ना माने तो करके देख ।।
जन्नत भी है, और दोज़ख़ भी,
This
morning, while having my breakfast I had a thought. The thought was ‘If one
makes a mistake, what is important? Is it punishment for the mistake or the
realization that one has made the mistake?’ In this case, I am not talking
about errors or small mistakes that one makes in daily life, and immediately
after noticing knows that one has made a mistake. However, noticing a mistake
is the first step towards realization/ compunction. The first step because noticing
may not necessarily lead to realization or remorse; it may also lead to denial or
in some cases complete ignorance after noticing.
‘What is the point of punishment if
one never acknowledges/ realizes that it is for what he had done in the past?’
In this case, the culprit has to be in almost similar or same situation in
which he had done the mistake (in search of a better word as the word ‘crime’
seems too serious and ‘error’ seems too ignorable). Unless he/ she is in the
same / similar situation it is difficult to relate. Assuming the culprit is not completely dumb. ‘But
there is no guarantee that the culprit would be able to understand fully the
pain/ damage that he/ she had caused.’ Further,
I also strongly feel that the culprit should have the knowledge of the crime he/
she is being punished for. He/ she should not be under the delusion that the punishment
is some unjust behavior that the world has decided to grant him/ her.
On the other hand, ‘what is the use of
punishment if one has already realized their mistake?’ There is no use in
beating around the bush. If the person has realized that he/ she should not have
committed the unwanted deed then there is no use establishing the point repeatedly.
Some things depend upon the victim. Is their motto to make the culprit realize the
mistake under any circumstances? Even if that means putting, the later under the
same unpleasant situation multiple times until they completely understand what crime
they had done in the past.
It is a debatable topic. Many
considerations should be accounted before deciding the punishment. Like the
motive behind the action (in legal language which is the mens rea.) The
situation for the action.
If I think of the idea now, the whole judicial system is
based upon this debate. The debate that came to me as a thought for my
breakfast. It is funny how I never thought of it before today. I completed my
breakfast by the end of my mental discussion.
