I give my voice to The Hindu's editorial campaign against capital punishment (Aug. 31). The words of Kahlil Gibran in the prophet say, “if any of you would punish in the name of righteousness and lay the axe unto the evil tree, let him see to its roots.” The agony of loneliness, the silent companies of massive walls, the mood of melancholy in dark caverns and the panicky of hazy future have taught many a condemned man what a life means. Is it lawful to end a life when it begins to blossom? Is it not abrasive to stem the life when there is hope for change?
Doni Raja,Ramanathapuram
Plato's prolific narration of the execution of his master and friend Socrates reproduced in Will Durant's “The Story of Philosophy” portrays “cutting a brain when it was in full tide” and it would be apt if The Hindu could publish the same which can add a new dimension to the discussions in the light of George Orwell's essay “A Hanging.” At the same time, one fails to understand the outcry to save the lives of those who see no value in the lives of many innocent people. As in the cases of Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab too, if the crime is proved beyond any doubt the law must take its course which can ensure mild relief at least to the mental agonies of many who have lost their loved ones.
Mathew Koshy,New Delhi
