INDIAN JUDGES may not mind picking up decades old pending cases from the dusty, shabby racks; but the general public detest being called to the witness box after several years. Even after condemning their procrastination act to the hilt, people are left with no choice than to hinge on the tardy Indian legal system.
However, here still reside few who had given up this arduous task of solving disputes completely to the will of god. It seems they sensed the load of impending work pressure looming on the judges way back some centuries and hence spelled out a bigot approach to solve their local disputes.
Call them maniacs or god-fearing people, the reality is India is still home to some lunatic fellows who sacrifice humanity to resolve criminal issues in favour of their so-called faith.
One such group of fanatics hails from Naggar, an age-old village in Kullu district. They negate the requirement of legal system, jurisdiction and lengthy litigation and indeed believe in instant judgment motivated by their unbound trust in the power of nature. Surprising enough, in Naggar, it is animal nodding that decides the culprit and the compensation of crime thereof.
The special courts there do not observe any particular type of architecture, their meetings are held at the heritage Jagatipatt temple, which is believed to be a meeting place of local idols and therefore perceived as a holy place to settle disputes.
The parties in question bring sheep or goats to the temple, leaving them untied, the priest starts chanting Vedic hymns and prayers. Whilst the holy process is coming to an end, priest takes the dust and heaves it on the animals, the one that trembles most is declared guilty. While the owner claims responsibility and accepts punishment, the animal is then sacrificed. For them, god is the ultimate judge and thus the judgment is his discretion. Animals are just messengers.
Besides solving such disputes, they often come to the aid of god whenever there is some natural calamity or they have to embark on a new project. An elder of the village, Kayasth suggests that the spirit of deity enters the body of Gur (link between god and people) and he pronounces the decision of god in the state of trance.
There is certainly no rhyme and a reason behind such heinous animal crimes, but for those practicing it, each drop of the animal’s blood is suggestive of divinity. Sometimes, it seems India should leave behind the critical issues of development and rather concentrates on such absurd practices, going on in interiors of the region. Evidently, going to moon is not bigger than these illogical beliefs, so people mistaking murders for loyalty and faith should be corrected at this hour.
Shruti Kakkar
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