A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi. This Latin quote literally means, ‘Between the Devil and the Dead Sea’. Now, it is popular as ‘Between the Devil and the deep sea’. That is exactly where my country finds itself at this time. On one side is a cruel regime that has constantly been against India. On the other side is the deep blue sea ruled by massive aircraft carriers under command of a leader drunk on power and pelf.

The Shias  worldwide, and especially in our land, where we have the second largest Shia population after Iran, are busy with what has been their favourite pastime for centuries – being victims*. It is important to understand their historical context because that could be the eventual deciding factor in this war. For this, please see the note below.

 Among others such as me, who is neither an Iranian, American, Israeli or in the thick of things in the middle-east, the implications are more confused. On one hand I see a repressive, cruel dictatorial regime, till recently headed by a religious figure, which has killed thousands of its own citizens, legitimised even sex with babies**, hung victims of rape and kept the women of its country forcibly in hijab, even killing them if they dared to disobey. This regime has supported terrorists such as Houthis, Hamas, etc. and has been unequivocally anti-Indian in any India-Pakistan crisis.

On the other hand, are Israel and America. Israel has supported India every time India needed help. They are besieged by forces that are inimical even to India. America, on the other hand, under their present regime is mercurial and has been pressurising India economically.

Given the above, it would be natural, at first glance, to overtly side with Israel. However, there are 40 to 50 million Shias in India. The religious alliance of most of these lies with Iran. Add to this our opposition parties, ever ready to criticise the government and looking for any straw to clutch in doing so. Then there are the leftists, for whom our Prime Minister can do no right. All these have to be contended with.

In such moments, it is not surprising that the mind goes to the word-Master, Shakespeare. One can find resonance in (the paraphrased) words of Hamlet, when he says:

To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outraged opponents, or to take sides in this sea of troubles and support or oppose either side.

Another thought jostles the mind too. This is not a street brawl in Verona and, unlike Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, we are not, at least as yet, dying. However, given the nature of recent events, I am reminded of his words,

Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o' both your houses!

We are bystanders like him, and intervening in their fight is fraught with peril. Even without doing so, we are suffering. If we, like Mercutio, intervene on behalf of one side, then tomorrow, you might find us suffering the same fate as him.

The only sensible thing that I can think of doing at this time is to keep calm and silent. If any words are spoken, they should be from a distance and addressed to both sides, urging peaceful solutions.

That is what our leaders are doing at this time. All those (mostly left-leaning) Indians criticising India’s response are beset with what is called poorvagraha in Sanskrit. It means (driven by) bias, prejudice or preconceived notions. Let them introspect and think of India for once and suggest workable solutions, instead of merely mouthing pointless criticism to salve their egos.

Kishore Asthana

05.03.2026

* On Shias: Martyrdom (shahadat) in Shia Islam is not merely death in battle but a profound theological concept tied to witnessing truth and upholding divine justice, even at the cost of one's life. At Karbala, Hussein chose martyrdom over submission to injustice,  and he was killed soldiers of the Ummayad Caliph, Yazid I. This inspires Shias to view suffering and sacrifice as pathways to spiritual elevation and paradise.

Unlike Sunni Islam, where martyrdom is often associated with jihad in defence of the faith, Shia martyrdom draws from a historical sense of persecution and marginalization as a minority sect. Overall, martyrdom reinforces Shia communal bonds, distinguishing them from Sunnis by embedding themes of sacrifice into everyday religious life.

We see reflections of this in the annual spectacle public marches with chanting, weeping, and self-flagellation (e.g., matam or tatbir, involving chest-beating or symbolic bloodletting). These acts symbolize solidarity and renewal of commitment to justice. Assemblies where marsiyas (elegies) and sermons reinforce group cohesion.

There is "Red Shi'ism" (the religion of martyrdom), which emphasizes active resistance and revolutionary action inspired by Hussein's defiance, and "Black Shi'ism" (the religion of mourning), focused on ritual grief and passive remembrance. Both feed one another.

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**On Khomeini’s pronouncement on sex with babies: This is from Khomeini's discussions on nikah (marriage contracts), including temporary marriages (mut'ah), and the boundaries of physical intimacy with baby girls. The ruling permits non-penetrative sexual acts (such as touching, hugging, or thighing—placing the penis between the thighs) with a girl of any age, even an infant, if she is married to the man. However, vaginal penetration is prohibited before the age of nine (lunar years, approximately 8 years and 9 months in solar years). Some of his followers even say that this justifies sodomy.  If penetration occurs and causes harm, the man is obligated to provide lifelong financial support to the girl. Additionally, such a girl does not count toward the limit of four permanent wives allowed in Shia Islam, and the man is barred from marrying her sister.