A country that reveres Shakti, the goddess of power, has failed to protect its women.

 

August 15, 2004

Dhananjay Chatterjee was executed for a crime he was convicted of in 1990.  Three key points to note are:

• The execution took place 14 years after his initial conviction.
• There were lingering doubts about Dhananjay's innocence, with some believing that the real perpetrator, who had influential connections, managed to avoid punishment.
• Media outlets hailed the execution as a landmark decision, claiming it would deter future heinous crimes. But did it?  

December 6, 2019

Four suspects were fatally shot by police in what authorities claimed was an encounter. The case is ongoing, yet it remains a stark reminder of a crime that gripped the nation. The swiftness with which the police apprehended and then eliminated the accused sparked intense public debate. While questions linger about the use of lethal force, the tragic outcome has not proven to be an effective deterrent.

March 20, 2020

Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur and Pawan Gupta were executed at Tihar Jail for a crime convicted in 2012. A crime that shook the collective consciousness of the entire nation. A fast-track court convicted the accused within a year. Yet

• An eight-year delay in execution exposed flaws in our justice system.
• While there were no doubts about the convicts, the case exposed critical flaws in the Juvenile Justice Act, which limited the punishment for one of the key offenders. The subsequent amendment in 2015 addressed this issue, but the question remains:
• Did the ultimate penalty serve as a deterrent?

 9 August 2024

Two decades after the execution of Dhananjay Chatterjee, a horrific assault on a doctor within the hallowed grounds of a medical college has sent shockwaves through the nation. The medical fraternity has united in outrage, demanding justice for their colleague. Yet, this harrowing incident serves as a stark reminder of a macabre reality: A country that reveres Shakti, the goddess of power, has failed to protect its women.

Twenty Years: A professional milestone

9th August: On this date twenty years ago, as a fresh graduate, I embarked on my journey in the IT world at Infosys. After completing my training, I joined the REU (Resources, Energy, and Utilities) business unit. At the time, I had no idea that "Utilities" would bring me back to my roots.

I grew up in a small town surrounded by power plants—hydro-electric, naphtha-based gas peaker, and coal-based thermal—all within an 8-10 km radius. When I left that town over 25 years ago, I thought I was leaving the world of power plants and electricity behind. Fate, it seems, had a different trajectory in mind.

My career, marked by stints in India, the US, and the UK with Infosys, Cognizant, and now Nagarro, has been a consistent journey through the energy and utilities sector. As I embark on my 21st year, I'm excited to be part of this industry's evolution, returning full circle to where it all started.

Farewell ! Comrade Sir

 

It was the year 2006, and state elections were approaching in West Bengal. At that time, I was working at Infosys in Bhubaneswar and had decided to spend the weekend at my father's workplace in Mejia. My return journey was planned as follows: a train from Raniganj to Howrah, followed by another train from Howrah to Bhubaneswar.

I boarded the train at Raniganj, but since one of the gates was locked, I entered through the other. After placing my bag in the compartment, I walked towards the toilet at the end. As soon as I locked the door, someone knocked. I ignored it at first, but the knocking grew louder, almost turning into banging, so I had no choice but to open the door.

The next few seconds were a blur. All I remember is facing a towering man, well over six feet tall, dressed in a crisp blue suit, with a nozzle pointed directly at me. He proceeded to ask a series of questions to verify my travel purpose and identity, followed by a thorough search of all the documents I had with me. Once he was satisfied that I posed no threat, he instructed me to return to my seat, the nozzle still close to my back.

It wasn't until I was seated that I learned that then chief minister Mr. Budhadev Bhattacharya was in the same compartment and that I had inadvertently breached his security by walking to the toilet.

The rest of the journey was uneventful, although the security officer did sit next to me for the remainder of the trip. On the bright side, they were quite helpful, offering snacks and refreshments since no hawkers were allowed into the compartment.

Before deboarding, Mr. Bhattacharya took the time to personally apologize for the inconvenience caused by him and his entourage during the journey. This act of humility remains my enduring memory of him. - never acting like the VIP, always kind, caring and considerate!!!The common man’s chief minister. 

 Farewell, comrade Sir.