By: Khan Emran
It was evening time. Sun was about to set. People were preparing for Iftar (breaking fast in Ramadhan). My neighbour Ghulam Mohammad (name-changed) opened his shop to sell Iftari items like semolina (suji), sugar, basil seeds, juice, fruits, etc. There were not many people at his shop when a police jeep on petrol duty came, caught hold of the elderly shopkeeper, thrashed him and vandalized his juice bottles and other items. On top of that, they drove their vehicle over it. A scene that should send chills down your spine. The incident took place on International Labour Day and irony just died a thousand deaths.
Imagine even on international Labour Day, toiling for a living has become a crime. If this is the law of this lawless land, then such laws must go. Remember St. Augustine saying “An unjust law is no law at all.” One may also ask should laws be seen in absolute black and white?
Many incidents of police high-handedness have surfaced since curfew disguised as lockdown was announced. Yes many people have been caught violating administrative orders and neglecting precautionary measures. However some questions do remain there. Being locked down is not that simple. Orders from the government and then their absolute implementation have consequences, far beyond the pandemic.
For the poor, has anybody bothered to see how life is for them during this lockdown? How are they managing their expenses? And how long can they survive like this? What has been the condition of stranded labourers? What has compelled them to brave risks of ravelling in concrete mixing tankers?
Second aspect of this lockdown is the increased powers of the state machinery, specifically of police, and the manner in which lockdown is implemented by them. Why many, though not all, in the administration, specifically police have become so arrogant in these tough times? Have certain institutions inherited colonial approach in their genes or they have been instructed to function with cruelty? Aren’t we living in a democracy? Don’t we have any rights? Don’t we pay taxes? And are we entitled to a life of dignity, or not?
Then there is the psychological impact of lockdown. Normal routine has been disrupted. People want things getting back to normal as soon as possible. In such a situation should we continue with a strict lockdown like the one we see in Kashmir? Or should we brainstorm to find a way for smart lockdown?
Another aspect to it is that in view of the lockdown, how should violators be dealt with? Should violators be beaten to pulp? Should they be humiliated and then videos of such humiliation made viral? Or should they be dealt as per law? Under what law police vandalized the juice and other food items of my neighbourhood shop and then crushed the same under their van? Should my raising of these questions be seen as a crime; should I be booked or intimidated? Should I be deemed as anti-national or seen as provoking people and threatening law and order? Or should it be seen just as a concern for the rule of law to prevail and not institutional despotism? Remember Lord Acton’s prophetic words: “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” No institution in a democratic setup should consider having despotic powers.
I am aware that the lockdown has been ordered for saving human lives. But if politicians and administrators are so concerned about human lives, then they must also do some explaining on the budgets allocated for health and medical research over the years. Have we done enough to improve our health infrastructure? Like in Kashmir, how many ventilators are in hospitals elsewhere?
Interestingly, in times of pandemic like Covid-19, why are biased political agendas and policies being advanced in Kashmir? Was new domicile law for Kashmir or for that matter other administrative decision such a desperate need as are they made out to be?
Democracies guarantee certain rights to citizens, and promises nations and societies based on the rule of law. There are also checks and balances to prevent lawlessness and keep law enforcing institutions within the limits of law. Not all are violators or criminals and not all want to put lives of others at risk. We are just common people, desperate to live happily, without fear and without being subjected to degraded treatment. If we have right to life, it has to be with honour and dignity. After all, nobody wants to be humiliated.
Then, what about those who have become habitual of violating shutdown orders? All those should be dealt and punished, but only as per law. And so should be those who take pride and pleasure in violating people’s dignity and self-respect under the garb of enforcing the shutdown.
(Author is M.Phil Psychology from University of Kashmir.)
