Ritwik Agrawal's Blog feed (comments)

Comment on Yet Another Non-implementable Law by C. Mohan

C. Mohan — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:30:10 +0000

Yet another impulsive act!

Unfortunately, as is rightly pointed out in the blog, such laws seem to be more misused than used. They benefit only police, lawyers and those who judge them.

A victim of a well meaning but carelessly drafted, and also vague, anti- dowry/ dowry death law was blunt in saying as to why a draconian laws take so long to be modified, if at all. This is because many sacred cows stand to benefit from them. Common man can’t fight those powerful institutions.

Whenever law tries to operate inside the precincts of homes, the observations are unclear and judgement becomes difficult. I don’t know if usual court is the right help. May be something like family courts consisting of senstive, experienced and positive counsellors will be help where mediators don’t stand to gain financially by enhancing the divide. Legal interference in matters where sentiments and emotions are more important than law, may do irreversible damage.

None of us claims to be 100% leaglly correct in everyday dealing at home e.g. in terms of equi- distribution that is equal (rather than appropriate to their age and activities) food to all children, equal care (rather than need- driven) and so on. There is always overstepping some times and keeping short on others but they all average out to be fair to all usually.

The legal interference is certainly desired in some extreme cases of corporal punishment but police would be the last to be a right judge.

The blogger has raised a very valid point.

Comment on Yet Another Non-implementable Law by Neelakshi

Neelakshi — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 09:32:08 +0000

The law shows nothing. Not even a good face. Most parents are going to be wringing their hands in despair, wondering how the Government expects them to discipline their children now. As Pritish pointed out, a slap is different from abuse. this is just to give proof of how productive we have been. Because real issues are waaay too much hardwork to focus on.

Comment on Barbaric Attack on Kerala Professor: A Few Questions by Ritwik

Ritwik — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:59:42 +0000

@ Shailendra Dhar: Agree completely.

Comment on Yet Another Non-implementable Law by Ritwik Agrawal

Ritwik Agrawal — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:32:57 +0000

@Neelakshi: Thanks! Pritish has got it absolutely right – it is nothing but another law meant to be exhibited [especially at international fora] and not really meant to be implemented.

I love how open hypocrisy is coming to rule the roost even at the top of the pyramid [that is at Central Government level].

@ Pritish: thanks for a thoughtful post. The last two sentences are absolutely crucial. And don’t we see this tendency everywhere around us? Not only in the various examples I have cited in the post but even on something as important as affirmative action – nobody has any verified data, they don’t want audits, they don’t want to listen to alternatives, just so that the government is “seen” to do something and the NGO-waadis/social scientists/civil society can alleviate the sense of guilt engendered by their own privileged status.

Comment on Yet Another Non-implementable Law by Pritish

Pritish — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:03:15 +0000

The law is nothing but a pretence. They’d be retarded to expect little kids calling up the police and complaining against their own parents or teachers. A much better way that already exists in some places is to simply have a no-hitting policy implemented in all schools and have the offending staff member punished by the school itself. Most cases would be of something like a slap or a ruler to the wrist… practices long engrained in the schooling system. Even if they’re undesirable acts jail time is a completely disproportionate punishment. More serious cases are taken care of as it is, the offender can be booked under half a dozen other laws I’m sure. Schools are constantly under govt scrutiny anyway
As for homes as you said monitoring is absolutely impossible. There’s a difference between a slap on the face and domestic violence.. domestic violence is a crime as it is; and no one will bother with legal processes for small little things
If you ask me the law has been “piloted” simply to show a good face to the ever-growing diaspora of people campaigning for utopian schools and society in general..
You nailed it on the head when you said that they’re avoiding the required social reforms by announcing a useless law

Comment on Yet Another Non-implementable Law by Neelakshi

Neelakshi — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:50:52 +0000

BRILLIANT! Really. The part of making us all ‘law-breakers’ is the best one :)
I have another question though- How do you decide whose crossing the line? That becomes another avenue of harrassment.

Comment on Barbaric Attack on Kerala Professor: A Few Questions by Shailendra Dhar

Shailendra Dhar — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:42:01 +0000

Back to basics folks! Communalism exists as an ideology and not in its Muslim, Hindu or Christian variants. To tolerate and encourage one is fostering all others.

Comment on Yet Another Non-implementable Law by nawaldas

nawaldas — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:47:59 +0000

in continuation with my earlier post..
We are a law loving people graced with a law-enforcing govt. and system. Don’t you remember that the culprits of 1984 anti-sikh riots, 1992 demolition of babri masjid and consequent riots, and of 2002 godhra killings and gujrat riots and then of illegal mining in karnatka and orrissa have all been brought to the book and suitably punished.
why should you doubt the law-loving nature of our sahib logs and their babas and babys manning both the system and its discontents with great capability.

Comment on Yet Another Non-implementable Law by nawaldas

nawaldas — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:52:13 +0000

Why can’t you appreciate the great work done by the progressive govt. and great NGOs. After all. it is not for nothing that we have one NGO for every 400 indians. this is like having veritable heaven ( with so many angels i.e. civil society activists populating it) on earth. They are the source of perennial wisdom. In fact, another law, restraining people like you from criticizing these angels is called for.
as far as the law for jailing parents is concerned, do you expect the ever so busy people to devote some time for talking to the wretched, uncouth people of this country. They are fit only to be reformed and civilized by the members of superior race of English speaking Babalog. And what is wrong with giving policemen and women an opportunity of making some money. After all, the Angrez Bahadur created the police precisely in such a manner that policeman gets a pittance as salary, and perforce makes for it by keeping the natives in their place.
True to their provenance, that is precisely what the NGOs and the govt are doing in such a wonderfully co-ordinated manner, and you politically incorrect moron, you dodo refuse to seeg the dynamics of change and change of dynamics and dialectics of both and hermeneutics of dialectics. Haven’t you read any of the current scriptures of wisdom?

Comment on Barbaric Attack on Kerala Professor: A Few Questions by Raghuvirdass Dass

Raghuvirdass Dass — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 05:48:13 +0000

It’s hard to imagine someone having his hand chopped off and then accepting everything as a misunderstanding . Do you fully understand the severity of what’s happened Azeef? In your first post you describe this event as “completeli abnoxious” I’m a little stunned by how lightly you seem to be taking this. You go on to say that there were reasons fit enough for his suspension. Do you really believe that if someone makes a reference to the prophet in anything other than a worshipful, beautifying light that that person should be persecuted?