For months, as a fellow Indian-American, I have watched with some interest, the saga of the Dharun Ravi episode that has invoked extreme reactions from both his supporters as well as his detractors. For those not completely familiar with the case of Dharun Ravi versus the State of New Jersey, here are several links that will help familiarization with his case. I provide that so that you can more easily follow my line of thought.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/02/06/120206fa_fact_parker#ixzz1viBAX2jK
http://topics.nj.com/tag/dharun-ravi/index.html
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/02/06/120206fa_fact_parker#ixzz1viBAX2jK
http://topics.nj.com/tag/dharun-ravi/index.html
http://abcnews.go.com/US/rutgers-trial-post-verdict-analysis-perilous-path-justice/story?id=15952064
What do I suggest that Dharun Ravi do right now, this week? Strike a deal with the Prosecutor's office and ask that they recommend that they accept Volunatary Self Deportation to India immediately within two weeks in exchange for no Jail Sentence! YES, you read this right - I recommend offering Voluntary Self Deportation as the only way out. That is the only way that Dharun Ravi will avoid a Jail Sentence and avoid the massive fallout that will befall him if he went to Jail. As a fellow Indian-American and a fellow Tamilian I am absolutely sure that this is the only way out. Dharun will not survive even one week in Jail and if he went to Jail, he will emerge either as a hardened criminal or a completely demolished individual and will be unfit to remain in any civil society as a productive individual either here in the USA or in India where he will be deported after his sentence is completed (if handed down). Voluntary Self Deportation must be offered with the guarantee that Dharun will never, ever seek a return back to the USA, an unconditional written apology to Tyler Clementi's family and the offer of a rationale to the Judge explaining how this would save money (for incarceration) for the State of New Jersey (incarcerating Dharun for 10 years would cost a lot of money).
Voluntary Self Deportation would be easy for Dharun and his family. Contrary to what has been written in the press, Deportation for Dharun is not as big a deal as it is made out to be. In INDIA, Dharun would be able to go to college (he is not a criminal there), he would be able to pursue an extremely productive and rewarding life and get a great job or even manage his father's IT business in India. He would be able to live an Upper Middle Class life with all the luxuries that can go with it including a Car, a Driver, and several servants. Given a choice between the USA and INDIA, several Indian Professionals choose to go back to India these days. Indians come to the USA mostly as extremely well educated professionals and very few come because they are running away from a inhospitable country like many other immigrants. India is a free Democracy, indeed the world's largest democracy. There is nothing to run away from! Indeed, there is a lot to go back to - for those who are interested. It is not a bad deal at all. In any case, the end point after Jail time would be forced deportation to India anyways. So, why not offer it up - Voluntarily now? Everyone wins. The State of New Jersey wins by not having to spend the money incarcerating a non-violent convicted criminal whose intentions were doubtful to begin with (Dharun claims immature idiocy). From a hate crime perspective, I think everyone is badly misjudging Dharun. I strongly believe that Dharun was not raised as a Bigot and there is no belief in Hinduism (the religion that Dharun practices), that Homosexuality is a sin. Indeed, in Hinduism, Homosexuality is celebrated, even in our mythology and there are numerous stories about homosexual unions between our GODS! Unlike what I know about Christianity, there is no injunction against homosexuality. Being a homosexual is NOT against GOD's natural will in Hinduism!
I have worked in the prison system in Ohio as an IT professional. I have met many prisoners who have shared stories with me about what it takes to survive in a prison where it is brutal survival of the fittest and the most agile. Agility in mind, spirit and body is of utmost importance - and there is great value to that. There are unwritten codes and rules that a prisoner would need to follow and in prison, a prisoner might even need to join a prison gang, just to survive. Which gang will Dharun join? As far as I know, there are no Indian gangs in any US prison and the other established gangs are unlikely to welcome him into their fold. Not that joining a gang is an enticing deal or easy even for an inmate of a particular ethnicity. Dharun will also be a target of many prisoners because of the perception of his crime - that of a borderline sex offender. No body in prison is going to parse the difference, but the fact that he was convicted of a hate crime against a Gay man will not go well with any prisoner. Dharun will have to guard against getting raped himself in prison - sorry to be so blunt, but he will be the first target!
I hope Dharun's parents will read this blog post and listen to a well thought advice from a fellow Tamilian. I have struggled to decide whether to post this or not, but not having any other way to advise Dharun and his parents, this is the only way I know. From the bottom of my heart, I say to Dharun - "Offer Voluntary Self Deportation, Offer a Written Apology and get on with life. Do not risk going to Prison. You will not Survive!"
To put it bluntly. You obviously do not understand the workings of the American legal system. Strategically, the time for making plea deals is PRIOR to the trial or BEFORE the jury take the case. Dharun Ravi lawyers did not have much to work with. Instead of talking to the police at the station house Ravi should have invoked his Miranda rights and remained silent. Everything statement he made at the station house was used against him. Too bad Ravi and his parents refused the deal offered and choose to toss the dice. In the eyes of the law a crime occurred. The jury has rendered its verdict. Now it's too late for deals. Hopefully, the court will be lenient and not impose the full term--at least that is my hope. No doubt this case will be appealed since deportation is a distinct possibility.
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