Lynchings reveal frustration in polity, anemic criminal justice system, corrupt, ineffective police force

By Sheshu Babu*

Though there is less than a year for another general elections, lynchings continue in India unabated. Dalits and Muslims are being thrashed, harassed, beaten to death and, shamelessly, most of these incidents are being uploaded and circulated on WhatsApp with impunity. There is a need to discuss the continued horrors and the stony silence of the ruling party, BJP, and its organizations.
The term 'lynching' supposedly originated during the American revolution with Colonel Charles Lynch (1736-1796), a Virginia planter, politician, and American revolutionary, who headed an irregular court in Virginia to punish Loyalist supporters of the British during the American Revolutionary War. Lynch would order 'extra legal punishment' for British Loyalists, hanging without a trial. (M Lee Stone, September 30,2017, portside.org), and from that time, there is Lynch's law and lynching.

Effect of photos

The 'photos' of lynching reflect not only apathy of those photographing the incident but the 'sadistic celebration' of the viewers at the site of the incident, as well as those viewing on social media platforms like Facebook or YouTube.
As Efe Igor in an article analysing lynching in America states ("Modern cannibalism: Lynching Photography and Politics of Sight", January 4, 2015, www.conversationx.com), discussing black suffering, " ...Our viewing will make us voyeurs, fascinated as well as repulsed by black suffering, but ultimately blind to the system that made these images possible. The photographs of lynching divert our gaze from the problem, white supremacy and its legacy."
Similar is the case in India where Dalits, Muslims and women are lynched very frequently, as and when they try asserting upper caste Brahminical domination and supremacy.

Charles Lynch

Explaining lynchings in Guatemala, Matthew Klick ("Guatemala calling: Lynching and the Politics of Inequality", August 4, 2015, politicalviolenceataglance.org), says: "What lynchings more certainly reveal is the frustration among polity at large with an anemic criminal justice system infamous for impunity rates exceeding 90 percent, and on the street, with a police force hamstrung by corruption and ineffectiveness..."
He continues: "Lynchings are indeed an effort to reassert some agency, some autonomy, and some control over a life of uncertainty, and insecurity... Moreover lynchings force us to confront the dark side of citizen activism under conditions of state fragility."

People behind lynchings

Most lynchings have some sort of planning in advance. The mob gathering takes place with spread of rumours through social media or from person to person. The incidents are usually motivated by fanatic right wingers and their groups. Though upper caste forces instigate the lynchings, those involved may also belong to other castes. Commercial benefits and lucrative offers to vigilantes and lynching mobs also play crucial role in executing the incidents ("For Cow and Cash, June 23, 2017, frontline.in).

Silence is approval

While scores of people have been killed in the lynchings, the silence of ruling party, BJP, is telling. It raises doubts whether there is a tacit approval of the rulers. The last four years resemble the lawless state of south US of the late 19 century (Chandan Nandy, July 5, 2018, newsclick.in).
In "Political silence over lynching is Sanction by another mens", the author says, "In the least, the lynchings are both governmental depravity and a demoralised state of society which is being taken back to a time when India was synonymous with medieval barbarity".
The powers that be have eyes but see not: They have ears but hear not and have tongues but speak not. Their silence is sanction.

Awareness

These atrocities are being covered up carefully by the Hindutva fascists in the wake of ensuing elections. New programmes for the uplifting of Dalits, Muslims and other marginalised sections are being announced. Sops for farmers is an example of how the suicides of farmers have been sidelined for all these years, and to pacify them, the prices of crops (minimum support price) have been increased.
The participation in Kabir anniversary ("Why BJP sings Kabir", Badri Naryan, indianexpress.com) by the ruling party is indication of its efforts to garner votes for elections. People should be alert and aware to quickly recognize the machinations and evil designs and question the silence on these lynchings all these years. The double standards and hypocrisy should be exposed.
---
*Writer from everywhere and anywhere, when he ponders on the question 'Who am I?' , receives some response in Bhupen Hazarika lyric 'Ami ek jajabor'. He has learned how to struggle from the courageous life of Gaddar, who, despite bullets in his body, sings for the people and about the people

Comments

Uma said…

Hinuism and lynching are poles apart but, obviously, a big part of Hindutva beliefs of the ruling party. Take any member of the mob and you will find he is a coward; his courage is in numbers only. While the upper cast is not a part of the mob it instigates the mob to do its dirty work. Add to this the silence of the politicians and their support/praise of the perpetrators of such horrific crimes and you get a polluted social atmosphere we should be ashamed of

July 09, 2018

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog