Readers' Forum
“Tihar tales”
Thank you very much for providing through Parsiana information on the outside world of Parsis. I found the recent debates/accounts on the review of Rohinton Nariman’s book interesting ("Reverence to truth,” Parsiana, September 21, 2017). Parsis in the top echelons of the judiciary and legal illuminati provide an excellent role model for others.
I was pleasantly surprised to see a review of the book Behind Bars ("Tihar tales,” Books, Parsiana, October 21, 2017). All credit to the reviewer Venkat Iyer and Parsiana for bringing to light a book on the underbelly of our society. The extent of the horrors of Tihar Jail is known internationally. On October 16, a British Court rejected an extraordinary plea against bookie Sanjay Chawla merely on human rights grounds "over the severe conditions in Tihar Jail where he was to be held if extradited.” And I was kept there for nearly seven years where a single case dragged on and on, and the Delhi police even denied my fundamental right to attend cases in other states simultaneously!
Though well written, the review requires minor points of clarification: First, I am already over 70, being born on January 19, 1947. I have now served over eight years in jail — all as an undertrial continuously being denied bail. I have been acquitted of all terror related charges (not "some” as mentioned in the review); and not only in the Delhi case, but in cases across Delhi, Punjab and Telangana. The terror related charges under various sections of the UAPA [Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act] have been dismissed in all cases in all states. The single conviction was on the minor charge of impersonation (quite common with investigative journalists) in the Delhi case but rejected in the Punjab case. I am now passing time in this Visakhapatnam case where the case has been dragging since the past eight months, even though I have been acquitted in all others and I too have been granted bail — but imagine travelling all the way from Bombay for the trial, at 70, with all these ailments and nowhere to stay.
Regarding the judiciary, what the author has quoted from a letter in 2012 may have been my observation in Tihar. My personal experience has been very positive regarding the judges, whether in Delhi, Punjab or Telangana. It is the system that is faulty, and the judiciary too has to fall in place.
As far as Afzal Guru (a Kashmiri separatist executed in 2013 for his role in the attack on the Indian parliament in 2001) is concerned, I just mentioned my observations as I also did for top Uttar Pradesh dons Brijesh Singh, Sunil Rathi (all very decent). The facts I mentioned could be corroborated by the jail staff. Anyhow, my purpose has never been to merely "win friends,” but to stand up for truth and justice and promote these. Unfortunately, it is precisely for this that I have been incarcerated for over eight years without a single major conviction.
Hopefully, truth shall finally prevail. Satyamev Jayate (truth alone triumphs)!
KOBAD GHANDY
Visakhapatnam Central Jail
I was pleasantly surprised to see a review of the book Behind Bars ("Tihar tales,” Books, Parsiana, October 21, 2017). All credit to the reviewer Venkat Iyer and Parsiana for bringing to light a book on the underbelly of our society. The extent of the horrors of Tihar Jail is known internationally. On October 16, a British Court rejected an extraordinary plea against bookie Sanjay Chawla merely on human rights grounds "over the severe conditions in Tihar Jail where he was to be held if extradited.” And I was kept there for nearly seven years where a single case dragged on and on, and the Delhi police even denied my fundamental right to attend cases in other states simultaneously!
Though well written, the review requires minor points of clarification: First, I am already over 70, being born on January 19, 1947. I have now served over eight years in jail — all as an undertrial continuously being denied bail. I have been acquitted of all terror related charges (not "some” as mentioned in the review); and not only in the Delhi case, but in cases across Delhi, Punjab and Telangana. The terror related charges under various sections of the UAPA [Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act] have been dismissed in all cases in all states. The single conviction was on the minor charge of impersonation (quite common with investigative journalists) in the Delhi case but rejected in the Punjab case. I am now passing time in this Visakhapatnam case where the case has been dragging since the past eight months, even though I have been acquitted in all others and I too have been granted bail — but imagine travelling all the way from Bombay for the trial, at 70, with all these ailments and nowhere to stay.
Regarding the judiciary, what the author has quoted from a letter in 2012 may have been my observation in Tihar. My personal experience has been very positive regarding the judges, whether in Delhi, Punjab or Telangana. It is the system that is faulty, and the judiciary too has to fall in place.
As far as Afzal Guru (a Kashmiri separatist executed in 2013 for his role in the attack on the Indian parliament in 2001) is concerned, I just mentioned my observations as I also did for top Uttar Pradesh dons Brijesh Singh, Sunil Rathi (all very decent). The facts I mentioned could be corroborated by the jail staff. Anyhow, my purpose has never been to merely "win friends,” but to stand up for truth and justice and promote these. Unfortunately, it is precisely for this that I have been incarcerated for over eight years without a single major conviction.
Hopefully, truth shall finally prevail. Satyamev Jayate (truth alone triumphs)!
KOBAD GHANDY
Visakhapatnam Central Jail
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