KASAB, OMBLE- A LESSON FOR US

The news of the hanging of Ajmal Kasab was undoubtedly a breaking news. The demise of probably the most hated convict drew reactions of ratification across the strata and more so from the kin of the victims of the attack. The demise of a young lad on a noose raises several issues which also needs to be examined. The purpose of this blog was to look at this from the angle of Kasab himself besides from the judicial system and the diplomatic victory of India in giving even an established convict all the avenues of justice proving itself to be a much nobler nation that most of its citizens envisage it.

There has been considerable hue and cry over the laborious process of law being adhered to in the case of a terrorist beyond doubt. There has even been sarcasm on the front of the expenses incurred on his security, food and trial besides providing him with legal assistance. Probably in the history of the world, India got an opportunity to nab a terrorist alive in full public glare with television networks working overtime to cover the attacks. This was not another case wherein a hot headed approach of shooting him and terming it as an encounter would work. Instead the approach of holding him captive and providing him the facility of a legal counsel which most nations would have denied has lent credence to the fact that India can be tolerant even in the most testing of times. As against this the repeated denials and roadblocks placed by the neighbour did it more harm in exposing its hard stance than any diplomatic offensive could achieve in the past six decades. Let us compare the costs incurred for this trial to the diplomatic costs we have suffered besides the ignominy of being preached tolerance by a hawkish US or the threatening posturing during the wars by several nations. Apparently, the trial of Kasab has given us more and it would have made Kautilya proud of the approach of going through the entire process of judicial tests including a mercy petition to demonstrate the extent of our noble intentions. The victims of the attacks, their kith and kin, however cannot be faltered as the impact on their lives are so great that it would dwarf the macro considerations involved. The only solace for their grievance could be a parallel drawn from the Bible where one learns to accept his agony in comparision to another's. Let us in this context draw a comparison to the thousands who have perished under similar circumstances in the valley of Kashmir. the paradise on Earth or those in the Punjab or the North East. In these cases justice does not even appear to done in a delayed manner. Therefore, as fellow citizens we should extend this demonstrative effect on to other terror attacks as well. 

Let us now look at Kasab's own angle. To be ready to die is one thing but to be captured by your enemy is another. To add insult to injury you are afforded all facilities and taken through a long drawn process of law when you are fully aware that the noose is certain. The only uncertainty is the period for which the fate can be deferred. Probably the most agonising period for him would have been when his nation disowned him. Imagine a situation where one is tasked to perform a task and since the end result was slightly disadvantageous, the task provider disowns the task as well as the person entrusted with the task- the effect is devastating. This is a common malady in the corporate world of today and most of the corporate honchos would admit to this fact at least in privacy. The realisation must have dawned on him but with no evident change in the ultimate result being in sight, the young man would have thought it fit to be obstinate rather than seek forgiveness. This should make every task setter thinking as to whether he is willing to take the onus irrespective of the consequences. Suicidal missions need not always result in encountering another Tukaram Gopal Omble. Hence another message was sent by this brave man in his act. Omble deserves the Bharat Ratna for the service rendered to the nation taking into account the huge diplomatic victory he single handedly ensured for the country.

The judicial system has been at the receiving end of many. It must be given the credit for concluding the process without compromising on the credit worthiness of a fair trial. The defence counsel must also be given his due credit for taking up a lost cause and risking the ire of the fellow citizens to contribute to the huge success.

Let the success not make us complacent. The threat of the Taliban reveals its frustration but cannot be taken lightly. Each one of us have to replicate an Omble to put paid to the terrorist hopes. Sorry Kasab you died young for a cause which even you could not defend. So you are no Porus to an Alexander. As for Omble he deserves a highway in each State to be named after him and a tribute paid in text books with the details of the diplomatic gains India derived from this single act of bravery.