Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict still talks of his Eelam dream, and claims he was falsely implicated
“My son will return home soon… he is innocent. He has been in prison for more than 20 years, and how can they hang him now?” Arputhammal (65), mother of Perarivalan, finds words to console herself, as he faces capital punishment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
For two decades, this frail woman has been waging a lone battle. On coming to know that the police were looking for Perarivalan alias Arivu, days after the assassination of the former Prime Minister on May 21, 1991, she handed over her 19-year-old son to the Special Investigation Team. From then on, Arputhammal says, she has been waiting in the hope that he would return home.
While Arivu's father Kuyildasan, a schoolteacher, had to go to work and take care of his two daughters, Arputhammal ran from pillar to post, meeting advocates and activists, to prove that her son has done no wrong.
Excruciating pain
“For years, I've been suffering the excruciating pain of my only son facing the gallows. On days I went to see my son in the special camp in Chennai, I used to wake up at 3 a.m., cook food and take the early morning train from Jolarpet. By skipping breakfast, I would save Rs. 10 or so to buy fruits or biscuits for Arivu,” she says.
Recalling how she once missed a train, Arputhammal says she slipped and fell on the platform while rushing to get on board. “The books and fruits kept in a bag for my son and other inmates rolled on the platform. I cried aloud and wept uncontrollably. People in the station put together my things, but my agony was not for those but for the missed train…”
On what transpired between her and Arivu at the regular prison meetings, Arputhammal says she would explain to him in detail everything that happened in the family, street and town. “I would tell him how the sapling he planted in the backyard had grown into a tree. Every time I went, he would ask for my train or bus ticket and show interest in knowing about the journey.”
Arivu had a diploma in electronics and communication engineering when he was arrested. In prison, undeterred by the noose that was slowly tightening, he continued his education and completed several certificate courses and a degree in computer applications.
“He has now fulfilled the formalities for obtaining the Master of Computer Applications (MCA). Arivu also helped hundreds of inmates become computer literate in the Vellore Central Prison. Amid poverty and my husband's ailments, I'm fighting a relentless battle… I'll continue till my last breath. I hope my son will soon join millions of people across the world in their struggle to abolish capital punishment,” she says.
Previous judgment
Among other cases, the family pins its hopes on a judgment delivered by the Madras High Court in the Gurusami case. Gurusami, a descendant of anti-colonialist fighter Veerapandia Kattabomman, was sentenced to death by a Tirunelveli court in 1977 in a double murder case. After the sentence was upheld by higher courts, he filed a mercy petition, which was rejected by the President.
At that juncture, 38 MPs, at the instance of Rajya Sabha member V. Gopalasamy (now Vaiko), presented a memorandum to the President, praying for commutation of the death sentence. Days before the execution, the Government of India stayed the execution. However, the MPs' request was subsequently rejected.
Gurusami moved the Madras High Court again. On September 27, 1984, a Division Bench pronounced a landmark judgment, commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment.
Meeting Arivu
At the Vellore prison, Arivu wears a white T-shirt and trousers and also a broad smile most of the time.
When this correspondent met him the day before Deepavali, he was cheerful, showing no sign of anxiety. He neither enquired about the possibility of the commutation of his sentence nor his release thereafter.
Arivu spoke at length about his plans to modernise the prison administration with information technology. He recently developed a piece of software for prisoner interviews and management; it is under the consideration of the jail authorities.
“Inspired by the classes I conducted for inmates on computer applications, a former jail superintendent recommended my name for appointment on the faculty of the Indira Gandhi National Open University. However, that didn't materialise... maybe because I am accused of conspiracy in a sensational case,” he said.
Asked about the dreams he had over the years, Arivu said that though his life was in limbo after the arrest, the lives of his family, friends and others he knew had changed. “I don't remember the face of many of the people I knew. I remember the street and the town I lived as it was in 1991. So, the dreams were either irrelevant or prison-centric. But the only dream we always cherish and hope to achieve is Tamil Eelam.”
The charges against Arivu are that he bought two nine-volt battery cells and gave them to Sivarasan, considered the mastermind of the operation, to make the bomb that killed Rajiv Gandhi. Arivu says that though it was pronounced that the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act would not apply to this case, the award of death penalty was based on the confessional statements recorded under the Act. The draconian TADA deprived a prisoner of all rights, including his right to appeal to the High Court.
“There is no evidence I knew about the conspiracy [to kill Rajiv Gandhi] or that Sivarasan, Subha or Dhanu told me about it. There is enough material in the investigation report which proves that I had no knowledge of the conspiracy. Though the SIT accused me of making the bomb, the former CBI official, K. Ragothaman, who investigated the case, has gone on record saying that the investigation did not reveal who made the bomb.”
Arivu says just because of his educational background (diploma in electronics and communication engineering), he was accused of having made the bomb. “My conscience is clear... I have suffered enough for no fault of mine. The investigators know that I was falsely implicated in this case.”
Dear All, Please do not attempt to give your conclusion without knowing anything in detail. It just shows your ignorance. Just because you existed in 1991 does not mean that you planned such a bombing. If so most of us who were born on or before 1991 should be hanged. Perarivalan is innocent - those who claim otherwise cannot prove anything in court against him. Know this simple fact. If he is hanged then your children will feel for you on why you didn't stop such a innocent person being hanged.
It is quite sensitive and complex whether to check Perarivalan or The Supreme Court of India for not being clear. When a statement made by Former CBI Official Mr. K. Ragothaman that investigations did not reveal who made the bomb then how come The Supreme Court of India did not analyse & consider and offer the benefit of doubt option. Conversion to Life Imprisonment for him can be consider and made. But release cannot be accepted. As stated above let him be inside the prison and assist in Jail Administration. That will be fair and safe.
Because Rajiv Ghandhi is a politician, any one involved directly or indirectly in the chain of events get death penalty - the actual plotters are already dead. When it comes to non-politicians, non-MLAs, cold blooded murders are 1) Not even prosecuted (eg. Dinakaran newspaper burning case); 2) If prosecuted,very light sentences (eg. Susai Raj case); 3) If prosecuted and recognized as aggravated still crimes get light sentences (eg. numerous dowry death cases - which are cold blooded murder for gains, John David ragging case); 4)Even if sentenced to death, they will always be reduced jail sentence; 5)Shraddhanandha case. To summarize, for a politician's death, anyone involved deserves death sentence; for civilians, murderers can just get away ('no proof'; 'rarest of the rare'). Indian judicial system is designed to protect politicians and ensure civil victims of crimes suffer the most). The Politicians and MLAs and MPs are the special people of India. They can not be arrested, charged easily.
another innocent boy was spoiled by congress for the most corrupt priminister of india , rajiv was not a saint he deseve that punishment
Really sorry to see all these comments. A 19 year old boy accused of buying batteries for the bomb... He has spent 20 years in prison. How many of you have sons/daughters who do things without their right mind?
Death penalty is abolished in civilized countries. On evidence based judgement, no human being has the right to take the life away from another human being.
It is indeed strange, that people, facing capital punishment, always talk about the good they would do in the future, and try to humanize themselves. That is understandable, but the greatest way for such a convicted person to endear themselves to all is to either say "I was innocent of all the charges put upon me", or to say "I am deeply sorry for my actions, however noble the ultimate goal might have been". As in all mistakes, a simple 'Sorry' is more powerful than thousands of good future intentions.
Twenty years in jail, with the noose hanging around his neck, every day and night, is more than any punishment we can inflict. Perarivalan deserves to be set free....for his mother, if not for any thing else. This issue can not and should not be politicised. It is now no longer a question whether he is guilty or not, whether the death penalty is right or wrong, he is a thoroughly reformed individual. He should be set free.
It is a shame to see so many people wanting a man to be hanged. Nobody here understands what 20 years in prison means. Try living alone for a week. No phone calls. No talking and no seeing anybody. Be alone. And see how mad you'd become by the end of the week. I know what it is to be lonely. I am a 20 year old. And this man many of you so want to die, was 19 years old 20 years back. And you never really know what he did. The truth does not matter now. I do not really care if he made the bomb. What I do care about is what this man did in the past 20 years. And he has shown us that he is good. Let him live.Prisons are supposed to change a man. Not kill people. And I believe this man has changed. Also, to all those people who want an eye for an eye, I daresay, you are uncivilised, unworthy of calling yourself a human being.
'The Hindu' is publishing a full article urging/promoting/brain-washing/swaying readers to be against the capital punishment. These terrorists have killed innocents; majority of these do not even regret their act. If given chance they will do it all over again. Publishing the 'sentimental' interviews with the family members of such convicts doesn't prove anything but the hypocritical moral high grounds assumed by the The Hindu. The day, when not even single Indian is hungry, I would also say: "Let us not be murderers and abolish the capital punishment" But not today.
While motherly affection universally is taken note of and regarded in fact, in my opinion revoking the decision of a learned judge(s)is not only insulting but also eventually is just a waste of further government money(life sentence!!!) Hang them as its going to be never ending in a country like India where there is excessive democracy People quite often confuse themselves (and media is also adept in that role) between righteousness and human rights. Human Rights activism is not for those cold blooded terrorists and murders. For heavens sake, let's not confuse (intentionally!) human rights activism for these murderers' and gruesome Pakistani terrorists. Providing every meal to these pronounced convicts could prove useful to another deserving good citizen. My verdict remain the same.
Did these terrorists not kill so many innocents?? Along with Rajiv so many others were murdered by these terrorists....Are these terrorists (with their MCA) ready to feed the victim's family rest of their life?...They have not regretted their action and have not even offered to serve the victim's families...
Think about Rajiv Gandhi; a young and dynamic upcoming political leader who could have administered a big nation was killed in a violent manner. Imagine,a cunning girl garlanding him and detonating a powerful to thrash him to pieces. How will Rajiv's wife, his two sons will feel? If this is not rarerst of rare cases which is? A lot of spadework work would have been done by the beasts; planning the timing, movement, arranging the terrorists, backup team, etc. Do you say that these people are innocent when asked to supply batteries? Let us be true tamils. Let us give just punishment to the beasts among us.
if law can say for sure one is the culprit then ok but if this is not the case then who will accuse the law.
Never innocent lives should not get punished even it is due to apprehension. Hope law will do the justice to this young fellow who has lot of dreams in his life.
Very sad to read the comments of the mother and son. I, for one, opine that capital punishments must be abolished. Actually, the real punishment is a life sentence in the jail. At the worse, the criminals could be kept in jail without any commutation for whatever reason. This particular person is educated, well-behaved and helps the other inmates with his computer skills. He could be alowed to acquire his MCA and his services oould be utilized for improving the jail administration, while he still serves his sentence. Hanging him, I believe, is criminal!
A case for review is being made for a second look on compassionate grounds. But let us be clear. It is not as though he/they have been hauled up and condemned for no reason at all. The learned judges must have examined the case from all angles and only when they were absolutely certain about their role, condemned them to the extreme sentence.Has there been a miscarriage of justice? If not, then on what grounds is the case to be reviewed?
Not only in this case but in every one where extreme punishment has been ordered needs to be re-opened.
The agitation, if at all, has to be for abolition of the extreme sentence and not for re-opening an individual case.
Ven Sardi
Ven Sardi
Read Talks on the Gita by Vinoba published by Sarva Seva Sangh Prakashan, Rajghat, Varanasi. In first chapter Vinoba explains: When Arjuna sees all his own people gathered together in battlefield,a storm begins to rage in his heart and he put forth all arguemant against war in front of Krishna. Here Vinoba reminded us of the story of a judge who had sent hundreds of criminals to the gallows; but one day when his own son was produced before him, accused of murder. Then he began to hesitae and started arguing thus: "The death penaly is most inhuman; inflicting such punishment is no credit to man. All hope of reform is destroyed. The man who committed murder did so in heat of excitement. Now when the madness has passed from him, to take him to the gallows and kill him is a disgrace to human society." Arjuna's behaviour was like that. Fighting was his duty but he wanted to eavde this duty as his vision was couded by illusion. Purpose of Gita is to remove illusion between us and svadharma.
All terror related activity is circumstantial and anything that can be the cause for abetting it including spoken word in writing or speech can be used as evidence and rational thinking is no issue. Being involved in such a high profile case is another sin and mercy cannot be a factor. But the travails of the mother is touching. No one wants to cause pain to anyone. Each one has a right to a political opinion. But an act of violence is uncalled for and the law of the day will be invoked, of course at the pleasure of the political hierarchy.
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