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.
Leena Walawalkar said:
Bang on Sweety! Its a shame the way judgements are being rolled out in our country these days. If a boy is man enough to rape, he’s got to be man enough to suffer the consequences. Period.
LikeLike
dr sweetyshinde said:
Correct. If he was a mute, helpless and uninvolved spectator to the crime, I would advocate a softer stand. But this was active, voluntary, fully conscious brutal involvement. How many more rapes and what more brutality should he demonstrate to be billed ‘adult’?
Courts are scared to judge all under18 as adult criminals. I agree when milder crimes like pickpocketing is concerned, but surely courts should discern grave sins vs mild crimes?
I seriously think leniency to such criminals is a bigger offense than the actual crimes committed.
LikeLike
Pingback: Juvenile’s Delight – Scribble and Scrawl
Love, Life and Whatever said:
Never in my life I was so touched by someone’s plight whom I don’t know or ever seen her…and I am sure there were many like me. That was the audacity with which the culprits did an offence where they totally ceased to be human. And it hurts beyond comprehension that we talk about humaneness while dealing with justice. What are we trying to show or prove to the world in the name of humanity or benevolence? To what extent can a criminal fall down that they need human approach? I loved your post being logical and subtly proving that you can fool around the world but then be responsible to your own conscience.
LikeLike
dr sweetyshinde said:
Hi Chaitali. It does seem like we knew Nirbhaya intimately. Perhaps she’s within every woman who knows the word ‘rape’ and always thinks ‘it happens only to others’. I think her incident brought that brutal reality at our doorstep. It made every woman feel vulnerable – and sadly, every juvenile feel that he can do it & get away scot free.
Any sane mind would agree that a humane approach to such criminals is in itself inhuman.
But I see a pattern emerging too. The lower courts pass death sentence, then higher courts lessen the sentence…and finally president grants total pardon. I wonder if higher echelons are inversely proportional to sanity?
LikeLiked by 1 person
ashokbhatia said:
Well said!
LikeLike
dr sweetyshinde said:
Thank you.
LikeLike
Nihar Pradhan said:
Wishing you Dr. Sweety a wonderful New Year with lots of joy and a whole world of happiness.
Missed out in reading many of your posts and will compensate in 2016.
best wishes…
😀
LikeLike
dr sweetyshinde said:
Happy new year to u & family. Looking forward!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nihar Pradhan said:
Thanks so much Dr Sweety and indeed looking forward to our conversations…
Hope your book is doing great and are you into your next new project…
😀
LikeLike
sanchitahobby said:
Its a shame inspite of having such role models, the juveniles resort to crimes.
LikeLike
dr sweetyshinde said:
I only hope these juveniles themselves don’t become ‘role models’ for more misguided juveniles. Somehow, bad traits take roots & wings faster than good traits.
LikeLike
renu said:
true..our law failed us..crime should be punished, mistaakes can be forgiven, not crime..
LikeLike
dr sweetyshinde said:
Yes, the act wasn’t an accident. It was a crime – hot blooded or cold blooded. I really don’t see why so many humanists are getting convulsions & heartaches on the latest law. Law has to keep pace with times. Law should be more pro victim than pro criminal, otherwise what’s the difference between law and lawless?
LikeLike
Aquileana said:
This is such a moving and raw story… thanks so much for raising awareness on this subject… I hope your 2016 is off to a great start… best wishes. Aquileana
LikeLike
dr sweetyshinde said:
Hi, I sincerely wish you the very best in blogging this year. Thank you for your sunshine presence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
parijatshukla2014 said:
Law shouldnt be so mechanical. There has to be scope for discretion based on sound reasoning….law is for justice delivery and not just for the sake of a formality…
LikeLike
dr sweetyshinde said:
I agree. But everything in India gets dissected by religion, age and gender first b4 wisdom or reasoning can step in. Add to that a raucous media, misguided human rights activists – and anyone who demands justice is made to feel monstrous, bloodthirsty and extremist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Juvenile’s Delight – Life11