An Adarsh Muslim reflects on Yakub's hanging

As a Muslim trying to fit in with the wisdom of our times, I am pained by the discourse my ilk and the liberals are perpetrating about the events of July 30. Those blaming our justice system exhibit little understanding of both the legal process and the concept of karma. The honourable Supreme Court in an “unprecedented” move convened a bench at three in the morning. Why would these honourable judges lose their sleep over a terrorist unless their hearts are not filled with justice and compassion? They were willing to give every opportunity to the guilty. What more can the "sickulars" and "libtards" ask for? Do they want the court to let go of all the terrorists?

Thank god, our collective conscience didn’t succumb to the hoarse crying for mercy by the "sickulars" and "libtards". The honourable Supreme Court stuck to its guns and we eventually saw the terrorist rightfully meeting his end at the gallows. A strong message went out to all the traitors and their sympathisers. They will think twice before associating themselves with such activities. Yakub Memon was guilty by association. And those saying guilty by association is not good enough for death penalty perhaps are unaware of the English saying, “A man is known by the company he keeps”. Sant Kabir said long back:

कबीर संगत साधु की, नित प्रति कीजै जाय |

दुरमति दूर बहावासी, देशी सुमति बताय ||

Essentially, if one keeps good company, one acquires wisdom and good conduct. Bad company only results in evil befalling one. Yakub Memon brought this upon himself. His end was a result of his karma. If you have been with the Kauravas, you will meet the Kauravas’ end too.

These same people (I feel it’s not even worth calling them "sickulars" and "libtards" - I’ll just call them “these people”) also accused the courts of being selective in its dispensation of justice. They stupidly compared terrorists with a few hot-headed rioting men and women and alleged our justice system is communal. First, a cold-blooded terrorist planting bombs cannot be compared with few hot-headed people killing in the heat of the moment. Killing in the heat of the moment is not terrorism. At best it can be termed as murder. Comparing murder and terrorism is like comparing flu and cancer.

Further, it’s baseless to say the courts have been communal. Hindu terrorists like Aseemanand and Sadhavi Pragya are also going through the legal process. One is in jail and the other had got bail. The law will catch up with them too as it did with Yakub Memon. Why do we start despairing at every instance? We know our courts take a long time. Der hai, andher nahin! And as far as rioters are concerned, it’s not that there have never been Muslim rioters. Our system has been deficient in catching and convicting both Hindu and Muslim rioters. There is no communal bias here. At least we know of Hindu rioters like Kodnani and Bajrangi, can one name any prominent Muslim rioter? The fact we know of these Hindu rioters is a proof that our legal system wants to punish the culprits in an unbiased way.

Anyway, reverting to the joyous part of today. Scores of people who love this country, take pride in its heritage and culture, peacefully gathered outside the Nagpur Jail and shouted slogans celebrating our motherland. Their hearts brimming with joy, a few of them broke into dance and many took their selfies - a reminder of the moment when justice was delivered in our country. There was love, pride and bonhomie outside the jail. Even the press joined us and did a humane coverage talking about the last breakfast, the compassionate way people are hung, and secretly sharing our joy while reporting.

But then this joy was mitigated by the loss of APJ Abdul Kalam. A true patriot, a great leader, and a humble soul. Truly, a people’s president. He broke ranks from his fellow Muslims and instead of ending up as a butcher, or a trader, or a madrasa teacher, or a film star, he went on to become a scientist and eventually the president of the country. It’s one thing to make bombs to kill people, and another to make weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) as a deterrent to rogue nations and raise one’s country’s stature and hard power in the league of nations. The one who does the former is a terrorist, and the latter is a statesman. Dr Kalam was truly a secular Muslim. He read Hindu scriptures, revered Hindu holy men, was a vegetarian, and even played the rudra veena. His demise is a great loss to our nation.

I am inspired by the great man. I have already started practising yoga every morning. Thanks to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and our public schools' lack of interest in hiring Urdu teachers, I studied Sanskrit and holy scriptures in school. All I need to do now is to give up on the non-vegetarian diet and find a rudra veena teacher. After that I am sure I’ll find my peace and perhaps will also achieve some of the greatness of this awe-inspiring man.