“..Shaken Anjali Waghmare tells court she needs a day to decide if she will keep Kasab case..” —Indian Express, April 1st.
Robert Clements Ah Anjali! You’re shaken, horribly shaken: You heard the fury of the mob outside your door last night, a howling horde, baying for your blood, threatening you, pressurizing family, hate and venom spat at you! You were courageous enough to take Kasab’s case, that of a criminal, murderer, a loathsome monster, who shot dead mercilessly our three best cops and scores of harmless others at station and hospital! Which is why angry crowd was furious; someone dares defend such demon.
But you know different Mrs Waghmare: That it isn’t Kasab you defend, but your country, which allows even the worst and the lowliest to avail of a defense lawyer.
That this is the greatness of India; justice available to even those who the lynching mob have declared guilty.
I do not know what you will decide tomorrow, to defend Kasab or not: If you don’t there will be smiles all round.
Those who came with hate will offer garlands.
“We made her understand!” they’ll nod to each other.
“Force made her realize, ha, ha, ha!” Your family will be left alone.
“That is her husband! Good man, he was able to persuade her; you need a strong man to set your wife right, right?” Right.
Or is it right? If you decide to defend Kasab you will be branded traitor by all around; every word you utter in his defense will be greeted across our nation with resounding boos, every defense strategy as treachery, every appeal, an act of treason.
Society will turn against you, friends know you no more, enemies smilingly say, “We told you she was like that, something’s wrong with her!” What’s wrong with you? Nothing! It’s we who can’t see the big picture; that whom you defend is your India, that who is placed on trial is not Kasab, but all the values our fragile democracy upholds.
That every country across the world watches, “Is India really democratic?” And when you defend him, with one resounding roar, you shout, “Yes, we are!” But it is not just other nations who watch; in prisons across our own country, innocent undertrials will look up with renewed hope, and the poor who till now think justice is in the hands of zamindars and moneyed gentry will smile at one another and say, “If that scoundrel can avail a fair trial, surely there is such for us!” Suddenly a flicker of light in the gloom of despair! Suddenly, ‘an area of darkness’ turns into a streak of ecstatic joy! Dare you defend Kasab? bobsbanter@gmail.com About us | Advertise | Other Publications | Subscriptions | Weather | Letters | Send Mail Disclaimer: Information is being made available at this site purely as a measure of public facilitation.
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