Wise and Unwise - A true salute to life
Part 3
Maam wrote about what law means to us. She writes that laws are meant to create a strong society that will protect the common people. But when laws become difficult to follow, their very purpose is lost. When they are interpreted by over-zealous officials, their purpose is lost too. There is such deep truth in this sentence and as common citizens, how many stories do we know of such incidents when the very law that was supposed to be of help to us, end up making life miserable for us. It is perhaps also of the society that we live in. A society where "gas stove" victims thrive by the hundreds and die unknown deaths while the law which was supposed to help them still stands upright while the perpetrator of the crime is allowed to go scotfree. We have grown into a society when the law is the last refuge or perhaps the first refuge of the Mr. Smart-ass who knows how to interpret it. And what of the thousands of officials who work in varied capacities under the welfare glands of the majoritarian state. These high sounding officials have a text book which is supposed to be referred to when dealing with issues of public like us. But what happens is usually a delaying tactic when the law book is supposed to be used. Everything becomes an act of their whims. There are occasions when a different judgement has been given for the exact grouse and the official has justified it, well because it was he who made the decision. Easy interpretation.
What happens to victims of the so-called everyday issues such as a lost passport, a change in address form, the rush for an aadhar card, a burn victim, a small road accident, a false implication, a dowry death. These victims go to the law, albeit skeptically and often end up cursing themselves for the mistake. For the very law which was supposed to aid them, was reinterpreted and their cases would get mired forever. And when law is used to target an innocent, the whole world seems to open up for officialdom who suddenly discover a zest for obscure tenets and lay that person's lives to waste. So many public cases point out to the vengeful use of law that seemed to stretch the long arms of the law further and further, pushing this soul into a deep trauma which he could never recover from or had to shelve large amounts of money to extricate himself from.
When powers are bestowed on people, they become the law and the power they yield expands exponentially. People who bestow honour and those who receive it somehow appear to outsiders as being partners, partner-in-crime or just friends. The ones on the fringe just get pushed more and more.
People in power have the ability to turn their moods on a whim too. They may be angry over an issue and laugh after a few minutes. They may dismiss a poor staff's request for some loan and ask him to leave the office but a few minutes later, may sit down for a drink and remain in a happy state till late in the evening.
It is the powerless who have to surrender their-selves to the powerful for they need to get their work done and are willing to bend endlessly as they are unsure of the powerful will interpret the law and accordingly make or break their day.
Maam wrote about what law means to us. She writes that laws are meant to create a strong society that will protect the common people. But when laws become difficult to follow, their very purpose is lost. When they are interpreted by over-zealous officials, their purpose is lost too. There is such deep truth in this sentence and as common citizens, how many stories do we know of such incidents when the very law that was supposed to be of help to us, end up making life miserable for us. It is perhaps also of the society that we live in. A society where "gas stove" victims thrive by the hundreds and die unknown deaths while the law which was supposed to help them still stands upright while the perpetrator of the crime is allowed to go scotfree. We have grown into a society when the law is the last refuge or perhaps the first refuge of the Mr. Smart-ass who knows how to interpret it. And what of the thousands of officials who work in varied capacities under the welfare glands of the majoritarian state. These high sounding officials have a text book which is supposed to be referred to when dealing with issues of public like us. But what happens is usually a delaying tactic when the law book is supposed to be used. Everything becomes an act of their whims. There are occasions when a different judgement has been given for the exact grouse and the official has justified it, well because it was he who made the decision. Easy interpretation.
What happens to victims of the so-called everyday issues such as a lost passport, a change in address form, the rush for an aadhar card, a burn victim, a small road accident, a false implication, a dowry death. These victims go to the law, albeit skeptically and often end up cursing themselves for the mistake. For the very law which was supposed to aid them, was reinterpreted and their cases would get mired forever. And when law is used to target an innocent, the whole world seems to open up for officialdom who suddenly discover a zest for obscure tenets and lay that person's lives to waste. So many public cases point out to the vengeful use of law that seemed to stretch the long arms of the law further and further, pushing this soul into a deep trauma which he could never recover from or had to shelve large amounts of money to extricate himself from.
When powers are bestowed on people, they become the law and the power they yield expands exponentially. People who bestow honour and those who receive it somehow appear to outsiders as being partners, partner-in-crime or just friends. The ones on the fringe just get pushed more and more.
People in power have the ability to turn their moods on a whim too. They may be angry over an issue and laugh after a few minutes. They may dismiss a poor staff's request for some loan and ask him to leave the office but a few minutes later, may sit down for a drink and remain in a happy state till late in the evening.
It is the powerless who have to surrender their-selves to the powerful for they need to get their work done and are willing to bend endlessly as they are unsure of the powerful will interpret the law and accordingly make or break their day.
