Can India prosper on Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence?

As India rejoiced over the execution of Ajmal Kasab a very famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi struck my mind --an eye for an eye makes whole world blind. The father of world’s largest democratic nation was entirely against violence. It was his last wish to not grant death sentence to the convicts --including his own murderer. But in the country that has been nurtured with the ideology of ‘tit for tat’ since ages (and the holy scriptures are a documentary evidence for the same) I personally don’t find his thought practically applicable in such a scenario.

Several people took to social networking sites to condemn the act of nation getting into festive mode after hearing the news of Ajmal Kasab’s execution on November 21. Well, in that case first they should stop celebrating the festivals like Holi and Dussehra because they are symbolic of the death of ‘Holika’ and ‘Ravan’ respectively who ended up losing their lives for their heinous deeds.

Our glorious past teaches us that good can come out victorious over evil only by completely ending it-- literally killing it. Therefore, this nation can’t advocate banning death sentence to the man like Kasab-- who slaughtered innumerous lives with his gun for no reason. He deserved capital punishment to send a strong message to the enemies that India will not be a mute spectator to such a carnage on Indian soil. India’s bloody past has taught that it’s never defensive attitude had made is prone to periodic invasions and slavery under foreign hands. And with the kind of neighbours India has --who constantly tries to violate the cease fire and create terror every now and then -- it can not keep it's non violent attitude.

Thus, Gandhi’s principle of ‘offering another cheek to the one who slaps us’ will only result in spilling more bloodshed. Since terrorist organisation like Lashakar-e-Tayiba (LeT) and Al-Queda have no impact of preaching over non-violence.

Also it would have been an injustice with the families of 166 victims who lost their lives in the sheer display of genocide due to hands of some brain washed young men who gave it a name of ‘jihad’. None of the religions preach killing of innocent people in their name but none all preach the same lesson to punish the enemies of human kind with full intolerance.

Although not every lesson taught by Mahatma Gandhi are impracticable in today’s perspective. Only weapon useful in winning against terror is social equality and religious tolerance that could be achieved by education and Gandhi’s has always been its true advocate.

Why politicians remember Mumbai terror attack victims?

 With no reasons to hurt the sentiments of the victims of Mumbai terror attack and their kin a single question circles my mind, what does the agencies and Government authorities try to show while observing the death anniversary for the same? Agreed that November 26, 2008 was a black mark day in the history of India, but innocent blood were spilled in several deadly terror attacks too. Reports and developments over terror attacks on Ramjanmbhumi in UP, Akshardham temple attack-- to name a few-- fade in the ambience of 26/11. Why?

The first and foremost answer that struck my mind about 26/11 terror attack getting so much poliand media attention is because it was the first time that the elite class and foreign nationals fell victim at the hands of terrorists. Although, the common man was not untouched this time as well but the aam admi has always been a soft target of the terror outfits since ages, but that is something very common and Government is adapted to it. So, killing of innocent elites took the authorities aback as they are the ones who help our politicians in times of need. And also the attack over such hi-profile places where presidents and prime ministers of several nations visiting India don't give a miss was a matter of grave concern.

Media goes hysteric every year on this very day but it amazes me why rest other incidents go unnoticed by them. Another question flashes into my mind, had the situation been the same, if it were just 166 middle class men slaughtered at the hands of Kasab and his colleagues? The answer this time again is no. Taking cue from the serial train bombing on July 11 --another massacre occurred in Mumbai (country’s commercial capital). 209 were killed in those blasts that targetted the working middle class that commutes in Mumbai’s local trains. Therefore, this truly supports my conclusion.

With Ajmal Kasab given so much of VIP treatment for four years before he was finally prosecuted for what he deserved also makes me think that even the killer of elites is entitled to get special treatment by the jail authorities.

Seems the authorities took the concept of ‘Atithi Devo Bhawa’ bit too seriously. It took the authorities four long years to punish Kasab--the sole surviving gunman in the attacks who was fed with ‘chicken biryani’ for killing the elites, all these years inside the prison. More than 20 crore rupees were spent upon him (Kasab) in four years in a country where the government expects a normal man to survive at mere Rs. 26 to survive.

Several upper class people were killed and held hostage in the terrorist attack including 18 foreign nationals losing their lives present at Oberoi Trident, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower and Leopold Café—all attended by the elites.

Now, have we ever heard of a news story regarding death anniversaries of the victims celebrated like the kind of attention given to this? I very well understand that the Mumbai attacks were massive in their kind but I have never heard of a top politician ever visiting annually and paying tribute to those who lost their lives in such homicides.

The government has definitely been partial on their part for handling both the sections of the society equally. Places like temple, bus stand, market places, local trains are very rare destinations where elites and politicians are found. Therefore, tight security of such places are not given a damn.