In Search Of Dignity Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

Two hallowed heads strived for a legal edge,
Heard the case— horse as if trailing the cart,
Took time to think well— head over the heart,
Spirit of law bowed still to letters' rage.

Sympathised with the plea and not yet still:
‘We allow a passive mercy killing,
But active we can't'— its unfair sibling,
And final word shall but be the chair's will.

Wise words take a slow walk to arrive,
Fair words therefore are worth a goodly wait,
A tune many a white wig loves to drive,
And mercy did wait for her date with fate.

Yet, passive killing scarce can be mercy,
It's too cruel, heartlessly inhumane,
It rather adds, not allays patient's pain;
Pity the justice can't quite that way see.

Murder in mind, red handed if one's caught,
Proved and punished, he might hanged be till dead,
Yet, this our legal revenge be red-hot,
No, mercy killing's sin—murder in bed.

And look at words of wisdom from the Chair:
Her friend cannot closeness to victim claim,
Few visits make no friends, words too weighed were,
Poor she, made to carry the cross called blame!

Poor mercy in the court room was decried,
Hearing that life is bare breathing of breath,
Justice felt good— life triumphed over death,
Much ere she had, her dignity had died.

Poor nurse condemned— to live barest of bone,
In state that was no life, nor was it death,
In a state much maligned, in twilight zone,
And lady justice had lost goodly faith.
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The Supreme Court Bench deliberated on the petition by a sympathetic heart for mercy killing of a nurse in Hospital, a victim wronged by a hospital hand. The much awaited verdict on euthanasia is now out: The court may allow passive killing case by case; but active killing is a strict no, no. Yet to me active seems so much kind and humane to the patient while passive killing is like torturing the patient slowly, and seems somewhat cruel. In this petition head has triumphed over heart. Life that is no life has triumphed over death. And dignity has died. Read also, ‘And the death lingers (11.02.11) '.
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Happenings | 04.03.11 |