Tags
abhimanyu, bhagat singh, crime and punishment, hope, idols, juvenile rapist, law and justice, nirbhaya, sant dnyaneshwar, shivaji maharaj, youth
What’s age got to do with it?
Youth can be revolutionary, evolutionary and visionary. Let us cite a few extraordinary under-age youths. May they become beacons of hope. May they serve as idols for wayward youth.
Bhagat Singh was enthused with the Free India fervor. Shaken to the core by the dastardly Jalianwalla Baug incident, he entered the freedom struggle at a tender age of 15 years. He joined the Young Revolutionary Movement and eventually became an ally to Chandrasekhar Azad. He bombed the assembly as a protest against barbarian British rule (yet he took care that no lives were lost in this bomb blast). He was hanged for being a freedom fighter – at age 23!
Shivaji Maharaj was the pioneer of Hindavi Swaraj – a freedom movement to liberate Indian soil from Mughal rule. His very first army comprised of tribals, farmers and rurals. He wrenched his first victory and won his first fort Torna Gadh at age 16 years!
Abhimanyu fought his first battle at age 16 years. His deadly foray into the Chakravyuh had the much-hyped enemy warriors foaming at the mouth. He could only be rendered defenseless when 7 opponents attacked him. Simultaneously. After he had quenched all his weapons. He could be killed only after he had lost consciousness in an exhausted stupor.
Dynaneshwar and his siblings were rendered orphans at a tender age. Undeterred by the rigid puritanical rituals of Brahmins, he continued his saintly spiritual journey. He poetized and simplified the Bhagavad Gita from Sanskrit to Prakrit, so that common people could glean its wisdom easily. At age 15 years.
Circa 2012. In India anyone below 18 years of age can commit rape, murder, armed robbery – and get away with it. Nothing beyond a few murmured words of admonishment. Nothing beyond a gentle rap on the head.
The Law seems to exist for protection of the lawless from the law-seekers. Today a criminal has a easier life than his victims. No wonder there is a dismal 70% increase in juvenile rapists and murderers.
Human Right activists care for the rehabilitation of the Juvenile delinquents. Are there special Human Rights for Juvenile Victims?
When Law hinders Justice, it is time to change the Law.
We have collectively and miserably failed Nirbhaya.
Youth should not equate brash tomfoolery or reckless attitudes. Youth cannot be a license to commit crimes. Youth cannot be a shield from punishment.
Let not the youth of today uphold criminals as golden standards. There were youths who could be dazzling role models. Visionary, revolutionary, evolutionary, saintly and valorous.
There will be many more around us. Give them recognition, give them finance for bright ideas, give them occupation. Most of all, give them idols.
There is always a choice.
Click here for a flashback on juvenile rape verdicts.
Pingback: Rare Verdict. Common crime. | Impractical Dreamer
Somali K Chakrabarti said:
70% increase in juvenile rapists and murderers is alarming. Does sparing a criminal on the ground that he/she is a juvenile guarantee that the person will not commit crimes in future?
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dr sweetyshinde said:
Absolutely zero guarantee. This particular juvenile has a mother and 2 younger sisters back home, where he is now headed.
I hope they are not his next crime. Fingers crossed.
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Somali K Chakrabarti said:
That’s it. Hope it doesn’t boost his confidence.
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dr sweetyshinde said:
I can visualize a bunch of kids eagerly taking tuition lessons from him on how to escape law. Am I being cynical or a realist? Difficult to keep up the hope in this dismal scenario.
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Somali K Chakrabarti said:
Sadly it is.
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Somali K Chakrabarti said:
A poem prompted by your post – Juvenile Delight
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Maniparna Sengupta Majumder said:
They have made a mockery of the word ‘juvenile’. Every time I think of this particular incident, it feels like a raw wound…bleeding silently and continuously under a fragile cicatrice. Little faith has remained on the judicial system after this verdict and the acquittal of Salman Khan…
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dr sweetyshinde said:
Beautifully worded (fragile cicatrice). Yes, 2 blunder judgments in a row haven’t exactly made me an admirer of courts. Why is something so obvious to us not obvious to them in power? Does power make one deaf, dumb and blind – or are those pre-requisites to be in power?
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Maniparna Sengupta Majumder said:
Perhaps the latter is true- those are pre-requisites to be in power!
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swamiyesudas said:
VERY WELL SAID, my Dear Sweety! Kudos, Love and Blessings. 🙂
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dr sweetyshinde said:
Thank you. I sincerely think rape isn’t a gender issue anymore. It is far deeper and steeped in powerplay.
All 4 inspirational juvenile achievers I mentioned are males – and that was not done consciously. The moment we interweave gender issue into rape, we get men on the defensive, instead of making them our allies in this battle.
I would advocate similar punishment if a woman committed atrocities too.
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swamiyesudas said:
OF COURSE, my Dear Sweety! Who denies that!
As far as Achievers are concerned, I do not know about ‘Juvenile’ Female Achievers, (it is hard enough for Females to achieve anything, You should know that), the PHOGAT SISTERS in Haryana, making name in Wrestling, and and Really Young, something like 4th std girl very near to Us, who has made a name in Indian Stave handling, are there.
But do You think any of those gaining notoriety are readers of blogs?
It becomes the Duty for the few like Me to keep hitting people on the head asking them to give up their Apathy, and to bring some semblance of Decency.
Severe punishments for Female offenders, definitely. Those who come immediately to mind are the ‘madams’ of brothels. But, with the present judiciary and police, are they ever going to be brought to book, even?
Regards. 🙂
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dr sweetyshinde said:
In current context, every rural/peripheral schoolgirl who attends school in the face of zero toilets, road romeos, parents who want to marry them off and pervert teachers – are my idea of achievers.
Female offenders like monster-in-laws, madams, obstericians who abort female fetuses are all fit to be dumped, preferably in gas chambers. I know ‘human’ society will shirk at my thoughts, but I would rather voice it than hide behind ‘humanitarian’ mask.
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swamiyesudas said:
Well said, my Dear Sweety! …As for me, there would just One diff. I would give Pain (of Long, Lasting, Horrible sorts) as punishment, and not death. Death becomes a quick release. …So neither am I very ‘humanitarian!’ 🙂
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dr sweetyshinde said:
Hmm, continuing with our ghoulish (as the genteel world would call it) aspirations, I would give death after a long torture.
Isnt it horrific that Indian govt is engrossed in protecting this juvenile while young girls are left to fend for themselves?
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swamiyesudas said:
Make it a Loooong torture and I would go with You! …Definitely Horrific. The boys have No Fear, and All the Fear is Transferred to the Girls.
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Ernesto San Giacomo said:
Usually it takes something outrageous to force a government to act. But judging from the commentary, it seems like the Indian Gov’t is deaf on this issue.
We have something similar in the U.S. A juvenile cannot be tried as an adult. But they do go to trial and go to jail.
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dr sweetyshinde said:
Yes, I read that there are differing punishments for differing strata of juvenile crime. That by far seems the best way to deal with the situation, instead of applying an umbrella All or none type judgment.
Rehabilitation hasn’t achieved any wonders either, the delinquents still get into murkier waters once out of prison. All that rehab achieves is a consolation for society that ‘it is doing something positive’. Plus the relief of ‘isolating the ugly side far away into a closet, away from our collective vision.’
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Bikramjit said:
I think j the bguest reason is law taking its time.. It takes yearssssss .. law definitely needs changing and I support harsher punishments. ..
But it is alarming the way thin gs are..
And as you say age is just a number.. If they commit a crime they need to be tried for it.. no matter what the age is..A crime is a crime..
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dr sweetyshinde said:
Exactly. We teach our children to behave properly and to take responsibility for their actions.
And then comes Law saying they have zero responsibility for their actions. I understand milder punishments for milder crimes like pickpocketing. But the kid-glove response to serious crimes is a lose-lose situation for all concerned parties.
I wonder why Human Rights Activists are so darned confused and twisted in their thinking.
Plus, as you said, justice has to be timely. Else it is a mockery.
And for every criminal who gets benefit of doubt for shoddy work by policemen, the concerned policemen should be penalized. Why else would they even try to get evidence and proof of crimes?
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Bikramjit said:
It’s all this “do gooders” I feel who make these stupid rules .. many of them don’t even have to face any of this crime or even SEE.. yet they are the ones who make the rule.
I have never heard a victim being a part of a panel that makes the rules.. bizarre world we live in
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dr sweetyshinde said:
Exactly, just like politicians deciding cricket rules, or illiterates deciding education system rules. They have no inkling of the torture involved. Let the victim decide the punishment.
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Pendown (@manjulika5) said:
Age can just not be a reason for excusing a criminal and setting him free. I fear age will be used as a escaping route now. The change of law is needed. When someone can do the shameless act at this age, he/she must face the music too.
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dr sweetyshinde said:
Very true. Whenever I hear someone say ‘Give the poor child a 2nd chance’, I feel my blood boiling. What about Jyoti Singh’s 2nd chance…anybody gave her a chance to live a full innocent unscarred life?
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Rajagopal said:
The entire country is truly outraged at the travesty of justice, Sweety, coming as it does so cruelly on the heels of Salman verdict on which these are couple of jokes doing the rounds, ‘After success of his film Ek Tha Tiger, Salman’s next suspense thriller is… Kon Tha Driver’. ‘New rule by Mumbai police, on odd days Salman will drive the car. On even days people will sleep on footpath’. There is no point blaming the judiciary, constrained as it is by inadequacy of the legal framework and acute shortage of judges saddled with humongous number of cases. So who is to be blamed? Blame it on legislators and parliamentarians whose primary duty is to make laws and ensure proper governance, whereas the only thing that is happening is disruption of proceedings and walk-outs in assemblies and parliament on flimsiest of grounds. We may blame ourselves for electing these goons and in cities like Mumbai, mumbaikars can take a bigger share of that blame for not effectively participating in the democratic process, as election days are conveniently used for fun times in quick get-away places like Alibaug, Lonavala and Matheran. Thankfully, the situation is not so hopeless going by the qualitative changes with every successive election. Change is happening, albeit slowly, in the form of better legislators and parliamentarians. In due time, I like to see you as a state or central minister or the corporation mayor. For your information, the new mayor of my city Cochin is a smart lady with strong commitment to make the city one of the first twenty smart cities in India in couple of years…. Wishing you a happy festive season and the very best in 2016…
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dr sweetyshinde said:
Thank you!
Yes, I do vote. But unfortunately, the ones we choose aren’t the ones installed in seats. It is still left to the elected party to give power to candidates who have lost, yet who serve their own party interests. I’ve seen that happening too often.
Maybe it should be made mandatory for a ward to install the candidate who won, rather than another xyz of same party.
As for Parliament, I’ve never understood why they are allowed tantrums. I cannot envision a doctor permitted to throw tables around patients and walk off if their senior points flaws in diagnosis. Why aren’t the Parliament members disallowed their salary if they don’t work 90% time?
As for Law, its just a flimsy puppet too. Why not give it power to make changes. Shouldn’t there always be a first time for every revolutionary judgment?
Wishing you very best of 2016 too. Looking forward to your views and posts.
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Rakesh Pandey said:
The basic concept behind the leniency in juvenile crime is the cognizance and intention. It’s considered that a juvenile is not aware of the heinous nature of the crime and the impact of it on the victim. For example, a 14 years old child, who’s a video game addict may have the notion that shooting with a gun may just cause a melodramatic noise and may not do any harm. After all, what harm does his GTA do? He may get a gun and shoot another child dead in the bliss of ignorance. He may not be tried and punished as an adult.
But, if the child is well aware that guns kill and plots and lays in wait for his victim, whips out the gun and shoots the victim in cold blood, ignoring their impassioned pleas, how can you give him the doubt of ignorance?
How can one claim that this character was not aware of the fact that the girl is being outraged and being murdered by his friends, even though he was a part of it?
There are times that the laws need to be changed! Sad! 😦
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dr sweetyshinde said:
Yes, well argued.
But the 18 year tenet itself is flawed. One ages by default, not by merit. Its not like any examination is conducted to ferry anyone into adulthood.
So what makes Govt so sure that a 18 yr old has pre-knowledge of a crime which 17.5 year wouldn’t? In modern times, the innocence of childhood itself is corrupted pretty early. So a 7 year old of 2015 is capable of sexual attraction that we would expect in a 13 year old of 1900 era.
Difficult to test cognizance vs intent in such cases. If the medical world acknowledges early onset puberty physically and mentally, then the Law too should keep pace with times.
This rapist surely knew the implications of brutalizing another live human being.
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Rakesh Pandey said:
I agree, Sweety. The law needs to be amended to keep the pace with times. It’s such archaic laws, which helps the culprits to twist them. That’s exactly my point!
They are quick in pointing that the person was a juvenile, but they don’t consider the exposure impinged on them, which makes them more aware than twice their biological age. When I was 10, I didn’t even know much about peashooters. Nowadays, 10 years olds are expert in Beretta, Browning and carbines! Thanks to the internet culture and those lovely games.
The point is, it’s all very well to fix a biological age for a juvenile, but how about considering the psychological and mental age, also the nature of crime? If a mentally challenged guy of 30 accidentally kills someone, will he be tried for manslaughter? If the law gives an exception there, why not here?
I think, it’s the law-makers who are juvenile! 😀
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dr sweetyshinde said:
You nailed it! Law makers are insanely archaic and juvenile in their thinking (?).
Atleast a mentally challenged criminal will be isolated to mental asylums, but here the sadist gets sewing machines, Z security and media headlines. Our whole priority is topsy turvy.
And for every family who suddenly wakes up to the fact that ‘their’ beloved rapist child is ‘sole bread earner’ and hence deserves freedom … well, they should be ready to trade places with him and sacrifice themselves to the gallows.
And what of the victim’s families? Nobody has enough tears reserved for them, neither does it matter is the girl was sole bread-winner for her family. Just makes me sick.
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vishalbheeroo said:
You spoke my words. Can’t tell how revolting it is to see this bloody rapist walking free when Nirhaya parents along with peaceful protesters are heckled by Delhi police. Sometimes, I wonder whether we need a revolution when victims are treated like criminals. They should release all rapists, terrorists and hardened criminals, if we follow their logic.
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dr sweetyshinde said:
‘They’ would happily release all the scumbags, as long as (and those are the operative words) the same scum doesn’t boomerang into their backyard. In other words, there’s no chance in hell of those crystal-palace decision makers to come into contact with the scum they have released.
If there was such a danger, the scum would be put in a gas chamber pronto. Not otherwise.
So its the ordinary local train travelers and slum dwellers who will have to deal with the released scumbags and their continued perversions.
What if , say, Priyanka Vadra had faced Nirbahaya’s fate —maybe things would have changed. Maybe.
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