Crime and criminals - deterrence is the best policy

Watching Abu Salem on TV a few weeks ago, I  was struck by how fit and smart he looked. Clad in a T-shirt and jeans, he walked briskly surrounded by policemen. Had I not known about his case, I would have mistaken him for a cinema star. He was making an appearance in court in the Mumbai bomb blasts case. He looked well-fed and well looked after. He has been in prison since 2007 when he was extradited from Portugal. He cannot be hanged as the Indian government has given Portugal an undertaking to that effect. He may even be let out after some years.
The criminal justice system in India is very weak. Not that we lack strong laws, just that enforcement is poor. Many a times the police botches up the case or vested interests and corruption intervene to let the guilty off the hook. This, if the criminal is caught and charged. Even if the case does go to court, the criminal, if rich, can always hire a high profile lawyer to fight his case. So criminals carry on their trade with impunity and often with blessings of powerful people.
So how does one rectify this situation ? How does one ensure the guilty are brought to book ? How does one provide justice to the common man ?
We first need to understand and accept certain facts.
a. In a highly populous country like India where criminals number in hundreds of  thousands, it is impossible to catch every one of them. Neither we have the resources nor will it be physically possible. I am not advocating that we should not try to catch them all, just pointing out the futility of the exercise.
b. The courts already have a backlog of decades of cases. They just cannot handle more criminal cases. While we should find ways and means to speed up cases, we need to accept that we must look for ways to reduce litigation.
c. Man, by nature, tends to break rules. It is only the fear of punishment that makes us obey laws. We go through red lights if there is no traffic policeman. We even go in the wrong direction in a one-way street. These are small infractions committed by "law abiding citizens". Then what about hardened criminals ? What would they fear ? And why ?

So we have ended up in a lose-lose situation. If we catch more criminals, the system cannot handle the load. If we don't, we end up with more crime.

So what do we do ?

Crime has economics associated with it.  A person commits a crime because his gain is much more than when being law-abiding. Also he experiences a sense of power.

To attack crime and criminals, we should address these two factors. One, we should make crime economically unviable. Secondly, the power should be taken away. How do we go about doing this ?

First, the punishment for the same crime should be different for different persons. Say, a common citizen commits a crime for which the punishment is 5 years or X. If the same crime is committed by a policeman, the punishment should be 2X or two times i.e. 10 years. A judge or an MP or MLA should get 15 years or 3X punishment. A hardened criminal who already has convictions should also get 15 years punishment. This scaling of punishment will deter potential and hardened criminals. It is common to see people in positions of power commit crimes. As punishment increases with position, the incentive to misuse position for profit will reduce.
What about instances where people in official positions connive with perpetrators of crime to help the criminals escape by misusing their position ? For example, a police officer could destroy crucial evidence to destroy a case. A judge could write a favourable judgement for a consideration. Or a government officer could help generate false documents. In such cases, the punishment should be 5X, i.e., 5 times. It is far bigger a crime to misuse one's official position to abet a crime than to commit the crime itself.
The logic is that those with positions of power in the government should have higher levels of compliance to laws. Then crime will not pay.
Once convicted, the person should be made to serve the full sentence without remission or parole. Also multiple sentences should run in sequence, as in the Ram Rahim case, and not concurrently.
I know there are many who believe criminals can reform and become law-abiding citizens. It will be instructive to know how many criminals have turned over a new leaf in the last 70 years and what the percentage is. I believe the concept of reform should not apply to hardened or professional criminals. They should be dealt with sternly.The idea is to make a severe example of the few we manage to catch.
Deterrence is the best and most effective policy.

Pakistan - the idiotic neighbourhood terror bhai

It has become a rather routine affair now. A few terrorists sneak into Kashmir from Pakistan aided by their army and terrorist groups. They then kill civilians, army and police personnel, loot money and burn schools and buildings. Most of them die in the ensuing security operations though some manage to escape. Pakistan never acknowledges it sponsored the terrorists and that they are its citizens. Then there is lull for a few weeks before the whole sequence repeats.
Anyone who has been following the news will know what I mean. There is a sickening regularity to it. Pakistan continues to behave like a petulant child that will not listen to anyone. Pakistan is like the typical villain in Indian movies - having lost everthing and having been proved wrong, the villain's only wish is to somehow kill the hero. Pakistan's raison d' etre for existence as a separate state, a state for Muslims, has  been proved to be hollow. It is not the most populous Muslim nation.  It has not been able to accomodate all denominations of Muslims - Sunni Muslims are dominant and others are treated as second grade.
And India has more Muslims than Pakistan and they do not wish to align with Pakistan. This leads one to question the very basis for the creation of Pakistan. Perhaps the people of Pakistan would have been better off as Indian citizens. Perhaps the people of Pakistan might vote to rejoin India, if allowed.
Whatever the people's wish, Pakistan as a state continues with its practice  of deploying terrorism as a state policy. What can India do to effectively deal with the situation ? India can and must tackle Pakistan's terror tactics with a heavy hand.
Why does Pakistan use terror to combat India and why fight with India in the first place ? Terror is a cost-effective option. Fools who are ready to die for a never-seen heaven are available a dime a dozen. They only need to be recruited and trained. And Pakistan will not acknowledge their citizenship. So Pakistan can eternally live in denial for all the ghastly acts it commits.  Also the Pakistan army is too big for the  size of the country. It eats into a giant percentage of the GDP. A private company in this situation would be deemed sick and at least the sick portions would be divested to get it back to health. The Pakistan army needs to find a reason to justify its monstrous existence and needs to keep justifying year after year. After all politicians would only be too glad to clip its wings. So what better than to create and sustain terrorists and have them attack India. It is for the same reason that the army meddles in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and gives sanctuary to various militant groups inimical to its government. That Pakistan is fomenting trouble has been said by no less a person than the Afghan President and that too on many occasions. A restive Afghan border is a good way to ensure its daily bread. A troubled Balochistan is another godsend. This way the army can stay relevant and powerful. It can do anything in the name of security.  The internal machinations in Pakistan result in terror attacks on India. Azaadi is only a ruse, a cover that certain sections of the Kashmiri populace will buy.
So what should India do to protect itself ? Well, any action is justified.
First, we should deal ruthlessly with those who swear by violence. No mercy should be shown. It is pertinent to point out here that the late Shri KPS Gill, the former DGP of Punjab, who is largely credited with eliminating militancy in Punjab, was quite ruthless in his approach and phenomenally successful. We need a native Kashmiri in that mould. A man who can think like the terrorists and anticipate their every move. A man who knows what hurts the terrorists most and where. A man who cannot be accused of being an outsider. A man who will not pull punches.
Next we need to ensure development in Kashmir. Economic growth and jobs will be more attractive to the youth than guns. After all, if a young man does not have a job or a constructive way to spend his time, he becomes a prime target for recruitment by terrorists who are also willing to pay handsomely. It is worth noting that after demonitization, there was a lull in the militant activity as there was a squeeze on the supply of cash. No money , no stone throwing, no attacks, no unrest. It is all economics and money. Aazadi is only a slogan. So development is a must. As are schools and colleges which must function normally. Youth engaged usefully and gainfully are less likely to be attracted to militancy.
Then we must isolate Pakistan internationally and make sure the western aid keeps reducing. This will hurt them greatly as Pakistan has a big dependence on foreign aid as its owm economy is in shreds. We should also lobby for sanctions against them.
Every attempt made by terrorists should be dealt with a heavy hand. Take no prisoners. If the Pakistani army targets Indian villages and Indian posts, hit back hard with heavy weaponry. Destroy their posts. Resort to surgical strikes. And for every infiltration attempt by the Pakistani army, India should move in  few hundred metres from the LOC.
More proactively, we should engage in eliminating the terrorist leaders living in comfort in Pakistan. The US did that to Osama Bin Laden. Why should we not ?
All these will push up the cost of terrorism for Pakistan and it will cease to be a low cost option over a period of time. Makes economic and military sense, doesn't it ? There is a saying in Hindi - Laaton ke bhoot baaton se nahin mante. Transliterated  it means - Ghosts that obey only kicks do not listen to words. If the Pakistan army is asking for a kick in the butt, then why deny them the pleasure ?

Kashmiris - don't throw stones at your future

Dear Kashmiris,
Kashmir has been burning for many decades now. There has never been any sustained peace. Many generations have seen only violence and destruction. Schools and colleges have not functioned for full terms. All means of livelihood have been adversely affected and people have no steady income. Tourism, a major industry, is non-existant. People have been killed in terror attacks. Pundits have been driven out their state. There are demonstrations every so often. Young men and women indulge in stone throwing. In short, the paradise has turned into hell.
And all for azaadi. An azaadi, that you have been promised, is a heaven. As the ultimate goal of every Kashmiri. Something that is worth dying for. A release from India.
But pause for a moment to think what has been achieved so far. Normal life has been disrupted. There is mindless violence everywhere. There is nothing to feel satisfied about when you go to bed and nothing to look forward to when you get up in the morning. More than 47,000 people have lost their lives in the last two decades of conflict despite Kashmir having the highest life expectancy in India.
Think. The likes of Hafiz Saeed and Azar Masood, who are classified as terrorists, are the prime actors from across the border. They send in trained terrorists to kill Indians. But they are not even Kashmiris. They are just stoodges for Pakistan's ISI.
People in Iraq, Libya and Syria also wanted aazadi. They had compelling reasons. They were being persecuted by the regimes. Goaded by external influences, they rebelled against their authoritarian governments. But what did they achieve ? Only destruction of their homes and country, loss of lives and livelihood and only a bleak future to look forward to. Decades of conflict has played havoc with their lives. But what of the nations that encouraged them to overthrow their governments ? They just don't care.
Pakistan is becoming a joke day by day. With no worthwhile economy, it exists on the largesse of the US.  Its only profitable industry is terrorism. The army, which runs the government irrespective of who is in office, treats the country like its private fiefdom. A PIA pilot sleeps for two and a half hours on a flight unmindful of even his own safety ! In Pakistan, not everyone is equal. There are many minority communities that are persecuted. Shias are targeted by militants.  Anyone depending on Pakistan for support is really pushing his luck. It is highly probable that Pakistan will cease to exist as a nation in a few decades, destroyed by the terrorism it nurtures, consumed by the hatred for minorities and ethnic groups.

Kasmiris, just think. Don't you want to progress and prosper ? Don't you yearn for peace ? Do you not wish to see your children go to school ? Do you want to let a few misguided gun-totting youth hold you to ransom ? Can you imagine what life will be under the terror outfits ? Just read up on what the situation is in Libya or Iraq. Forget aazadi, you will only be a slave under the militant rulers.
Let not the militant propaganda sway you. Do not be brainwashed by the aazadi brigade. You need to chart your future, your destiny. And the only way is to kick out the aazadi mongers and work for your own progress.

Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hamin ast. - If there is a heaven on earth, it is here, it is here. So said the emperor Jehangir about Kashmir.  It is entirely up to you Kashmiris to regain the paradise that was.

Tamil Brahmin Mamas

Recently I read  a Whatsapp message about TamBram Mamis. A beautifully witten piece it was. It set me thinking - why no such missives on the Mamas, the lesser haves ? Why deny them their share of fame ? So here goes - a write up on the Mamas.
Tamil Brahmin Mamas come in different flavours. The oldest variety is the Homebound Mama. This type wakes up early (4 AM), boils the milk and prepares the coffee decoction. The Mama then proceeds with his morning routine which may include cutting vegetables and washing. He is a perfectionist and won't tolerate shoddy work. He usually has no time for gossip and is immersed in his work. He is a handyman and does all odd jobs around the house. He firmly believes that if the earth goes round the sun, it is because of him. The Mami is very dependent on him and cannot do without him around even for a few hours. This type is on the decline though.

The Thinnai mama can be found in the smaller towns and villages where thinnais can be found. After his morning routine which may include coffee and ablutions, he parks himself comfortably on the vasal thinnai with his vethalai-paku dabba for company. Constantly chewing vethalai and sometimes using mookupodi also, he continuously interacts with every being that passes that way. "Vishu, on punnukku 4 masamamey." Loud enough for the entire street to hear. Or "Yen da Ranga, nethiki enna on pondati appadi kaththinal ?" All those who didn't know, come to know now, thanks to the Mama.
This type is not known to indulge in any productive activity and is usually written off by the Mami.

The Music Mama is very visible during the Marghazhi music season. He is the quinessential Carnatic music lover. He will not miss one concert, especially that of his favorite musician. "Andha paatai evalavu azhaga padinaan. Aha, enna aalapanai, enna sruthi. Ellam kadavul kodupanai." He hops from sabha to sabha, enjoying the sapadu as much as the music. Often his discussions  centre on the samayal and the samayalkarar and he is equally knowledgeable about both. If these Mamas are from a smaller town or village, one can often see a vaira thodu on their ears. Such Mamas are usually accompanied by their entire families for the full duration of the music season.

The Active Mama is the more socially useful variety. He is, as the name suggests, quite active both physically and otherwise. The neighbouring not-so-active mamas often have to listen to their mamis grumble "Avar intha vayasulayum evalavu activea irrukar. Neengalum irrukele. Enakkunu vanthu vaachurukele". The Active mama is a member of the local association and works for the welfare of the association. Be it a road to be repaired, a speed-breaker to be built or a water line to be repaired, he is the person to go to. He is well versed with goverment working and knows who to approach for each job. Not very religious, he still attends the temple pooja regularly and ensures all the arrangements are taken care of. He may be an avid walker and can be seen socialising while walking.

The Bhakthi Mama is drawn to puja and temples. He is religious and performs his daily routine of pujas. This may take a few hours everyday but he is a stickler for his routine. A sub-variety visits temples eveyday. They can be seen going towards the temple in groups of twos and threes though ones are not uncommon. They attend the various discourses and lectures, stay for the puja and return with the prasadam. The Mami's dinner menu is dependent on the prasadam - "Puliyodaraium Sakara Pongalum vangindu vanthutel. Aathula thayir sadam irruku". The more orthodox type can be seen in a panchagachcham.

The Foreign Son/Daughter Mama is a more prevalent type. He has a son(s) and/or daughter(s) living abroad. He has made many trips to foreign lands (read his son or daughter's place) and is well versed with foreign travel. Should you get caught by him, there is no escape from the photographs of his grandchildren. He will explain in detail when each snap was taken, by whom and why. If he is a good photographer, you get the technical details also - like what effect the shutter speed has on the sharpness, how the flash can simulate a bald spot. He can usually be spotted proudly wearing a Tee-shirt that says "I love Las Vegas" or "Stanford University".

The Foreign Returned Mama has returned to India after spending 2-3 decades in foreign countries. Some return to be in the country of origin in the later years, others because of personal reasons like old parents. This Mama is very business-like and not given to unnecessary talk. He wants to replicate his earlier lifestyle and so goes about in earnest purchasing all things deemed necessary. The Mami misses her foreign days and longs to go back - "Yaen vandomnnu irrukku. Thirumbi poyidalaamna mamaku velai kidaikadhu". All said, this type keeps to itself and does not mix much.

The Modern Mama is the more ubiquitous type. Despite  his nomenclature, he is quite young. He is attired in shorts when not in the office. He feels like fish out of water when not in the office. Not known to have any domestic skillsets, he does not know which end of the feeding bottle goes into the baby's mouth nor how to change a nappy. He passively holds the bottle while his wife freshens up the baby. He is most comfortable fiddling with his smartphone. His glaring lack of domestic skills is the product of his (Homebound Mama) father and doting mother doing eveything for him during his youth.

There are many other genres but small in number. In general, the Mamas are law abiding citizens and peace loving. They will not get into unnecessary arguments or fights. They are most comfortable when left to themselves. May their tribe increase.