Law enforcement always gets protection from ruling party: Author Shevlin Sebastian
Kochi-based Shevlin Sebastian, a journalist for over three decades, has published four novels for children. Deccan Chronicle spoke with the author on the release of his latest, ‘The Stolen Necklace’.
Excerpts
Q. How did you come up with ‘The Stolen Necklace’?
A friend saw a news story and forwarded it to my agent, Anish Chandy. Since it was a Kerala-based story and I live in Kochi, Anish forwarded it to me. I immediately found it an intriguing story.
The book narrates the real story of V.K. Thajudheen, a middle-aged man from Kannur, who was wrongfully incarcerated for an alleged necklace theft, mistaken for a thief based on a CCTV image in 2018. It recaps the horrific story encompassing all its life and drama. The local police, smug at apprehending a criminal in record time, wanted a confession. How people and resources (social media) stood up for him and got him free after he languished in jail for 54 days is the crux of the story.
Thajudheen is everyman.
Yes, one reason I did the story was because I instinctively knew that what happened to Thajudheen could happen to me or you. It was a nightmare for a middle-class person. Anyone who reads the book will know what a traumatic experience it had been for him and his family. So I am glad I wrote the book.
Did you follow the case as a journalist?
Sorry, no. The event took place in North Kerala, while I live in South Kerala, although that might sound like a lame excuse.
Politics, power, police, prejudice shape the book.
In our society, the police get extraordinary leeway. If they are found guilty of excesses, they do not even receive a rap on the wrist. As a result, they feel they can behave in any way they want. It is a continuation of the British (colonial) mindset. They are rulers and we are the ruled. So a change in mindset is required. This can be done through refresher courses, which should emphasise their role as a service provider to society. To maintain law and order. Nothing more, nothing less.
HRC reports 374 cops face criminal prosecution in Kerala. True?
In a newspaper report in January this year, the number of police officers facing criminal charges has shot up to 830. This is, of course, extremely disturbing for the moral health of society when law enforcers become friends with law breakers.
What were the challenges and difficulties in dealing with real characters and names?
For a few people, we changed their names because they wanted privacy. I spoke with most of the people featured in the book, in-person and over the phone, to record their replies accurately. Using a digital recorder helped me.
Two faces of new tech: CCTVs framed him; social media got him justice
Yes, that is true. Tech can cause damage and tech can also save your life.
Do you think this book will bring attention to the sufferings of people wrongly convicted?
Yes, very much. When you read the book, you will get a picture of what a family goes through when its breadwinner is arrested suddenly and without warning. I believe Thajudheen and his family have not fully recovered from this devastating blow. I hope that when police officers read this book, they will also realise the impact of their actions. And I hope they will be careful in their behaviour in future.
In 2018, India reported 70 custodial deaths. Inquiries were done only in 27. Kerala was one of six states that shied away from inquiries.
That is no surprise. All governments will protect law enforcement because it is a powerful arm of the ruling party. But as a result, this protection, at all costs, results in grave injustice and tragic situations. Ideally, law enforcement should be an independent force. Nowadays, politicians at all strata of society interfere with the workings of the police.
Kerala’s passion for football
Yes, Kerala has a tremendous passion for football, especially in the North. I could see this when the World Cup was held last year in Qatar. Fans put up huge placards of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo all over the state. And Messi fans became ecstatic when he lifted the World Cup for Argentina. Football is an enduring passion in Kerala.
Journalists and authors have different styles of writing. How did you adapt?
I used both styles. I am also a short story writer and have published four novels for children. As a friend said, after reading the book, I had mixed the journalistic and literary style of writing.
How do you weave fiction into a non-fictional narrative?
I always imagined the anecdotes which Thajudheen told me as scenes, like in a work of fiction or a movie. Hence, I could impart a fictional narrative to what is a true story. I started my blog. ‘Shevlin’s World’ in 2005. Till now, it has received nearly 24 lakh hits. It contains all my journalism and creative work.
Do you research before writing or while writing?
I do both. Sometimes, while writing, I come across an interesting point. Then I do research on it, in order to get more information.
Your writing process. Plotting and planning.
There is a bit of plotting, but mostly, I try to get into a flow where the writing happens naturally.
Book: The Stolen Necklace: A small crime in a small town
Authors: Shevlin Sebastian and V.K. Thajudheen
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers India
Pages: 249
Price: Rs 399
