I Did it For Peace, Love & Harmony

A leading magazine of India, Outlook, mentioned a nationalist with the dignity he deserved, in its March 2011 issue, it wrote:

The Delhi High Court today upheld the life sentence to a political activist Hari Singh for hijacking an Indian Airlines flight in March 1993 but asked the government to suitably commute his sentence as he had committed the crime “to make a political point.”

It becomes quite important and interesting at the same time to analyze that how easy it is for a government to overlook a guideline of the High court of a country where judiciary is considered supreme in the administrative hierarchy. I was convicted for a crime I never committed or aimed to commit, and government didn’t lend its audience to the point that honorable high court made. The accountability of government on the entire episode has been rigid and reluctant, which ultimately makes it clear that no matter how high you regard your motherland, the ruler’s whip is mightiest of all. Your love for nation doesn't mean anything at all, if you are poised to break some rules and go off the track in meeting a challenging threat, no matter if you risk everything for the sake of it. This is what I have learned in life, a life full of idealism inculcated through heroic stories of brave forefathers who risked everything for India’s independence. I am Hari Singh & this is my story.

I never longed for too much of money so became a teacher to match my ordinary lifestyle, following the philosophy of simple living & high thinking, and marched ahead with a belief that I am a responsible citizen of the country whose legacy spans thousands of years. I am a native of the land who gave world gems like Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Budhha, Guru Nanak & Khwaja Monuddin Chishti and jewels like Charak, Sushruta, Aryabhatta & Kautilya. Life was going good and I was humbled with all that my lord gave me in life. Then came the decade of 90’s and my blood began to rush, my veins full of rigour were ablaze when I saw my dear motherland suffering.

The venom of communalism had taken over & rampant corruption of the system nurtured it further, what I was left with during those horrific times was just to be a spectator & watch it all collapse. My motherland was suffering, and I was just watching, it shook me a lot, so I decided to stand up and fight against it, and I did. My acts were considered crime and were judged in poor light of scanty evidences and I was termed a hijacker, which I never was. I was just being human who tried to respect humanity. I was just an Indian who tried to respect the sacrifices that made India, the wonder it is. I was proud that I didn't remain silent, and became vocal, raising my voice against violence. I did it all for peace, love, & harmony, my country has been known for, around the world since forever. I am Hari Singh & this was my story.