Writing can be punishing

As far as punishments go, 21-year-old Bharat Ahlawat seems to have got a tough one. Booked for eve-teasing in a bus last year, our verbal Romeo now has to actually think and write an essay on the following subject: “How women feel when they are teased and why one should not tease women.” While we could advise Mr Ahlawat to refer to the latest women’s magazines for tips, it seems that the punishment doesn’t stop there. He will have to take up the role of sole distributor of the 500 copies of the essay once the court finds it suitable for reading.

Reports haven’t specified whether all the 500 copies will have to be made with or without recourse to a photocopier but it does specify that the essay has to be 25 pages long. Which sort of discounts the possibility of us reproducing Mr Ahlawat’s cogitations on the crime he committed.

Writing out lines as punishment is as old as after-school detention. Incidentally, Mr Ahlawat will have to dole out the copies of his anti-teasing essay outside a boys’ school or to freshers in Delhi University. In the meantime, for the sins that we may have committed in the past few days, let us repent by writing: As far as punishments go, 21-year-old Bharat Ahlawat seems to have got a tough one.