You must have walked their path if
you must offer an opinion about someone.
 |
| Sanjay Dutt leaving Yerawada Prison in Pune Picture Courtesy: Internet |
I am appalled with the quality of social
media/public opinion being hurled at Sanjay Dutt over his release from prison
earlier this week. I like Sanjay, the actor. But I love him for the courage he
has displayed to face Life, go through a legal process and serve a jail term.
Yes, it can be argued that he tried to avoid the jail term as much as possible;
he used every legal option available to him. And it can be further argued that
while in jail he kept seeking – and getting – paroles. And now, he’s walked out
eight months ahead of schedule. So, it’s natural that people ask: will others accused of a crime or prisoners
get such a differential, preferred treatment? I guess that question is more
relevant when posed to the government and the prison authorities. As far as
Sanjay is concerned he only did what anyone in his position will do – which is,
explore all legal avenues available to first avoid a prison term and then to
reduce it. After all who wants to be in
jail?
This is my personal view.
I say this not as a means of offering just yet
another opinion. I say this because I have come close to incarceration on more
than one occasion. Like Sanjay has admitted to having made mistakes, I too, in
the context of the poor financial decisions that I took, have made mistakes.
And while there is a realization today of follies having been committed, I did
not see anything inappropriate about seeking and utilizing legal counsel to
stay away from jail. I believe apart from being a constitutional right, it is
also a normal, human urge to not want to go to jail. I can totally relate to
Sanjay declaring, upon his release, “It has been a long walk to freedom.” I
haven’t had to – so far – face a situation of my physical freedom being taken
away. But since I have come close (I share one such episode in my Book ‘Fall Like A Rose
Petal’; Westland, August 2014), let me tell you, even that is
something that I wish no one should ever have to experience. Which is why I
salute Sanjay for not running away from the country or hanging himself from a
ceiling fan – he could have done either long, long back; and many in his shoes (may)
have done that surely! – instead he stayed on, faced the 23-year-process
stoically and served a sentence that the highest court in the land ordered him
to.
I am not trying to be preachy here. I am just
sharing what I deeply feel. I know the pain of being judged by public – and
private – opinion. I know what it is to be called a cheat (by my own family). I
know what it means to be unable to redeem yourself, your credibility, when Life
check-mates you, only because you blinked and made a couple of lousy decisions.
Most people who are hanging Sanjay in a public trail have, mercifully, never
had to go through a situation that he has faced. Perhaps they would have
crumbled long, long ago had they ever had to face one themselves.
Here’s the nub: if you haven’t walked someone’s
path yourself, please don’t rush to offer an opinion about them. Please respect
the other person’s right to dignity!
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