. (My friends, I know will add his queen is mine.) I am not thinking about a queen for the moment. In any case I just ignore the taunting of my BEAST friends.
The climax scene is in progress. Our Hero and his solders are fighting the last battle………………………….and what? The lights are off! There is darkness in the room .We can not even see each other. It’s possibly is mid night. Everybody else is asleep. We do a little whispering and decide not to disturb any body rather wait for the lights to return.
The TV screen is glowing, horses galloping out of the TV screen, we all mount them. They take us to distant lands. We were leading a huge mounted army, fought many battles, and won all of them. Then they take us on a Victory Ride over the hills, down the valleys, across the white clouds.
My Mom was shaking my friends and me.
We opened our eyes and could not believe that it was already
9 A M, time for breakfast. We had slept waiting for the
Power to return. I did not tell about my dream to anybody.
They will not understand. I am sure my friends also had
Similar dreams but they too will not say anything or might
Have forgotten.
WHAT A DREAM!!!
My name is Roshan. My Mom calls me Ro and so do my friends. I am okay with this. In fact, I sort of like it. Montu and Pintu are my best friends. We are almost of same age. We are in different schools but in the same Grade. We gel very well together. Quite often, we are allowed ‘sleep over’ nights on weekends and this time it is at my place. We do a lot of catching up during these nights.
There are good many things to be shared about the school, mates, teachers, new books, games and so on. After dinner and ice creams, we watch some favorite movie. We try to excel each other in getting the latest entertaining DVD from the store. I have picked up “Flying Horses” for this night.
A few words about my best friends will not be out of place here. They have their dreams. Montu wants to be a Hollywood star some day. He is always up-to-date about leading Hollywood stars. I wish he would be equally up-to-date about his homework too. Many a times I have heard his parents asking him to finish his home work before he is served dinner. It is however to his credit that he always gets good grades in all the subjects. I guess he has a good grasping power and he can retain what he reads.
Pintu on the other hand is very hardworking and articulate. He also gets good grades. He dreams to graduate as a lawyer from one of the best Law Schools in the world. Not that
he wants to make a lot of money but because he wants to help people who cannot afford costly legal fees.
I would not like to say about my dreams. I am not shy of telling but to be honest, I have none. I want to be best in whatever I do. What if dreams do not come true? I think we are still too young to decide. Our Head Master says our dreams may change as we grow. We are a family of doctors, engineers and bankers. I think I will keep the options open. My grandpa assures me that his retirement fund will be managed by me should I decide to become a investment banker.
A few words about my sister Ruhi also otherwise she will feel bad that I have not included her in my story. She is a nice girl, irritating at times but overall tolerable. She ties a Rakhi (a sacred thread) on my hand every year on Raksha Bandhan. I have to give her a nice present and promise that I will protect her forever. I do not understand this. You have to give a gift and also protect. She should give me a gift for protecting her. Well a custom is custom. I would anyway protect her, as she is my sister
We comfortably settle on the sofa set and mount the DVD for play. “Flying Horses” is a story of a warrior King who travels to distant lands to expand his Kingdom. His wins all the wars. His strength lies in his fast, and intelligent Flying Horses in his army. His mounted army is a force to reckon with. No body dares to challenge his army. We three are glued to the TV, watching in awe the fast and furious actions of the flying horses and the solders mounted on them.
I get highly involved in such movies as if it is my own story. I guess it happens to others also but they do not admit. My friends often make a joke at my expanse but just ignore. Of course the identity with the Hero sticks as long as the movie is not boring.
I am gesticulating, guiding the hero, warning about the enemies coming fro behind. Not that the hero is listening but then as I said above all it is my personal encounter. It is my duty to help him. His win is mine. His happiness is mine. His sorrows are mine. (My friends, I know will add his queen is mine.) I am not thinking about a queen for the moment. In any case I just ignore the taunting of my BEAST friends.
The climax scene is in progress. Our Hero and his solders are fighting the last battle………………………….and what? The lights are off! There is darkness in the room .We can not even see each other. It’s possibly is mid night. Everybody else is asleep. We do a little whispering and decide not to disturb any body rather wait for the lights to return.
The TV screen is glowing, horses galloping out of the TV screen, we all mount them. They take us to distant lands. We were leading a huge mounted army, fought many battles, and won all of them. Then they take us on a Victory Ride over the hills, down the valleys, across the white clouds.
My Mom was shaking my friends and me.
We opened our eyes and could not believe that it was already
9 A M, time for breakfast. We had slept waiting for the
Power to return. I did not tell about my dream to anybody.
They will not understand. I am sure my friends also had
Similar dreams but they too will not say anything or might
Have forgotten.
WHAT A DREAM!!!
BLUE BELL....STORY
BLUE BELL
JUHI IS CUTE AND KIND HEARTED GIRL. SHE IS EMOTIONAL AND IS VERY FOUND OF STORIES, WHICH SPEAK OF FAIRIES, STARS, FLOWERS, BUTTERFLIES, BIRDS AND SO ON.
ON ONE STARRY NIGHT, SITTING IN GARDEN, SH WAS WATCHING THE BEAUTIFUL STARS WITH HER BROTHER.
THEY WERE SO ENGROSSED IN THEIR TALKS ABOUT STARS AND PLANETS THAT NO ONE SAW WHEN THE BLUE BELL FELL IN JUHI’S LAP. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SO WAS Its RING TONE.
THEY WENT INSIDE, AS IT WAS TIME TO GO TO BED, BLUE BELL STILL IN THE SMALL PALMS OF JUHI. SOON THEY WERE IN DEEP SLEEP.
‘HI, JUHI, GOT THE BLUE BELL’ FAIRY WITH WHITE ROBES ASKED.
‘YEH, BUT WHO THREW IT’ ASKED JUHI.
‘, OF COURSE’ REPLIED THE FAIRY.
‘WHAT FOR’ ASKED HUHI
‘RING THE BELL AND I WILL BE WITH YOU’ SAID THE FAIRY AND DISAPPEARED.
SO, NEXT DAY SHE WAS FEELING SAD THAT SHE COULD NOT TALK MORE WITH THE FAIRY AND KNOW ABOUT HER. AS IF TO TEST WHAT THE FAIRY HAD SAID, SHE RANG THE BELL. NO REPLY. SHE RANG AGAIN. STILL, NO REPLY. SHE ALMOST LOST HOPE, BUT THEN AND THEN ONLY THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. QUITE UNEXPECTEDLY, HER CLOSEST FRIEND WAS AT THE DOOR. THEY PLAYED THE WHOLE DAY AND ENJOYED EVERY BIT OF IT. BUT JUHI WAS QUITE MAD AT THE FAIRY.
AFTER DINNER WHEN SHE WENT TO BED SHE PROMISED HERSELF NEVER TO FORGIVE THE FAIRY FOR NOT RESPONDING TO THE BELL AS PROMISED. THINKING ALL ABOUT IT SHE SLEPT.
‘HI JUHI, HAD A GOOD TIME WITH YOUR FRIEND?’SHE HEARD.
‘YES, BUT YOU LIED TO ME. I RANG THE BELL BUT YOU DID NOT COME. HOW CAN I TRUST YOU.’ SAID JUHI.
‘NOW, NOW, I WAS THERE. SEE, I CANNOT COME MYSELFBUT I ALWAYS SEND SOMEBODY WHEN YOU WILL CALL ME, SO I SENT YOUR BEST FRIEND’ PROMISED THE FAIRY AND DISAPPEARED.
DAYS PASSED INTO MONTHS. SHOOL HAD OPENED. JUHI WAS BUSY IN THE SCHOOL WITH HER FRIENDS, IN HER BOOKS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. SHE HAD KEPT THE BLUE BELL IN HER SCHOOL BAG BUT ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT IT, UNTIL ONE DAY.
SHE WAS RETURNING FROM THE SCHOOL ON HER BYKE ASUSUAL. SHE MET AN ACCIDENT AND FOUND HERSELF IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A BROKEN ARM. AFTER A FEW DAYS SHE WAS DISCHRGED AND HER PARENTS OOK HER HOME.
‘HI, JUHI, OKAY NOW. SORRY COULD NOT DISTURB YOU IN THE HOSPITAL AS I KNEW YOU NEEDED COMPLETE REST’ IT WAS THE FAIRY.
‘BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW’ DID NOT RING THE BELL’ SHE ASKED.
‘IT FELL ON THE GROUND FROM YOUR BAD AND I COULD LISTEN THE RING AND KNEW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU. I IMMEDIATELY ARRANGED FOR A PASSERBY, WHO TOOK TO THE HOSPITAL, INFORM YOUR PARENTS, SAID THE FAIRY.
‘ OH, I SEE. SO IT WAS YOU. MY PARENTS WERE VERY THANKFUL OF THAT LADY. I AM REALLY THANKFUL TO YOU. PLEASE DO NOT MIND MY OUTBURST.’SAID JUHI.
‘ NEVER MIND, I AM ALWAYS WITH YOU’ SAID THE FAIRY AND DISAPPEARED’
JUHI ALWAYS KEEPS THE BELL WITH HER.
.
JUHI IS CUTE AND KIND HEARTED GIRL. SHE IS EMOTIONAL AND IS VERY FOUND OF STORIES, WHICH SPEAK OF FAIRIES, STARS, FLOWERS, BUTTERFLIES, BIRDS AND SO ON.
ON ONE STARRY NIGHT, SITTING IN GARDEN, SH WAS WATCHING THE BEAUTIFUL STARS WITH HER BROTHER.
THEY WERE SO ENGROSSED IN THEIR TALKS ABOUT STARS AND PLANETS THAT NO ONE SAW WHEN THE BLUE BELL FELL IN JUHI’S LAP. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SO WAS Its RING TONE.
THEY WENT INSIDE, AS IT WAS TIME TO GO TO BED, BLUE BELL STILL IN THE SMALL PALMS OF JUHI. SOON THEY WERE IN DEEP SLEEP.
‘HI, JUHI, GOT THE BLUE BELL’ FAIRY WITH WHITE ROBES ASKED.
‘YEH, BUT WHO THREW IT’ ASKED JUHI.
‘, OF COURSE’ REPLIED THE FAIRY.
‘WHAT FOR’ ASKED HUHI
‘RING THE BELL AND I WILL BE WITH YOU’ SAID THE FAIRY AND DISAPPEARED.
SO, NEXT DAY SHE WAS FEELING SAD THAT SHE COULD NOT TALK MORE WITH THE FAIRY AND KNOW ABOUT HER. AS IF TO TEST WHAT THE FAIRY HAD SAID, SHE RANG THE BELL. NO REPLY. SHE RANG AGAIN. STILL, NO REPLY. SHE ALMOST LOST HOPE, BUT THEN AND THEN ONLY THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. QUITE UNEXPECTEDLY, HER CLOSEST FRIEND WAS AT THE DOOR. THEY PLAYED THE WHOLE DAY AND ENJOYED EVERY BIT OF IT. BUT JUHI WAS QUITE MAD AT THE FAIRY.
AFTER DINNER WHEN SHE WENT TO BED SHE PROMISED HERSELF NEVER TO FORGIVE THE FAIRY FOR NOT RESPONDING TO THE BELL AS PROMISED. THINKING ALL ABOUT IT SHE SLEPT.
‘HI JUHI, HAD A GOOD TIME WITH YOUR FRIEND?’SHE HEARD.
‘YES, BUT YOU LIED TO ME. I RANG THE BELL BUT YOU DID NOT COME. HOW CAN I TRUST YOU.’ SAID JUHI.
‘NOW, NOW, I WAS THERE. SEE, I CANNOT COME MYSELFBUT I ALWAYS SEND SOMEBODY WHEN YOU WILL CALL ME, SO I SENT YOUR BEST FRIEND’ PROMISED THE FAIRY AND DISAPPEARED.
DAYS PASSED INTO MONTHS. SHOOL HAD OPENED. JUHI WAS BUSY IN THE SCHOOL WITH HER FRIENDS, IN HER BOOKS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. SHE HAD KEPT THE BLUE BELL IN HER SCHOOL BAG BUT ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT IT, UNTIL ONE DAY.
SHE WAS RETURNING FROM THE SCHOOL ON HER BYKE ASUSUAL. SHE MET AN ACCIDENT AND FOUND HERSELF IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A BROKEN ARM. AFTER A FEW DAYS SHE WAS DISCHRGED AND HER PARENTS OOK HER HOME.
‘HI, JUHI, OKAY NOW. SORRY COULD NOT DISTURB YOU IN THE HOSPITAL AS I KNEW YOU NEEDED COMPLETE REST’ IT WAS THE FAIRY.
‘BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW’ DID NOT RING THE BELL’ SHE ASKED.
‘IT FELL ON THE GROUND FROM YOUR BAD AND I COULD LISTEN THE RING AND KNEW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU. I IMMEDIATELY ARRANGED FOR A PASSERBY, WHO TOOK TO THE HOSPITAL, INFORM YOUR PARENTS, SAID THE FAIRY.
‘ OH, I SEE. SO IT WAS YOU. MY PARENTS WERE VERY THANKFUL OF THAT LADY. I AM REALLY THANKFUL TO YOU. PLEASE DO NOT MIND MY OUTBURST.’SAID JUHI.
‘ NEVER MIND, I AM ALWAYS WITH YOU’ SAID THE FAIRY AND DISAPPEARED’
JUHI ALWAYS KEEPS THE BELL WITH HER.
.
EXPERIENCE THY NAME IS LIFE
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT, AS WE GROW UP, NATURE ROBS US OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT YOUNGSTERS ARE ALWAYS GIGGLING ABOUT.
IF YOU HANG ON THE PAST, YOU DIE A LITTLE EVERY DAY.
WITHOUT LOVE, WITHOUT ANGER, WITHOUT SORROW, LIFE IS JUST TICKING AWAY. IT HAS NO MEANING.
BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE ALL THE TIME AND WITH NO REASON.
IF YOU HANG ON THE PAST, YOU DIE A LITTLE EVERY DAY.
WITHOUT LOVE, WITHOUT ANGER, WITHOUT SORROW, LIFE IS JUST TICKING AWAY. IT HAS NO MEANING.
BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE ALL THE TIME AND WITH NO REASON.
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