THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary - October 8, 2018 - Too easily offended
Too easily offended:
the Konark temple case
The Supreme Court’s observations, while denying bail to defence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, to the effect that he incited religious feelings in a
video posted on social media, were out of place in what was a bail hearing.
Such endorsement by the Court, which observed that Mr. Iyer-Mitra would be
“safer in jail”, in response to his counsel’s plea that he feared for his life,
was less than appropriate. Sending someone to the “safety” of a prison is no
answer to questions raised by a prosecution under stringent laws that involve
restrictions on free speech on grounds of maintaining public order and
tranquillity. In a video post against the backdrop of the Konark temple, Mr.
Iyer-Mitra had made some comments that were clearly satirical in nature.
While
it is entirely possible that his remarks offended some people, it is laughable
to assume his intent was to sow discord or create religious enmity. The State
police contended otherwise, charging him with outraging or wounding religious
feelings and, quite mystifyingly, alleging that his remarks were directed
against the “Odiya people”. On cue, the Odisha Assembly is now probing whether
his satirical jokes constitute a breach of privilege of the House. Mr.
Iyer-Mitra’s arrest in New Delhi by a police team from Odisha for his comments
and some other tweets is another instance of the rampant misuse of two sections
of the Indian Penal Code — 153A and 295A — on the charges of promoting enmity
between different groups on grounds of religion. However, a magistrate denied
the police permission to take him to Odisha on transit remand, and instead
granted him limited bail until September 28 on the condition that he join the
investigation by that date. His petition for regular bail has now been rejected
by the Supreme Court.
The entire episode flags a larger concern:
provisions that ought to be invoked only under serious circumstances — a grave
threat to public order and tranquillity, for instance, or, in the case of
Section 295A, when a purported insult to religion has been done with malicious
and deliberate intent — are being misused in a routine manner. When the onus is
on the prosecution to show there was criminal intent either to provoke
disharmony or deliberately offend religious sensibilities, it is simply wrong
to invoke these sections for everything that someone finds objectionable.
Irreverence or even bad taste is not a crime. A mere response suffices; the use
of prosecution and arrest are unjustifiable. Such
an attitude will only make for an intolerant society consisting of easily
offended individuals. In a mature democracy, the casual resort to criminal
prosecution for perceived insults to either a religion or a class of society
ought to be actively discouraged. In fact, the case must serve as yet another prompt
to begin the process of reading down Sections 153A and 295A.
Vocabulary
Endorsement: an
act of giving one's public approval or support to someone or something.
Example: When
Litan asks consumers that question, she finds that banks get the highest endorsement
, with support from 47% of the public.
Synonyms: support, backing, approval, seal
of approval, agreement, recommendation
Prosecution: the
institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a
criminal charge.
Example: Olesky
faces prosecution on charges he spied for Russian intelligence
Appropriate: suitable
or proper in the circumstances.
Example: A
measure appropriate to a wartime economy
Synonyms: suitable, proper, fitting, apt, right, relevant, pertinent, apposite
Tranquillity: the
quality or state of being tranquil; calm.
Example: Passing
cars are the only noise that disturbs the tranquility of rural life
Synonyms: peace, peacefulness, restfulness, repose, calm, calmness, quiet
Intent: resolved
or determined to do something
Example: The
administration was intent on achieving greater efficiency
Synonyms: bent
on, set on, insistent on, hell-bent on, committed
to, obsessive about
Privilege: a
special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular
person or group of people.
Example: Education
is a right, not a privilege
Synonyms: advantage, benefit, prerogative, entitlement, right, concession
Enmity: the
state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
Example: Enmity
between Protestants and Catholics
Synonyms: hostility, animosity, antagonism, friction, antipathy, animus, acrimony
Intent: resolved
or determined to do something
Example: The
administration was intent on achieving greater efficiency
Synonyms: bent
on, set on, insistent on, hell-bent on, committed
to, obsessive about
Irreverence: a
lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.
Example: An
attitude of irreverence toward politicians
Perceive: become
aware or conscious of something
Example: His
mouth fell open as he perceived the truth
Synonyms: discern, recognize, become
aware of, see, distinguish, realize, grasp
