Death to Death

Every page of last week’s newspaper has the word Qasab mentioned at least twice. He’s the current ‘hottest’ on every news channel. 526 days after 26/11 it has been announced, Qasab would be hanged for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, waging war against the nation, indulging in terrorist activities and criminal conspiracy.
“He shall be hanged by neck till he’s dead” this sentence may not even have lived an echo in the court room as hungry journo’s representing a tornado rushed to get their ‘exclusive’.
26/11 the date has been etched in the memory of millions. For many the scars run deeper. Superficial signs may cover a cut nerve that for some may never heal. Though many lived for judgment day, the verdict somehow didn’t dry the cold sweat. Judge Tahilyani may go home feeling lighter today or Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam may flash a victorius salute in his newly acquired shades for the jubilant occasion. Politically staged pictures of muslims (and ironically muslims only) have graced today’s pages celebrating the verdict. But this by no means should be considered a closure.

Amidst all the limelight and nick names given to him, if anything, I feel everything that Ajmal Qasab stands for must be rejoicing that he’s achieved what Lalit Modi is to T20, what SRK is to entertainment. He’s achieved a synonym to the word ‘fear'. It was tearful reading the testimonies of many whose wounds were scrapped again for meaner newspaper bytes on the upshot of the verdict.
Young kids who've lost their parents are now only shadows of their yester years. Many others want their losses avenged. Some have forgiven. The candles may still be burning, but they’re all unanimous in admitting Ajmals hanging is not going to bring back the dead. It may only bring momentary solace to the ones left behind, but that much they deserve. Hanging him seems to be the best option in the interest of state security and the tax payers. Hang him by all means, but by doing so let’s not jump to proclaim victory over terrorism.

Lets not forget, Qasab was only a pawn, the real masterminds 'terror' itself is watching and debating our reaction from some dark corner, somewhere. Will India consider 26/11 a closed chapter half an hour after Qasab has been declared dead? Will the govt continue the hunt for the bigger masterminds? If no proof has been collected so far, with Qasab gone, will the possibility of loose answers meet a dead end?
Maybe too far fetched, but, why cant we keep him alive secretly and declare him dead to the world otherwise? If we can house aliens in some remote laboratories in the U.S, than why can't Qasab the largest inhuman form be drugged, sedated, tranquillized, used, abused and broken just as long as we can juice the last bit of information out of him.

“He believed he was morally justified in committing the offence”.

For him this is the final calling of the 70 odd virgins who await him in Jannat. His suffering does not seem enough for the hundred others who will soon be waging a jehad to avenge the sacrifice of their brother Ajmal Qasab. This by no means is a closure for them, nor should we mistake it to be one for us.