A man was found guilty and convicted to death by hanging, by a District Magistrate in a small town, in one of the fastest trials and judgments in the country. He was 24 years old at the time.
All names of places and people have been secreted to protect their privacy and honour.
The media was roused and screamed that such a thing could happen only because of pressure from 'political' or rich and powerful forces; one or the other, or both. In the hue and cry that followed, the lawyer of the felon filed an appeal in the higher court alleging unfair judgment by virtue of having been 'influenced'; probably for the same reason, the appeal was dismissed. So it was re-filed in the High Court of the state, with the same result. Then it went to the Supreme Court. At this time the age of the convict was 39 years. The Supreme Court could not take up the matter quickly enough because it was busy arbitering on whether a particular song in a film should contain the name of a particular city, which had just been altered, or deleted before its release to prevent a law and order situation. The case languished. The media took up hectoring of other issues.
By happenstance, the case was revived, and it was alleged that it was at the instance of 'powerful' interests. CBI and other investigative authorities were summoned for help, and many committees and inquiry commissions were appointed to look into it. The involved hospital, and the pathologists who performed the alleged post-mortem of the alleged victim were unearthed and summoned. A dispute arose about whether the vicitim’s remains were consigned to cremation or buried. Friendly countries made offers of help through ISI, FBI, CIA, Mossad, MI5, which were politely, in keeping with the protocol, declined. The electronic media was hoarse, screaming “Foul, foul.” So did the friends and family members of the alleged victim/s. The age of the convict was now 59, and he was in the 11th jail from his first incarceration, and not celebrating. "Hang him! Hang him!" "Politicians resign!" "Disband investigative agencies, as useless, corrupt and worthless!" The Supreme Court took up the matter of deciding whether narco, videography and other forms of investigation and evidence were legally admissible and could be applied to the case.
Suddenly, to everyone’s surprise, the judgment from the Supreme Court was released, upholding the sentence. As is the custom, the defendant’s advocates filed a Mercy Petition to the President of India. At the time, the age of the Petitioner was 69.
At the age of 79, our hero or villain, as you will, was found hanging in his cell, having tied all the rags and clothing material that he had been collecting from various jails. The only thing on his body that was found which was his own and belonged to him only was a pair of socks, given to him by a sympathetic relative during very inclement weather.
Vicariously following this case at sporadic intervals, media, symbiotically related to the society, decided in their collective wisdom that since the sentence could not be carried out on the victim, but the primacy of law should be upheld, to "HANG THE SOCKS."
This is not a true story; the unrelenting tragedy is, that it could be.
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To the Prime Minister's Office:
My short story "Hang the Hangers" http://tinyurl.com/327r2rg ; I urge you to read it, and to use your office and the constitutional power it enjoys for redemption, if it is even remotely possible.
With best wishes for your health and peace of mind.
Ramesh Gandhi
cc: Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
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To the Home Minister's Office:
We met several times before you joined the Government (mid-70's, in the company of C. Badrinath, Jayanthi Natarajan, P. Murari, Ojha, Abraham Eraly, etc.), and had very vocal and stimulating arguments. I do not see any reason why you would remember me, but I am sending you the copy of my letter to the Prime Minister for what you can do; or, like so many of us all, just shrug. I do hope that you will personally read the missive to the PM, and, if you do, I further hope that when you are in Chennai next, and if you have time, it would be a great pleasure to meet with you and renew our acquaintance.
Best wishes in the many difficult challenges that overwhelm you.
Ramesh Gandhi
cc: The Law Minister
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Also sent to:
Dilip Kumar
Javed Akhtar
Barkha Dutt
Arnab Goswami
Rajdeep Sardesai
Amitabh Bachchan
Ram Jethmalani
Harish Salve
Justice M.S. Liberhan (ret'd)
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Comments:
Anonymous said...
1. On perusing your website someone coined a name for you: Sir-realist.
You just went and proved him right again.
2. Did the socks come first or the story? (rhetorical q)
3. The goose pimples came instantly.
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Anonymous said...
Bhai,
Should I cry or not!
Or
Should I laugh or not!
Love Charu
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Anonymous said...
fabulous!
such is the tragedy.
Mira via b
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Anonymous said...
Mama,
Brilliant, as always! Brimming with wit and satire! You have not lost your touch to stir, provoke, and compel. Beautiful last line.
Love,
Tichuk
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street se gyan said...
sir, you have portrayed in the best possible way , our inefficient judiciary system . the common man is going to live with the tragic system till the end.
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Anonymous said...
have u got a reply from the Law and Home Ministers!!! would love to see their reply and do you really get any response from the other personalities or is it just their EA
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Jineesha said...
Woww! This is REAL fiction. It's is so true. I'm wondering what must be going on in the convict's mind. I'm sure they must be dying bit- by- bit inside, just waiting!
Why does it take soooooo long to give justice in our country? I hope somebody reads this and does something about it. Its high time!
Great story. The ending is moving!
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JP said...
Mama,
I loved reading your short. Its sad to know such inefficiencies do exist in the legal system. Being that Mr. Akhtar was CC'd - I am guessing that there will be an upcoming film of his on the topic, starring Mr Bachchan as the hero. I will keep my eyes open for you on the red carpet.
Jay
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Anonymous said...
As usual, broken the law of realism, with your very special intellectual wit. By the way, did you get a response from the ministry?
Sachin & Vivek
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Ramesh Gandhi said...
Yes indeed, Sachin & Vivek: Their secretariats have assured me that the many issues raised by the Short Story need variegated investigation by equal number of Inquiry Committees and other Investigative Agencies. As soon as their report is received, the concerned Ministers and Officials will be very happy (read unhappy) to respond to my submissions, definitely no later than thirty years from now. So, I have to be overjoyed at the prospect of my not being alive to receive the news that the papers and files have somehow been found missing, and that new inquiries have been put in place to find out what happened, and how.
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