Crime and Motive : Perspectives of a Criminal
To Umar Khalid Abstract : The Oxford Dictionary describes ‘Crime’ as : activities that involve breaking the law. On what basis do we then, bring ourselves to condemn specific criminal activities and celebrate others? In his defence, our criminal in question - accused of not one, but two ghastly crimes against the state - answers these enquires in his statement before the court as such – “According to the famous jurist Solomon, one should not be punished for his criminal offence if his aim is not against law. If we set aside the motive, then Jesus Christ will appear to be a man responsible for creating disturbances, breaking peace and preaching revolt. But we worship him. Why? Because the inspiration behind his actions was that of a high ideal…” For Bhagat Singh - the orator of the dialogue quoted above - it is the motive of a crime that must be taken into consideration when trying a convict. When most revolutionary groups in India had pinned their hopes on Gandhi’s non-vi...