The Mumbai carnage echoes in our memory. The thought of those three days when the nation was held ransom to ten wayward young men makes one cringe. I have never felt so vulnerable before. And feel more insecure as I see no viable solutions in sight.
Terror attacks can be planned. Terror attacks can be implemented. But preventing terror attacks is a tough job. Not impossible. But given the information that pours in about the motives of the terrorists, separating the wheat from the chaff is probably the most difficult part. The lives that this country has lost to the cowardly acts of separatists is tragic. And it is a fact that the life of a common man in India has no value. See how the other nations of the world react when one of their people is harmed. We have turned immune to death of our people. Until it happens to me or one of my own- it does not matter. I just hope the anger and rage in the common man at being taken for granted is now channelized to something positive.
If there is one positive outcome of these attacks- it is that it has brought Indians together. Suddenly narrow-mindedness and parochialism and those voices which advocate the same are being thrown out of the window. The fact that Indians are now talking of their country and what they can do for her is uplifting. No more depending on your sleazy neighbourhood politician for change- we need to bring it ourselves.
Yet, there is an undercurrent of communalism where all Muslims are on the backfoot- being accused of being perpetrators of crime, when they are also victims. Yes, the terrorists were Muslims, and so were their targets. Let us not paint everyone with the same brush and alienate our countrymen.
At a time of crisis, the biggest letdown has been from our politicians. They seem to be bewildered by the backlash from the public and have incessantly been putting their feet in their mouth. Kerala Chief Minister Achuthanandan’s pettiness is unforgiveable. Naqvi’s take on ‘lipstick-wearing’ women is denigatory. Vilasrao Deshmukh’s body language, winks and giggles were shocking in this time of stress. The inarticulate Patils as Home Ministers have been useless. And gory were Advani’s attempt as gaining brownie points and Modi’s attempt to dump his crores (or were they ours- tax payers money?) on Karkare’s family.
Pakistan is being accused and the limit to which the Pakistan media can distort facts is laughable (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5F4_qwtM5yY&feature=channel). Diplomatic pressure needs to be mounted on that country to restrain the training camps organized there. But the idea that war is the solution is laughable. We laud our army, our commandos and want them to wage a war against Pakistan. We can exhort them, but they will lose their lives for our juvenile actions. They did not have to enter a carnage site when they could have been secure for us. They gave up their lives for us, for no reason. Let us not force them into another carnage. They have their families and loved ones too. What George Bush did was no solution.
We need to tighten our security systems, choose our leaders wisely and act responsibly ourselves. The time to woe and mourn has gone. The time to act is here. Let us come together and stand up for what we believe in- a beautiful India where there is place for everyone who practises peace and works hard to create their dream.
Anger expressed at the rally at Gateway of India on Dec 3 2008
