Forgiveness

 Forgiveness is the theme of our blog today. Why? Is that your question? Well, two incidents suggested it. The first one is truly terrible. It took place in Pune. The family of a CEO of an I/T company had to thus suffer, it seems. 

The family was treated most vilely. They were indirectly but viciously and continuously commented on, dirt/coconuts were thrown at them and their house, the 'working class', the menials, be it the 'ghanta gadi' person, the road sweeper, were consciously made to irritate them. Ugly rumours were floated against them. They were ostracised, but indirectly. Why? It seems, they dared to question the wrong practices in the society.

The family did not choose to forgive the conscious, cruel but subtle ill-treatment. They went to court, and now the culprits are behind bars which they absolutely deserve. Conscious, vicious cruelty, committed with sophistication and subtle mafia techniques, just because you are mean or because you hate and/or are jealous of somebody better/superior, should it be forgiven? Can it ever be forgotten?

Now the second incident. On a WhatsApp group, three Jain participants expressed their "Micchami duggadam" wishes. It is the annual ritual of the community whereby the community begs forgiveness for direct/indirect injustices committed knowingly/intentionally, et al. 

On this particular group, immediately there were sanctimonious reactions about how the Jain community treats non-vegetarians, how the community is hypocritical, how their 'holier-than-thou' eating habits belittle others, and so on and so forth. Obviously, there were strong counter-reactions. A genuine ritual, sincerely expressed, became a source of verbal warfare. Should this conscious misunderstanding be forgiven? Are not non-vegetarians also imposing in a more-modern-than-thou mode their life/food choices on others?

True, forgiveness helps one wash one's hands off, psychologically get rid of, the dirty creep consciously bothering one for no rhyme no reason. So even if the worm does not ask for forgiveness, better to forget the whole ugly, distasteful ill-treatment. There ARE other, higher courts! Some consolation!

Can the Kolkatta incident be forgiven? Can literal (or figurative, that is, spreading monstrous rumours) acid attacks by a so-called admirer be forgiven? Just because you are ordinary in every which way, can your trying to ruin in every possible manner the chances of a better individual through conscious groupism be forgiven? Can a politician fanning caste hatreds for power, for political gains be forgiven? 

Should such ugly, vicious cruelties be forgiven? Sure, the victim is resilient, manages to bounce back again and again, completely ignores you. What about you and the darknesses within you which even the Satan cannot forgive!?!

In brief, forgiveness IS divine. It, however, cannot be hypocritical lip service. It must be meant by the victim. It must be, most importantly, earned by the victimiser!

Pratima@The best punishment that can be extended to such perpetrators is to continue, despite them, to prosper in very many ways, and continue to be contented. Thus the darknesses within the victimizers would be  absolutely solidified!

Oh, yes, whatever your political proclivities, you have to admire the forgiveness extended by the Gandhi family to the LTTE assassins of Rajeev Gandhi. It may be inspired by Christianity ("forgive them, Lord, they know not..."). Yet it IS generous.