Capital Punishment- a not so capital idea?

In the past few weeks, India has seen two high-profile executions taking place. Those of 26-11 convict Kasab and the mastermind of the attack on the Parliament- Afzal Guru. Also, with the increasing cases of rape in the nation, particularly in its northern parts, we've had an outcry demanding death sentence for those convicted in such cases. It seems as if modern India's motto is, "don't kill the crime, kill the criminals."

And yes, I understand. I understand how it feels to have a group of self-righteous idiots try to take your decisions. When they try to kill you, or those near you, for the sake of remote concepts that don't really matter to you. When you have to take time of your daily bread-and-butter because your daughter and sister don't feel safe walking on the road alone. It rankles, the injustice of it all. The fact that you are denied security at your very own home. You want to kill those responsible for it.



But is this right?

Is it the only way out?

Is it a solution?

The answer is a resounding "NO."

Now, it may seem like I am being the Devil's advocate by saying this, but I firmly believe that killing someone is not a solution for a crime, and even more importantly, not the State's domain of jurisdiction.

What is a country? What is it that exactly constitutes a nation? Whatever it is, nothing justifies the State 

depriving a man of life. Simply put, that which cannot give life cannot withdraw it. Whatever the counter-argument, whatever the objection, however extreme the provocation may be, you simply cannot deprive a man of his life. And as for the fact that it acts as a deterrent for crime, I still see crimes happening, in-spite of the death penalty. And our moral system must be extremely shallow if the death penalty is the only thing stopping everyone from becoming rapists, murderers and terrorists.

Let me post a question here. Does the correct way to honor the memory of those killed by someone involve more killing? That seems rather paradoxical to me. The death penalty is just making killers of us all. And whatever my faults, I do not wish to be known as a killer.

I understand that any nation wishes to portray a strong impression by giving strong punishments to wrongdoers. But it must do that within its limits. The death penalty is irreversible, and as we all know, miscarriages of justice are unfortunately too common in our country.


And finally, it all winds down to one simple question-what is the difference? What is the difference between the culprits and us if we too resort to medieval methods for our "revenge", as it is? What is the difference between us and animals if both of us believe in the law of the jungle? None. And so let us show all those who think that just because they can kill, does not mean they should. As Gandhi has said, "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." It may sound cliche, but let us show them that we are better humans than them.

And in the process, give humanity a chance.