6. Conclusion & Summary

Author's note: This is a series of 7 articles written during the Delhi Rape case period. The focus is on the nature of change, our understanding of the law, the system and how real change happens. It is strongly recommended to read them in serial order starting with the first one here, lest they seem too abstract and philosophical.

We can dismiss all this as too philosophical, too abstract. Instead keep rearranging the furniture and believe the house has changed. Or 'be practical' and make do with 'realistic' solutions. They are great too. As long as we do not make realistic solutions an excuse to postpone, forget or understand the real ones. In fact, the desire to understand is all that we need. If we can sift through the mess and see the truth of how we all make the mess or the goodness happen together, how WE are all in it together - we will be able to take responsibility for it ALL. Change will happen the moment we SEE(not DO) that. And that’s the only change that’s needed – contact with reality. What follows will inevitably be a  good side effect – because it will be based on truth, not conjecture. It will be what’s needed, not what we THINK is good or bad

In summary

• If our past records are anything to go by, we have failed miserably in figuring out this problem. Accepting that is the only option to open up our minds to something new, anything new. And our only hope.
• We want it, but maybe not strongly enough. We either want it or we don’t. Conditions cannot apply. Those conditions are all part of the problem. What is left at the end is our choice
• Law is not about morality. It is about actions an consequences
• The power of a law lies in the certainty, not in the cruelty, of its consequence
• Justice is the mechanism to make this certainty possible, not to judge it or to restore harmony or provide closure.
• It is easier to believe what we actually SEE happening. Faster the justice, more easy it becomes to TRUST the law. More meaningful it becomes to respect it.
• The speed of justice depends on its enforcers, and hence on their belief in it. Enforcers are people, who come from society. Their beliefs are dictated by society.
• They can make it work with or despite the system. They use and therefore determine the efficiency of the system. System meaning processes.
• Effective laws are a true reflection of social beliefs . Hence the degree of change and enforcement is fast. Attempts to change beliefs by changing laws are meaningless.
• Hence understanding what IS, becomes more important than thinking what SHOULD BE
• There is nothing called the ‘system’. We ARE the system. The government, the politicians, the voters are all PARTS of that system.
• Our demands for change are most often demands for conformance. Change cannot be demanded. It is a process of creation. We can only let it happen. Be ready to let the old die, so that something new can be born
• Who conforms to whom is not about morality, but about power. Every dog has its day, but still nothing changes
• A good change is a step towards the truth, a bad change is a step away from the truth
• Since reality cannot be partial, , and has to involve the good, the bad and the ugly, the only way we can change it is to see it and be prepared to work with it in all its ugly glory
• We are ALL in it together. We might not need to blame ourselves for the past, but we are all responsible for the future. The timing, nature, delay of this future will be determined by each one of us

The next obvious question is: What is the solution to all this? The next article attempts to provide guiding questions: 7. Helpful questions(NOT directions)