The Inviscible face of Justice

Wikileaks

I have been reading Julian Assange's (the maverick who founded Wikileaks) autobiography titled " The Unauthorized Autobiography". Wikileaks is the new face of uncensored news reporting- a concept the mainstream media has forgot all about. Mainstream media today exists only as a ally to state and corporate machineries not out of common motives but more out of threats and pressures of powerful people whose motives are questioned by such uncensored publishing. It is on this stage that Wikileaks comes as a people's advocate to truth. As I understand it, it is a platform that publishes verifiable covert information which otherwise remains undisclosed within the government and corporate closets. Its power lies in the  secrecy it promises to the whistle blower - an intricate system of self denial with only one face to be held accountable for all the leaks at the very end: Julian Assange. Governments and corporations have been shaken by the revelations that has come forth about their manipulative and malicious activities [1]. Initially, it was threats of legal battles which they hoped would silence Assange. When he seemed not to budge, they desperately contemplated plans to tarnish his image by various 'illegal' measures: planting drugs in his possessions, accusing him of child pornography or alleging him to be a traitor linked to leaking potential information to terrorists. There were assassination threats too. But eventually, they settled for the cheapest trick in their bags: sexual assault charges on him against two Swedish women. He is currently at Ecuador embassy at London trying to escape an extradition to Sweden where he believes, he will be handed over to the US [2].

The Hokkolorob movement

Since September 3rd, there have been some uproars in  Jadhavpur university in Kolkata regarding institutional inaction in the case of a molestation of one of the students. Students took to the streets on a peaceful dharna demanding immediate action. On the callous night of September 16-17, police and non uniformed men (alleged by students to be Trinamool goons) under the instruction of the vice chancellor assaulted the protesters[3]. Such a bargain for democratic peaceful protest against an inefficient system. A solidarity march of almost 1,20,000 students, teachers, alumni, and general populace thronged the streets of Kolkata to protest over this dastardly act and take matters to the governor of West Bengal who is also the Chancellor of the University. Under pressure the Pro Vice Chancellor has resigned on 25th of September. Eventually a state panel was setup to investigate the the issue which submitted a report to the Education minister detailing sketches and possible names of the accused [4]. Though the light of justice took time to gleam through the shady corridors of some high handed involvement in covering up the molestation, it has strived to illuminate the truth in the end.

The Thought

The question that arises in my mind when I observe both the incidences is whether justice is only achievable when the injustices are questioned by an invisible or visible involvement of a group of people? Wikileaks is an invisible force with only one visible face. The students movement is a visible force with no single person accountability. Both has in someway achieved the cause of justice they set out for.

What about individual against state or corporations? Sometimes even in cases of such activisms, the leaders are always privy to the wrath of the tyrants (as in case of Assange). In most cases, an identified leader of such activism or his family are prone to bear the brunts of the oppression from the forces they are fighting. Even Assange, who is supposed to have evaluated the consequences of his actions, outpours his regret subtly in the words -"In some ways, the conflict that has come about as a result is not altogether unwelcome, but it's not something that my children, for example, signed up for. So that's really the greatest irritation [2]."

In a concept of judiciary where money and legality are on the same page, a righteous common man feels disempowered. Though his soul burns in inaction, he cocoons himself in the comfort of preservation of his social life. He is systemically desensitized to overlook the injustices and taught to live with them everyday. Good men see a murder and walk away not because they don't care; its because they are afraid of the consequences on their loved ones of expressing their seething anger at the act.

In the famous Batman series of Nolan, Bruce Wayne contemplates with his friend and caretaker Alfred regarding this exact issue:

Bruce Wayne:  People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can't do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I'm flesh and blood, I can be ignored, I can be destroyed; but as a symbol... as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting. 

Alfred: What symbol? 

Bruce Wayne: Something elemental, something terrifying.

Alfred: I assume that as you're taking on the underworld, this symbol is a persona to protect those you care about from reprisals. 

Bottomline

Justice seems possible in our society only if an invisible force pursues it.

 References

1. http://www.collateralmurder.com/

2. http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-tackles-google-dispels-health-rumours-1.2779189

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Jadavpur_University_protests

4. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/2-Jadavpur-University-students-held-after-govt-panel-finds-molest-evidence/articleshow/43565358.cms

Request: Don't forget to press the 'join this site' button and register as a member to get timely updates of my posts.