Recriminations Curtail Freedom Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

The use of public humiliation
Was an instrument of social control.
Being paraded on a donkey or
Ostracization was some of measures.

Village heads were custodian of laws.
Justice was instant; shame was deterrent.
Some are repressive; some are oppressive.
However, it had curbed antisocial.

Such systems are banned though in vogue somewhere.
Only national laws are operative.
Shoddy trial, loop holes and late justice
Dampen victims and embolden offenders.

New kind of public harassment is on.
Sections outfits exercise their own laws.
Any infraction, real or perceived,
Invites their wrath that attacks infringers.

Once societal control was exercised
Through a network of people's eyes and tongues.
Women were more under observation.
Many owned ownership of woman's conducts.

Globalization of values are set
Against conventional narrow mindsets
With intolerance in operation.
Thick skin thrives; the rest shrink into their shells.

Ignore mistakes; look for wrong and blunder.
Let go of pernickety tendencies.
To be stupid is man's prerogative.
Tolerance to ignore such things is great.
18.07.2016