BY: Shoiab Mohmmad Bhat
The recent court verdict declaring the professor innocent raises serious questions about public judgment, social responsibility, declining moral values, misuse of narratives, and the irreversible damage caused to dignity and family honour before truth is established.
In Kashmiri, there is a well-known saying: “Yatam pozz pazii, tatam aalam dazii” meaning, “By the time the truth is revealed, the damage has already been done.” This powerful saying reflects the harsh reality of modern society, where judgments are often delivered long before truth is established. In today’s fast-moving digital world, emotions, assumptions, and social media narratives frequently overpower patience, wisdom, and legal process. The recent court verdict declaring the Professor innocent once again reminds society of a painful truth: accusations may spread within minutes, but restoring lost dignity can take years, and sometimes it never fully happens.
At a time when allegations were spreading, several people dared condemn the accused professor before a full investigation could be conducted and a legal decision made. Public conversations increased on all these fronts. Opinions were formed rapidly, and many people treated allegations as the final truth before the courts had delivered any judgment. Now, after the legal system has declared him innocent, an important question stands before society: who will restore the dignity, honour, and mental peace that may have been destroyed during that process?
A person’s reputation is not built overnight. Character, respect, credibility, and social honour are developed through years of hard work, discipline, contribution, and commitment towards society. Yet sometimes a single allegation, public controversy, or viral narrative can damage everything within moments.
Apart from the individual himself, society should consider the suffering of families as well. With every accusation against an individual, the whole family becomes a victim of social judgment. Parents, spouses, children, brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, and even relatives suffer deeply even if they have not done anything wrong.
One must think deeply about the emotional impact such situations create upon children and future generations of the family. Even after innocence is proven, public memory often preserves controversy more than truth. Children may continue hearing discussions, comments, and references connected to allegations that once surrounded their family. Emotional wounds caused by public humiliation do not disappear easily. Legal justice may arrive, but emotional recovery remains far more difficult.
The situation becomes all the more delicate when the person involved is a teacher or professor. A teacher is not just a professional, he or she is a symbol of trust, responsibility, integrity, discipline, and the intellectual framework of society. The teacher moulds the minds of the coming generation and prepares future generations for wisdom and enlightenment.
Even after legal clearance, doubts sometimes continue to exist among sections of society. Colleagues, students, and community members may continue to carry uncertainty regarding the person’s integrity despite the court verdict. For most of these people, the accusations are remembered more than the actual verdicts. Such an environment creates fear within society since suspicions become more dominant than facts and evidence.
Apart from this, an individual may experience lasting psychological and emotional effects from such an ordeal. Humiliation, stress, and emotional breakdowns usually persist despite receiving justice. Many individuals become mentally drained because society punishes them socially before facts are established legally. Emotional trauma caused by public condemnation cannot always be repaired through court decisions alone.
Another major concern emerging from such incidents is the changing social behaviour of the younger generation. Modern society, particularly the digital generation, appears increasingly influenced by instant reactions, emotional expression, online validation, and social media narratives. Patience, restraint, balanced thinking, and respectful disagreement are gradually weakening in many social spaces.
As far as my student days were concerned, the disciplined and respectable environment within the academic institutions would always fascinate me. The status of teachers was elevated to that of mentors and guides in society, and they were role models to all parents. Students, along with me, would automatically change their attitude and mannerisms in the presence of teachers or at any place where their presence was felt. It was believed that showing due respect and reverence towards teachers is a characteristic of one’s character and upbringing.
Even though students were reprimanded and disciplined for their faults, arguments and defiance were not a frequent feature due to the moral and social significance associated with the teaching profession. To this day, I still maintain the same kind of respect for teachers. There is a certain hesitation in my attitude, even in looking directly at them while talking, considering the high status of teachers in society.
Social media has only made matters worse by creating a culture of hasty reactions. People tend to react very quickly, give their opinions before checking facts, and spread narratives without thinking of the implications of their actions. Often in pursuit of attention, viewership and popularity.
Many people forget that behind every allegation, controversy, or public debate, there exists a human being with emotions, relationships, responsibilities, and a social identity. Words spoken online do not disappear easily. A single statement, accusation, or rumour can create emotional pain, social humiliation, and permanent damage to someone’s life.
The issue also raises broader concerns regarding the misuse of legal and social narratives. It is undeniable that constitutional protections and legal safeguards for women are necessary. Women’s empowerment, safety, dignity, equality, and justice remain crucial pillars of a healthy and progressive society. Across many societies, including our own, women have historically faced discrimination, injustice, violence, and denial of rights despite constitutional protections and social commitments.
However, society must also recognise that every legal or social framework can face misuse in certain situations. Allegedly false accusations or unverified narratives not only damage innocent individuals but may also weaken public trust in genuine struggles for justice. Unverified allegations and premature public conclusions can damage innocent individuals and weaken public trust in genuine struggles for justice. When laws or narratives are misused irresponsibly, they can indirectly affect those women who truly seek justice and protection against real oppression and abuse.
I strongly support women’s dignity, rights, empowerment, and safety. Women deserve equal respect, opportunities, protection, and justice within society. Their struggles against discrimination and violence cannot be ignored or minimised.
At the same time, justice must remain balanced, fair, and evidence-based for everyone. Empowerment must remain connected with responsibility, fairness, and accountability. Rights always come with responsibility, and freedom must also be accompanied by fairness, moral awareness, and ethical conduct.
Islam itself strongly emphasises justice, balance, dignity, and protection of human honour for both men and women. The Islamic framework strictly prohibits oppression, humiliation, false accusation, and injustice against any human being, regardless of gender. Islam teaches accountability, fairness, and truthfulness as essential moral principles within society. Society must therefore learn an important lesson from such incidents. Emotions should never overpower wisdom. Public reactions should never replace legal truth. Social media narratives should never become final judgments. Rights must coexist with responsibility, and freedom must remain connected with accountability and fairness. Only then can justice truly protect both dignity and humanity.
About the Author: Shoiab Mohmmad Bhat is a writer, social educator and researcher from Baramulla, holds a master’s in Gender Studies and a BED. He writes on social issues, education, and gender perspectives, promoting awareness and positive change.
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