Arindam N Sarkar (EastCutt)

Though I am an Advocate and a Bengali, sorry to say I didn't know about Justice Radha Binod Pal and for that matter about his role in the Tokyo Trial after the World War II. But that all changed during Covid - 19 when my son who is a 3rd year student of MNLU and got confined with me in Mumbai. We discussed so many issues and talked so much as never before. He only suggested to me about Tokyo Trial, a Drama in English. I watched all the four episodes. Engaging in absolute terms. Even those who do not have a law background, I am sure would be equally interested in it and once the 1st episode is over would not stop till watched all the four. The trial shows that it did not require a law as there was no international law at the time the Japanese fought the Allies in the WW II. Legally, the Japanese must not have been tried for war crimes by a law enacted subsequently or by the principle of another trial happened elsewhere for some different crimes. The European, the Russian, the Chinese Judges were guided by their personal biases and they were openly influenced by the interests of the nations they belonged to. It was a Farce. It was set up to punish the Japanese for a crime for which even the Allies were equally guilty. The lone Indian Judge, Justice Radha Binod Pal played excellently by Irfan Khan was the exception - he pronounced NOT GUILTY. All the other Judges tried to even threaten him to submit to the majority view. But Justice Pal knew the Rule of Law well. Majority decision prevailed. Justice Pal's Dissent Note was consigned for Law Book references. The Japanese war heros were punished by jail terms and deaths. The history is written by the Victor not by the Victim!!! The Tokyo Trial is a blotch in the history of enforcement of International Laws.😢😢😢 The Japanese immensely recognize Justice Pal's contribution to their cause in the trial. In 1966 Emperor Hirohito awarded him the highest Civilian Honour of Japan "Kokko Kunsao." In Tokyo, roads been named after him. His judgement is part of the school textbooks in Japan.👍👍👍 A must watch.