Over the new year I have been, like everybody else, watching the unfolding events related to the execution of Saddam Hussain. Having been preofessionally associated with Iraq for quite many years now, I have lot of opinion about it, but I will refrain from making those now as this page is not about my professional life. Regardless of one's opinion about him, the dignity with which he conducted himself at the gallows and the complete lack of such dignity shown by some of those present was very stark. 

I have been tracking the reactions about Saddams execution around the world. In Iraq where he lived and died, the reaction was mixed and predictably on shia sunni lines. In neighbouring Iran, who bore the brunt of his campaign in the eighties, people were reported to be happy. In Jordan, which sometime supported and sometime opposed Saddam, the reaciton was mixed. In Kuwait, which was yet another party in a conflict involving Saddam, people reported to be happy and relieved. In much of western world the reaciton was reported to be mixed with those supporting the execution agreeing that justice has caught up with a brutal dictator while those opposing disagreeing with the justice on number of counts, including the process, the timing, the punishment and so on.

However, even in places where people disagreed with the process, timing or punishment, nobody tried to make a case that Saddam was innocent of the various crimes attributed to him.  Not even in Iraq.

Well, I have not described one place which was brought to a standstill due to Saddam's death. That is Kerala, a tiny state in India. As soon the news spread of his execution, calls were made for "hartal" , which translate to closure of shops, stoppage of public and private transport. All political parties, and there are dozens of them in this place, supported the Hartal and leaders of both ruling party and opposition were on streets protesting against the execution. Opinion makers came out with statements condemning the exeuction. Political leaders went a step further and warned serious consequences for United States and other forces of imperialism !. News papers next day was full of articles, opinions and reports condemning the execution.  Saddam was presented as a hero of its people, the final frontier against American imperialism and a martyr to his causes. 

In all the above, there was no mention about what Saddam did and was there any case for him to be held accountable for. TV channels and news paper articles repeatedly made reference to how he was a friend of India and supported India's case in various Islamic and Arab forums. There was tearful testimony from a guy who once cooked food for Saddam (and therefore was an expert on Iraq issues). There was yet another tearful testimony from a nurse who worked in the Iraq hospital during Iran Iraq war and was given a gift by Saddam (and therefore was yet anotehr expert on the issue). Listening to the expert who cooked Idlis for Saddam one just couldnt figure out how could somebdoy (who ate Idlis) be actually be a bad charector. Must be something to do with the American Imperialism (they dont eat Idlis anyway).

I have no complaint about those who support Saddam for whatever reasons. There are hundres of families in Kerala who worked in Iraq and have gained from its prosperity. There are at least few people who were lucky enough to have served Idlis to him and got personally rewarded in return.  My point is that the entire public debate in Kerala was so one sided on the issue that nobody dared to ask any question as to whether there was any case to be answered here. What type of a person was Saddam, what is his political record, how did he create and maintain an administration, objectively speaking what was the economic and social progress made during his period. Was there crimes committed during his period. Was there errors of judgement made by him or his administration ?. The issue was treated and presented so one sided and people who have no intellectual contribution to make was presented as experts making emotional statements. 

In the long run, the type of emotional swamp we create in Kerala will become an ideal habitat for the type of crocodiles whom we may not support. But by the time we realise the presence of crocodiles amongst us it will be too late. Those who are involved in crocodile hunting knows, one first has to drain the swamp before hunting the crocodiles. So when the time comes for the crocodiles to be hunted,  the society will therefore get hit first prior to the extremists who hide in it.