Amidst the blood lust evident in the mass media in the run up to and especially the aftermath of the judgement on Kasab, comes a slight relief in the form of the following story in The Telegraph, Calcutta. Sociologist Andre Beteille, not particularly known for his radical and loony views, said “It appears that people want vengeance — not justice,” underlining that “the media’s role is crucial in whipping up passions. I’m not really surprised”.
A photograph and some extracts:
May 6: Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam was asked outside court this afternoon: “Sir, what’s your score?”
Nikam figured out the question in a split second, beamed like a gladiator and replied with a chilling echo of Ab Tak Chhappan: “Thirty-eight death penalties and over 600 life terms.”
Clap, clap, clap….
The crowd, not entirely made of journalists, could not resist the temptation to celebrate. Crackers were burst, drums beaten, cheers whooped, effigies hanged and mock funerals held in an outbreak of exultation. “Death to Kasab! Hang him! Hang him!” they cried; Nikam waved heroically and flashed more Vs — the prize fighter who’d delivered the knockout punch for India…
KAFILA - COLLECTIVE EXPLORATIONS SINCE 2006 
Andre is right. It’s vengeance and not justice. Usual suspects like media and politicians are definitely responsible, but the malaise has much deeper roots and much wider spread. As a society, our attitude towards loss of life is at best mediaval, and at worst barbaric. From Khap panchayat to Maoist Kangaroo courts, from mob lynching to ujjwal nikam’s “score”- it’s all about lust for revenge.
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Oh yes… I agree. The celebration in the media is quite disgusting and has the covert sense of vengeance which obviously does not happen in many instances of overtly violent acts. Khairlanji did not see this ecstasy nor did the Manorama Devi case. These cases were not individual cases but such cases lead us to larger questions of structures and violence which re-inforces these structures.
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I don’t get it. So you folks expect people to weep that Kasab is dying?
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These are predictable responses from both sides. It is easy to blame the middle class and public and chide them for wanting revenge and not justice. But whose notions of justice we are talking about.
In this case it was all in TV and the public saw what he was doing.Perhaps that had more impact in the mind of the public than anything else.Death punishment is a punishment too and why should it be considered as revenge.
The victims are innocent persons and for a moment think about them and their families and friends. Should we let off the killer by pardoning him or should he given some token punishment.
So I would not find fault with public in this. Those who have criticised the public have not said what would be just punishment in this case. The public prosecutor’s job is to argue for conviction and maximum permissible punishment. He is not there to pontificate on notions of justice and
revenge.Perhaps he has taken his job too seriously :).
The forces who masterminded the 26/11 attacks should be punished and their elimination, lock, stock and barrel, would be necessary to prevent such attacks in future. The whole world would be safer if that was done.
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And there is big money in it too
Reality showmen Bindass TV is apparently making a 40 second promo using Kasab judgement for the ‘Dadagiri’ show Some details of the show are here:
http://tinyurl.com/37v89d9
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Acts by Kasab and his associates is illegitimate clandestinely executed Violence. Death Penalty to Kasab by Court is legitimate and open execution of violence. It is violence that is ultimate winner! On both side there is violence. Later is as dangerous as former. Both are taken hostage by violence personified.
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Instead of being sombre we are rejoicing. Blase.
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Kasab should get his due. But what about Narendra Modi? Just because he didn’t venture into the streets and killed and raped thousands of hapless people, he is innocent? What about hundreds of his foot soldiers who executed his order for a genocide of Muslims? What about Bal Thackareys and L K Advanis? No doubt Kasab is a devil who gotta be killed mercilessly. But you can’t practice selective justice. Everyone is entitled to equal justice.
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An interesting piece. My two bit: Partly the extra enthusiasm exhibited by the media is I think because they saw first hand, from a few hundred metres away, what happened on 26/11. It happened in Mumbai, on more and less their turf, and they have decided to take it personally. So to compare Khairlanji or other cases with this would be incorrect. And to be fair, they gave Modi a tough time too, even though that did not come to anything – again, not the media’s problem but many other things.
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