Media Trial: a must, now?

Yes, perhaps. With a crumbling and crippled system all around, the Indian media, television in particular, will have to shoulder this responsibility. Cynics and puritans may list the hazards of making the media even more powerful by putting the judicial rein in their hands but the fact is that if the media had not intervened directly with sustained efforts, Jessica Lal, Nitish Katara and a few others would never have got justice. Though the justice was delayed customarily in both these cases but at least it was not denied. Ruchika’s case is also progressing in the same direction. Haven’t we already seen the various wings of the Indian establishment swiftly swing into action since Media’s campaign?!

The much protracted judgment in Ruchika’s case represents everything that is ailing and rotten in the Indian system: a super corrupt cop - morally and otherwise, an equally corrupt administration, and a handicapped court. All three pillars of our country’s democracy damaged beyond repairs; all three pillars in collusion to protect the criminal. And left is the memory of a young molested girl and her tormented family and friends, fighting the establishment - all out to destroy them for their “audacity” to go against it!

19 long years it took the judiciary to come out with its verdict: a mere 6 months imprisonment for a senior police officer who molested a young girl and later went all out exercising his political and police powers in harassing her family and friends, so much so that her brother was framed with six false charges and tortured to an extent that he became a mental wreck; she was thrown out of her school on flimsy ground; even the tennis academy buckled under pressure and banned her entry; her family had to sell off their home and flee; not to forget that in not being able to take it any further, the girl committed suicide. And, the nation saw – after 19 long years - a smiling SPS Rathore walk out of the courtroom.

What shocked me the most, like the entire nation, was this crooked cop’s mocking smile! How I wanted to smack his face hard enough to wipe away that demonic grin, forever! His nauseating grin also made me feel really sorry for his children: how unfortunate they are to have such a father!

I am sure that with Media’s active intervention, Ruchika will get justice, finally. I salute her for her extraordinary bravery in standing up to an immensely corrupt and hostile system; I salute her family and friends for their exceptional courage under extreme adversity. Now, India is with them, though belatedly – all thanks to Media, again!

But we should not stop here. Media, along with public, has to sustain their campaign and force the Indian government to bring about much awaited reforms in its systems, judiciary included. Otherwise, we will continue to pretend to be waking every time a Jessica or a Ruchika gets thrown in our face. Otherwise, the smiles of many more Rathores will keep haunting us!

May 2010 be a watershed year for India and we see our country become safe and secure for all :) ... Happy 2010!