It was an established routine that once in a month, the Home Secretary would brief the President about the law and order situation in the country.
The Home Secretary referred to the report in his hand and outlined the highlights of the report to the President and handed over the report to him.
Noticing that Krishna Prasad wanted to ask him something but hesitated to ask him, Ram Dayal prompted him, by saying, "Tell me, Mr. Krishna Prasad."
"Sir! The number of mercy petitions from convicted prisoners seeking reduction or annulment of their sentence or premature release from prison has been increasing" said Krishna Prasad.
"Yes. I have also noticed such a trend."
"I feel that we are being too magnanimous in considering such petitions."
"I understand what you are trying to convey. I have sanctioned the pleas of several petitioners, despite your recommendation to reject their pleas. This is what you are concerned about, aren't you?" asked Krishna Prasad, smiling.
"Sir, I am not suggesting that you accept all of my recommendations - by my recommendations, I mean the recommendations made by the officials of my department, after elaborately going through the details of each case and assessing the merits of the plea. But, if we show mercy to people who have committed crimes, will it not embolden potential offenders, by making them think that even if they were to be convicted, they could appeal for mercy and get their sentences reduced or annulled? After all, one of the objectives of awarding punishment to a wrongdoer is that the fear of punishment would act as a deterrent for those who intend to commit a crime. Won't you agree that we shouldn't do anything that will have the effect of weakening this objective?" asked Krishna Prasad.
"Your point is well taken. That is why we scrutinize the petitions, evaluate the merit of the pleas and take a decision. Perhaps, my perspective is more sympathetic than yours. Let us say, a person is given a prison sentence of ten years. After spending five years in prison, he submits a petition, seeking his release on sympathetic grounds. You may take the view that five years' imprisonment is not adequate for the crime committed by him. I may think that since he has suffered an imprisonment for five years, he could be released, It is not necessary that after getting released, he would commit a crime again. Will he not be aware that if he is caught, the punishment will be even more severe? Having experienced the pain of imprisonment for five years, will he risk being subjected to the pain again? Considering this aspect and taking into account the family circumstances of the petitioner, I show mercy in some cases."
The Home Secretary was silent.
"Mr. Krishna Prasad! Despite many wrongdoings occurring in the world, the world is functioning, by adhering, albeit imperfectly, to some system of discipline,. What do you think is the reason for this?" asked Ram Dayal.
"In my opinion, it is the law enforcement that ensures at least some discipline in the world. In the absence of law enforcement, there will only be chaos."
"I agree with what you say. Using laws to control people is only one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is love or compassion. Love is what we show towards people close to us or known to us. Also, many people in the world have compassion towards other people. That is why we are moved by the grief experienced by other people. It is compassion that drives people to help orphan children, whose faces they have not seen and other categories of people suffering various misfortunes. I believe that the head of a state should have more compassion than an average human being."
"I understand, sir" said Krishna Prasad.
"I think you are not fully convinced of my views. Do you believe in God?" asked Ram Dayal.
"Yes. I believe that God is compassionate, but..."
"God is not compassionate, Mr. Krishna Prasad!" interjected Ram Dayal.
"What do you mean, sir?" asked Krishna Prasad, surprised by Ram Dayal's words.
Ram Dayal showed him the book he was reading.
"The title of this book is 'Daya Satakam.' It is written by Vedanta Desiaka, a Vaishnavite Guru. This book has 108 hymns on Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati. That is why it is named 'Satakam' meaning 'hundred.' As you know, 'Daya' means compassion. Desika says that Lord Venkateswara has a wife named Daya. When the Lord seeks to punish people who commit sins, Daya intervenes and saves the sinners from punishment, because of the compassion she has for all!"
"Interesting!"
"Fortunately, I have an innate trait of compassion. Otherwise, I would have had to marry a woman having the trait of compassion. Don't tell my wife what I told you just now. If you do, my wife will show no mercy on me!" said Ram Dayal, laughing.
uNmaiyAn uNdu ivvulagu.
Verse 570
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