India, Aug. 30 -- A particular "crime" and the punishment laid down for it in India are the subject of this column today. As well as an associated dilemma.

The issue in question is defamation, and more specifically, insults offered by political persons to other political persons, and by anyone, wittingly or unwittingly, to the State and its symbols. The dilemma is this: We need to curb this, but we also need to be wary of how this curbing can have a political dimension. Together, these two situations constitute a problem in themselves. I have no solutions to offer for this problem, only ruminations and the busy reader may disengage right here, and only read on if interested.

Let us take the act first. Using hurtful and insulting words t...