People welcomed and were also forced to revel in Kasab’s hanging just as they mourned Thackeray and were forced to grieve too
Generalisations about India have to be wrong. But we simply have to be the world’s best mourners. And the world’s only death-revellers. In one way or the other we have to make an occasion of it.
A funeral is about remembering but, in India, it is equally, about forgetting. The courtesies around death in India dissolve differences, make past acrimony seem meaningless.
To feel, let alone express, an ungracious thought about someone who has just died, is simply not done. Only in the half-lit world of bullet clickers and knife grinders are expletives spat upon the dead.
In the larger, open spaces of life where feeling is instantaneous and instinctive and courtesy ingrained, death is an occasion for grieving or sharing grief, receiving or offering sympathy. It takes on aspects of a festival. A festival of mourning.
Irrespective of whether the passing bier is of one known or unknown, one holds oneself in silence. “Ram nam satya hai,” is chanted by the pall-bearers but repeated in the mind by onlookers as well, invariably in an inward sweat over its post-dated applicability to themselves.
The funeral
When someone idolised by millions of Indians dies, one can be sure of a collective paroxysm. We have seen this happen time and time again. The grief is genuine, the sense of loss real.
To members of Balasaheb Thackeray’s family and to those who saw in him a father figure, the First Citizen of India himself has offered condolence. He has described the death as an “irreparable loss” to the nation. He speaks, by constitutional definition, for India.
Yet who can deny that there are those, and they are not few, who do not feel like grieving for him. They do not feel like joining the obsequies. Should they have been obligated to? This is a death, not a drill.
Unlike Indian bystanders at a funeral, Time does not stand still for anyone. Leaders’ legacies are judged by history and judged rather differently from what their followers, especially consanguineous followers, would like it to. They should not just be prepared for appraisals and reappraisals of Balasaheb and for consequent alterations in their own perspectives and attitudes.
Those of our political class who do not share the political ideology of the Shiv Sena but who went to the obsequies went not to condole in spontaneous sympathy but to be seen condoling. Their flower offerings garland came not from courtesy but craftiness. For them this death was an occasion for political consolidation. To warm political palms at a pyre, picking a funeral’s pocket is crass.
To millions of his followers, Balasaheb Thackeray was an icon. But who can deny the fact that to millions of others the same icon symbolised an in-the-stomach fear.
His death has to mean one thing to those for whom his life spelt a kind of courage, and something else to those it meant a kind of fear.
If I am a Muslim in Bhiwandi, Byculla or Borivli I should be able to move about without seeking strength in fellow-numbers during this “mourning period.” I should not feel I better stay indoors. This is a death, not a conscription.
If I have been appalled by Balasaheb’s political philosophy, found his pointed targeting of South Indians, Biharis and “outsiders” in Mumbai unacceptable, and if I have been revolted by his hate-speeches against Muslims, I should not have to gulp my views for fear of funereal vengeance.
The world’s largest democracy is kind to the world’s best-hidden fascists.
After going through the public mourning of a death, we have moved seamlessly into the public revelling in another. The chorus was common to both.
And execution
The kin of those slain, especially those who were killed fighting the terrorist attack, have reason to feel vindicated. A sense of justice having been done is one thing, gloating over the killer’s hanging belongs to an altogether different register of human reactions.
In an astonishingly objective response, K. Unnikrishnan, father of the gallant Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan who was slain in the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, said Ajmal Amir Kasab’s execution was “a legal necessity,” but added “I don’t rejoice over it.”
I also believe there was an inevitability to the hanging. President Mukherjee had little choice. If he wanted to (and there is no reason for his wanting so to) he could have returned the recommendation to the government for a reconsideration, just once. If it came back with the same recommendation, he would have had to concur. Nothing could have kept Kasab from the gallows once the highest court ruled he must hang and the government, as it could only but have, concurred.
Rejoicing over the hanging is, however, something else.
It is not about the law. It is about decency.
“Decency? To whom?” one can see the admonitory finger jab the air at once, “to mass murderers, terrorists, killers of innocents?”
I would put to them: “I am not talking about the execution, which was determined by the law of the land. I am talking about the gloating over the execution.”
We have seen rejoicings, loud, vulgar, tawdry rejoicings on the streets, with firecrackers exploding, sweets being distributed.
One death had people mourning on the streets, seen mourning, with some forced to mourn. And within the same week, another death had people celebrating, seen celebrating, with some obliged to celebrate.
Fear was a guest at the mourning and the celebration of the two deaths.
We are the world’s largest democracy. Fear is an honoured guest in its congregations, a very VIP.
“Death Be Not Proud” is the title line of Donne’s famous Divine Poem. It puts death down, by pitting it against immortality.
What does one say about the two luxuriatings in death that we have just seen?
Death be not you insolent.
Put not a sullen face on, no, nor a
haughty one.
Look me in the face and say if you
really mourn, truly grieve, for the one
you have taken.
And, yes, tell me if you take one in
love and another in hate.
One in sorrow and another in penalty.
And say, time giving you leave, if you
split a mother’s woe
From the one who the killer bore and
the one who bore the killed.
(Gopalkrishna Gandhi is a former Governor of West Bengal.)
Keywords: Ajmal Kasab, 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Operation X
My two cents please. This is a well worded,sensible article. Indians
are high strung, emotional people, who can adore, worship, or adulate
a person, no matter how divisive one is. Bal Thakeray was one, who
divided people, based on region, & religion. The mass showing at his
funeral was based on region, fear of being dubbed "un-maharastrian"
or "un-hindu". He did nothing to unite the people, and everything to
divide them.
I am against capital punishment. We call ourselves a civilized
society, yet execute criminals. Fear of death penalty does not reduce
crime (the US is a living example of that). Death penalty is cruel,
immoral and unethical. It is revenge in one form, and serves no
purpose. That people celebrated the hanging of Kasab shows that we
believe in revenge, are a cruel people and don't have the heart to
forgive.
Kasab should have spent his life in jail - he'd have had the
opportunity to repent & reflect on his deeds. We have missed a great
opportunity to lead by example.
Gloating over the death of a person is not something new to Indian
ethos. The great festival Deepavali itself is a celebration over the
death of Naragasura, the personification of all evil & wickedness.
"Leaders’ legacies are judged by history and judged rather differently from what their followers, especially consanguineous followers, would like it to". Well put Sir and this applies to your grandfather too.
Public reaction for the demise of Bal Thackeray and the execution of
Kasab was in order, at the same tinme one should not try to compare
or see the contrast in these two cases. Kasab was an enemy of the
land. Bal Thackeray, though his speeches, action and policies are
questionable, still commanded respect from certain section of Indian
public. Regarding celebration by a certain section of people for the
execution of Kasab, are we not celebrating "Diwali" citing the fall
of "Naragasura" at the hands of Devi? However, it is widely
believed that right thinking people kept themselves away from
reacting to the demise of Bal Thackeray as much as they silently
welcomed the hanging of Kasab.
Dont you think your second half of the article is contradicting your first half? I should
be free to react on a killer's death as i please. I feel happy that he is no longer a threat
to me. I feel happy that there would be no more attacks by him in case some terrorist
decides to hold the goverment to ransom and seeks his release. Why should you decide
how i am supposed to react? I don't think there is anything indecent about having a
sense of joy about the death of such a murderer and i am sure many would concur
with me.
Mr Gandhi is right in concluding that people were forced to mourn for
Mr Thackery.Mumbaikers feared Sena that much. But I fail to understand
who forced people to revel in Kasab's hanging.When Mrs Indira Gandhi
was assassinated the Congress retaliated by butchering 3000 odd
Sikhs.Her son justified the same with the phrase "Earth will shake
when a giant tree is felled ". In Gujarat when 60 odd VHP Karsevaks
were roasted alive the sangh parivar activists with the patronage of
the CM ,Mr Modi massacared 1000 odd muslims.Mr Modi took refuge in
newtons law “every action has a reaction”.When Bin laden attacked
World Trade Centre in America.The Americans retaliated by carpet
bombing the entire Taliban killing thousands of Talibans and finally
eliminating Bill Laden.When Terrorist struck London they successfully
tracked down the culprits and convicted them.They also toughened the
immigration laws to such an extent that entire Asian community now
finds it very difficult to get a visa. But when 166 innocent citizens
of our country was massacred in Mumbai by 10 misguided youth (that is
what we are supposed to call them) from our neighboring state we
mourned by lighting candles conducting prayer meetings. The victims of
Mumbai massacre were hapless innocent citizens with no political or
caste affiliation .Their only fault was they happened to be born in a
country following the ideals of your grandfather and the masterminds
of the massacre very well knew that our incapacity to respond. Our
opinion makers are now busy thinking of ways how to start dialogue
with Pakistan. That is how we deal with terror .Kasab was hanged not
because we had forgotten your grand fathers ideology but the present
insipient government wanted to show that it can also take some
decisions and of course to gain some votes in the upcoming Gujarat
elections. Some of the victims relatives did reveal their happiness
over the hanging that is because they were momentarily carried away by
their emotional attachments with deceased and some activists who did
not understand your grand father’s philosophy celebrated the event by
bursting crackers holding rallies etc.As for the media celebrating the
event don’t be bothered they were carried away by the TRIP rating.
Its only a one day affair. We will forget every thing and wait for the
next attack. So you need not worry about our country losing faith in
your grand father’s philosophy. Little wonder our western counter
parts are citing the example of our country while dealing with terror
as they don’t want their country to become another INDIA. Long live
Gandism.
P Ramakrishnan,
PullambilHouse,
Tiruvangad,
Thalassery 670103
For both deaths, I would quote Mark Twain -
"I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure."
Admittedly, both happened late enough that the resulting damage could not be
avoided.
"The world’s largest democracy is kind to the world’s best-hidden fascists."
"And say, time giving you leave, if you
split a mother’s woe
From the one who the killer bore and
the one who bore the killed."
-Words that spoke my mind..
It is a relief to read these articles in this newspaper when many other media are simply cowering in fear, obscuring and modifying truth..
Nicely written article sir!!!
Thanks Mr. Gandhi for your excellent insights. I am not only disturbed by the jubilation over Kasab's death but equally unsettled by the marked absence of voices that have opposed this senseless glee. Even the media, except The Hindu, seems to have encouraged this celebration of death. There is something really troubling when an entire nation such as India thinks the same way. This clearly is an indicator of the rise of fascism. When dissenting voices are suppressed or, better still, if people feel compelled to not talk for the fear of being punished, we know that something is wrong. You clearly mark what is wrong. Thanks for being the voice of sanity.
Some innocent Sikh families were instigated by a section of Sikh groups
to celebrate Mrs Gandhi brutal killing by her own bodyguard. The
consequence that celebration resulted in thousand other sikh families
loosing their dear and ones. Like many of us Balasaheb's expiry date
was fixed by almighty. One death was natural and other was unnatural and
what's is there to celebrate.
I am bit surprised on the author's assertion that mourning seen during Bal Thackeray's death was some how forced upon non-cooperative people. I understand that there was a Bandh in Maharashtra and that people may have been forced to stay indoors, whether they liked it or not. But are bandhs/harthals in any part of India different than this? Kerala had another of her 'harthal festivals' yesterday. In Idukki Dt. vehicles were not allowed on roads, shops were shut and people forced to stay indoors. All because a local CPI(M) leader with a loose and vitriolic tongue was arrested by the police on charges of murder! So as per the author this too have been a forced 'mourning' over the arrest of a politician.
How ever if the author's contention was that Shiv Sainiks forced people out to line up the streets, and beat a few so that they would cry out loudly - in that case he should share more evidence in support of this.
"One death had people mourning on the streets, seen mourning, with some forced to mourn. And within the same week, another death had people celebrating, seen celebrating, with some obliged to celebrate".
I disagree with that premise about the later. Nobody is "obliged to celebrate" the death of Kasab. As the writer had earlier indicated, the father of one slain victim in that horrific accident did not feel "obliged to celebrate". However, people were "obliged - through fear and intimidation- to mourn Thackery, who is correctly described as a fascist, and whose legacy does not belong to the noble but that of the bigots - religious, regional and parochial.
A good article , but does not invoke the right kind of logic . Kasab
was a terrorist, yes it is true that the terrorist attacks wont be
eliminated by this, but such actions should been taken as a strong
message to terrorists.At present there is a long queue of convicted
persons. Be it a Hindu,Muslim,Christian, Jain,Sikh or of other
religion, I Consider that one death is not enough but thousand deaths
are needed for them. India learn some thing from Israel, eliminate
those who stand against our nation. And that is first step to build a
strong nation.
vandemataram
Hand it to Mr. Gandhi for infusing some sanity in the proceedings. The illustrious grandson doth follow his more illustrious grandfather. While we need not set standards in public behavior as high as the saintly Gandhi's we can at least behave as decent humans.
Rejoicing over a death is always in poor taste. This reminds me of an article Mr.Gandhi had written about crows, whatever the shortcomings of this abominable bird might be, it truly grieves for the death of its fellow beings, we need to learn a thing or two from them.
To bring in Thackrey, for this article is not just in poor taste, but also outright wrong the claim that people were forced to mourn, is a blatant lie. I am neither a Marathi manos nor a supporter of Shiv Sena (in fact quite contrary) but my dislike for Shiv Sena does blind my logical mind which says that when 2 million people turn up in funeral ceremony of someone, it is neither organization skills nor threat, it is purely their respect for the person died. The author has belittled bipartisan standards set by the Hindu, has failed to control his hatred against a man whom he accuses of spreading hatred and has certainly shown scant respect for more than 2 million people who were indeed deeply moved by Thackrey.
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