Honestly, I thought I shall begin the new decade's blogging session with my take on "3 Idiots" and was even a complete page into writing this piece. But even whilst writing, my mind was preoccupied with the "Ruchika Girhotra" case and how the system has made us all "IDIOTS" and how this case is a sheer travesty of justice. My thoughts, my questions or rather I, me myself may seem trivial in the larger scheme of things, a voice too feeble to be heard let alone leaving an impact. But I still think, in a society over-ridden by cynicism we must believe that "We the people" can still make a difference or at least attempt to make a difference however humble the beginnings are...
Coming to this case, my heart bleeds thinking about the father of that minor who was molested by the former Haryana DGP Rathore, to the same father whose son was falsely implicated in several cases, denied water and food, imprisoned for several month...Their fault-they took on the system, they took on Raavan Rathore..Nineteen years of relentless struggle yields them the unimaginable verdict from the perpetrators of criminal justice-" Six months bailable sentence for the accused-who goes scot-free on the very same day!!!!! Well as Kiran Bedi rightly put it-Its no longer criminal justice but in fact justice for criminals. The man walks out of the court with a big smirk on his face-a smile implying his money power, his political power, a smile that most transparently exposes the nexus between police, Bureaucrats and politicians. This historic judgement was pronounced taking into consideration Rathore's age and his mental agony over 19 years. A simple question to the man behind this verdict-Was he blind to the age of the victim-She was fourteen when this monster molested her. A bright child, an aspiring tennis player completely withdrew into a shell post this incident. Life was never the same.Finally the child succumbed to the torture three years later. I think why just single out Rathore as the villain in this story...There are several "Raavans" in this case..From the police who failed to even register an FIR, the government that most disgustingly recommended Rathore to a president's medal to the then ruling government that chose to hush-up the matter and played the perfect accomplice in this heinous crime.
Why did it take a public outrage, a media intervention to rake this issue up in an attempt to grant justice to this family. Even now the blame game continues...The Chautala and the Bansi Lal government passing on the buck to each other and no-one taking any affirmative action. The only person who hasn't changed loyalties in this case, a rare case of a witness not turning suddenly hostile and fighting with undeterred conviction is Aradhna Prakash-Ruchika's friend. Hats off to this woman and her family for taking on the system and facing the repercussions for a case that has not affected them directly...
Many cynics might argue that if there is a loser in this battle-it is Ruchika herself and her family for we all know that it is nearly impossible to emerge victorious in such a vicious battle. But should we really not do anything and accept corruption and crime as a way of life????????? Is everyone so stripped of conscience???? If only one public figure would have had the nerve to stand up for the cause....A closer examination at the cause itself-Why isn't molestation as serious an offence as rape?? Or we girls brought up with an immunity to face this in everyday scheme of things-be it traveling by bus, trains to any public place. I agree laws have been amended-Punitive measures against eve-teasers.But it's always the money-deprived, power-deprived offender that is targeted.But when the culprit is the law-maker himself everyone sings a different tune. In an attempt to glorify the diminishing crime statistics, the police even shy away from lodging an FIR let alone taking any action.
Even today, its only the media and a select "we the people" that are taking some affirmative action on this. Public figures are still embroiled in several trivialities. The political brigade is engaged in several important activities like keeping a tab on a peer's twitter, or playing the boss game with Krishna clarifying that he is the ultimate boss to his Parth tharoor (Pun intended)....or lambasting a book on Jinnah to seeking massages within the confines of Raj Bhavan...The entertainment Moguls are busy too fighting credit issues over story or blogging incessant self eulogies on their recently released film on progeria or paa or whatever.....Nobody takes a stand..Diplomacy is a deeply ingrained trait...
Until we have more people taking stronger stand or atleast recognizing pertinent issues, we will have several Raavans like Rathore and Kasabs who miraculously change their testimony every minute. Until such a time Mani Ratnam can consider making Raavan-2, Raavan-3 or may be even Raavan-100!!!!!!!!!!!!
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3 comments:
Miss you seem very angry! But I think lots of people share your rage. For nineteen years this story has laid buried and removed from public memory with barely a mention here or there. The only reason it was taken up this time in such a big way is because the television news channels wouldn't let this die. In line with the Jessica Lal and the Nitish Katara murder cases this is the third case in which media activism has let to prosecution. It does give pause to media critics who see nothing but sensationalism and a ratings war within the media. It does after all have a good side.
While Ruchika did not get to grow older and live her life as Rathore has had the chance to, this prosecution does not restore her life. But it will hopefully act as as a deterrent against similar acts in the future. A reminder that those days of mindless exercise of power are (hopefully) gone.
Well written and except for the dig at Big B in the end, a joy to read...:)
That's really well written...
The inherent flaw in the judicial system is just being exposed with cases like these that prolong for decades.. Hats off to the media, in bringing such issues to light... Public does have a short term memory!!
But beyond all conceivable logic, is that the we all know the intentions of the perpetrator here... but still we are slaves to a mediocre judicial and an inexplicable political nexus...
I think.. this has to be sensationalized until a favorable verdict.. is sounded..
Well said, There are several "Raavans" in this case..From the police who failed to even register an FIR, the government.... I m sure there are so many Raavans outside. As arun said people have memory loss, thats true. in few years nobody cares. In this case the Raavan was a DGP. Dont forget the raavans of day to day life. not only this case, few years back inside a college in chennai, students fought themselves and the cops were watching that, few days back a cop was murdered infront of a minister. Tell me what is the root cause for all these??? Ofcourse money. But i suspect some other thing. Why the same people who shout for her did not do that 19 years before?????
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