The law has to play the role of Ram to end inhuman crimes

Vijayadashmi marks the killing of Ravan by Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Every year when Dussehra approaches, Ramlilas take place in almost every street of

Vijayadashmi marks the killing of Ravan by Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Every year when Dussehra approaches, Ramlilas take place in almost every street of the city and on the day of Vijay Dashmi, effigies of Ravan and his family members are burnt.

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Ravan, however, is never ‘burnt’. He comes back in different forms but we fail to identify him. Despite being a devotee of Shiva, Ravan could not control his mind. Instead, he took up tyranny to fulfil his senses. He went on committing sins till the pitcher was full, leading to god’s intervention.

Of course, Ravan had done a bad deed by abducting Ram’s wife Sita. But he did nothing immoral with Sita. The Adhyatma Ramayan has a mention that Ravan kept Sita in the Ashok Van and that his intentions were not immoral. Whatever the vices and wishful deeds of Ravan might have been, he remains a subject of hatred in our societies.

But what we witness today in the form of child rape, honour-killing and other such crimes is more heinous than what Ravan did. The media are replete with reports of crimes against women and children. In fact, every year when the NCRB data comes out, most of the news stories are on crimes against women. Yet we are indifferent to these crimes . Every body knows that the co-existence of the good and the bad is inevitable. But the inhuman crimes being witnessed today need to be stopped. The law has to play the role of Ram.

(Inner Voice comprises contributions from our readers. The views expressed are personal.)