Accidental Blogger

2 responses to “Wanted: A good hangman”

1. Sujatha

   June 15, 2011

   One of the readers’ comments suggests a possible interesting perspective on the application of the death penalty in India. He/she thinks that the difference could be the Judeo-Christian concept of Death as finality, with judgement being passed and evildoers sent to Hell, while those who live good lives go to Heaven. Hence death, with its attending horrors of Hell, is a fitting punishment for heinous crimes, and therefore to be expedited.
   On the other hand, with the belief in reincarnation, jurisprudence in India might conclude that Hell is living this life out in prison or such, rather than quick despatch into death and possibly different (we can’t tell necessarily that it would be a terrible new life) incarnation.
   I’m reminded of the reaction by an Indian shop assistant (injured, paraplegic) to the sentencing of his assailant to the death penalty. He was not happy and to paraphrase his response “He should be sentenced to something like the life I am now living, or at least to provide daily care for one such person. The death penalty is too easy a way out.” (Note: The shop assistant, the only survivor out of a rampage that killed 5 others, is now dead after a miserable few years of wheelchair/ventilator bound life. The killer still sits on death row in PA, 10 years after the killings.)

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2. Ruchira

   June 15, 2011

   I was intrigued by the total number of India’s death penalty cases since 1947 that is reported in the article (around 50). I do not believe that the number is that low. Human Rights groups probably have a different, far higher figure. But that the death penalty is now being treated as a “rarest of rare” case punishment by the Indian judiciary system and the hangman’s job is no longer a lucrative one, is an encouraging development.

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