This Is India Meri Jaan

The Aston Martin (or what remains of it) that crashed into two cars in Mumbai
Source: NDTV

What happens when you drive in an inebriated state and slam into another car? Make that two. What happens when the accident kills the innocent occupants of those cars? – The answer is simple isn't it? You get arrested and thrown behind bars. The media devours you down and runs campaigns to seek justice. An FIR gets filed against you that triggers off a court trial. The heinous crime that it is and the rash behaviour that you display, it is but obvious that you get the harshest of harsh punishment. 

But wait, what happens if you are the son of India’s richest man? Well, then you go scot-free. The media goes silent and the police become your shield. 

Why you ask? Because this is India meri jaan.

Yes, this is India. The country where the rich and powerful can get away with anything - Rape, Murder, Accidents, Hunting…. You name the crime; however merciless and unforgiving it might be; they get away. Each and every time. 

This is India; where on one hand the government campaigns to provide safety for women, wipe out corruption and eradicate crime to the extent possible but on the other allows the law and order to be twisted to meet the convenience of the elite class. 

This is India, the country where a film actor runs over five people sleeping on the footpath killing one and injuring the rest. The police put up a fragile case in the court and ensure it drags for over a decade. Ironically the same film actor then goes on to deliver hits after hits portraying roles of a police inspector.

This is India, where decisions on Sec. 377 are taken with speed and intensity while more pertinent and damaging cases such as rape and murder by the influential never see light of the day.

This is India, where a leading news channel hosts “25 Greatest Living Legends” function at Rashtrapati Bhavan and maintains a “diplomatic” stand when it comes to covering the news of an accident caused by the son of one of those very Lech “Legends”.

This is India, the land that boasts of diversities in its culture and its commitment to do away with casteism esp. in the administrative world on one side and then further widens the gap between socio-economic classes with its bias towards the rich.

This is India, where from centuries together pregnant women have been treated with utmost grace and respect in all sections of society; but the law goes mum when a rich kid tosses over a pregnant woman killing her and her child instantly.

This is India, where the rich do not think twice before using their drivers as scapegoats to save their sons and the police don’t blink twice before doctoring the FIRs to make the cases weak. 

This is India, where Arnab Goswami questions decisions ruthlessly and demolishes facades everyday; while  in the meantime the powerful and influential fourth estate gets bullied into taking down stories (check the URLs and then the page).

This is India, the nation that retaliates when one of its diplomats is treated in an undignified manner by the world’s most powerful country for a crime she has potentially committed. But drags its feet to rescue an Indian sailor  jailed in Togo, while his family awaits his return to cremate his baby.

This is India, where the authorities bow down to the rich and trample over the poor. 

This is India, where power, influence and money weigh a lot more than humanity, justice and fair treatment to all. 

This is India, the country we belong to, the land we call our home.