It took me some time, but here I am posting for the first time, and hope to keep it a consistent habit.
I had planned to write something about my recent trip to Mumbai and the training that I had gone to take, but my current mindset denies that all. Neither I am all too excited that I visited the bustling city, nor am grateful that am back on time, not there to face the terror. I think am too anguished and numb to feel anything pleasant.
Well it is something all of us would be feeling, an overpowered emotion of loss, and anguish. So what I knew none of them, the impact hardly has a direct effect on me, but still I feel vulnerable as all of us.
Sixty hours of terror (as our over hyper news channels call it), I was glued to news like whole of India, had the site of Times of India open on my machine for all the time I was in office. I asked myself how is it that am worried so much about things happening there in Mumbai, how is it going to affect me, why am I not able to concentrate on the work am doing, is there anything that I can do for these people?? I intend to ask the same questions here as well....
Am I scared of that something of this sort may happen soon in Baroda too, I may be a victim of this, is that what scares me. That none of us is safe anywhere anymore; yes that’s part of my concern, but only partially. I am worried because isn’t it enough of we have had, and we want an end to these attacks. We have a good growth rate, the greatly famous recession of America has not yet entered fully into Indian markets, in short we are growing well, but still we aren’t there, where we should have been. Because our silly and ignorant politics and terrorism are some of the prominent reasons for constantly pulling us down.
Lets have a quick flashback: It started with Jaipur this year, followed by Banglore and Ahemdabad – 18 blasts that rocked the city. Then the capital of India – Delhi, and then Guwahati, and then as a final blow the financial capital – aamchi Mumbai, all in span of few months. And this time it was not just blasts, they entered our buildings, had us as hostages, and killed our people like playing some damn video game...
And now let’s take a look at the way our so called leaders reacted to every situation. After every attack they pronounced (without a glimpse of slight embarrassment) they had intelligence information, but since it’s very general they cannot react on it, not a very classified one. Then they announce monetary rewards for those who lost their lives fighting bravely, and compensation for those who died in the attacks. Then would start the dirty game of accusations and pin pointing. This time deputy minister R.R Patil had even practiced a filmy line to shield the effects of the attacks “Aise bade sheharo main aisi baatein hoti rehti hai” – wow what a line, I could have given a standing ovation to him for this.
The people who really deserve the accolades are the security forces be it Mumbai police, or NSG or Marcos, or the fire brigade people. They fight constantly for unknown people, millions of strange faces, whom they consider their responsibility to be brought out safe. Its for them I feel secure and protected in my home or outside, I know they will come in time of danger and try their 100% to pull me back to safety. They have insufficient resources to their discretion, not even a dedicated plane to get them to the required place, less number of bullet proofs, as if they don’t need them, and still expected to perform, and perform well...If they fail, the sword directly slashes them. The whole nation is currently clapping for them and grieving on the loss. But if asked to any average Indian, if now he would send their children to defence forces pat would come reply, no ways, I just have 1 or 2 children, can’t afford to lose them. For any Indian, they understand the value of defence forces, and rely on them for their safety, but it’s better if the chosen ones are from neighbour’s house. They would choose to have their children be Engineers, or doctors, or simple graduates over the armed forces. This is one of the long lists of regrets I have for my country.
I have few questions for my lovely politicians too, why can’t they stop bitching over each other, or speaking just in order to gain their vote bank. Why can’t the government take some strict steps after the attacks happen, some steps that could discourage in fact threaten terrorists not to make a second attempt. Why can’t all the parties come together for once and think for the same issue – Country’s safety. Why can’t we have technology developed that could trace such things well in time, devices to intercept phone signals, or decode emails? Why can’t sleaze officials not punished seriously – we should remember without local support such big activities cannot be undertaken. Why does it take such a long time to convict the caught terrorists, why do they have to be nurtured in our jails on the money of us the tax payers. Why Indian intelligence always fails to determine occurance of such attacks. Why isn’t there a proper strategy devised out for counter attack process, why there are just promises after every attack and no fulfilment. Why the politicians and leaders are given more security than us when we are the people who have been suffering the most under these attacks over the years. And my list of why’s goes on.
I have few Why’s for us also – the citizens of India. Why are we so relaxed about our own security. Why do we not put pressure and take some action against such attacks. Am not asking for people to go out and do what Naseeruddin Shah did in A Wednesday, but can’t we be more vigilant about our surroundings, can’t we honestly do our duty towards our country. Can’t we ensure that when we are going to any public place, shopping malls or multiplexes, we ensure that if the security is not doing proper check, we ask them to do that? Can we drop “hota hai chalta hai” attitude, and become more visionary towards such attacks. Why are we careless and forgetful, and tend to forget soon within weeks of such attacks. I know life has to go on, but as a moral Indian, we ought to come above our personal issues, state prejudices and behave what we are – not a hindu or muslim, or gujarati, Marathi, or north Indian – but an INDIAN. The basic identity we all have and the common emotion that binds all of us together. Why is it that we are together at only times of crisis and rest of the times we are finding faults with each other?
On a parting note, I think only proper vision, integrity and sanity can bring all of us together, and let us take responsibility of our actions, and let us survive such difficult situations, and be prepared for all such future ones, and ensuring that such attacks don’t appear at all next. Let’s not forget this time, let’s not bring life back to normal course, not bandage the wounds so soon and heal them, let’s do something different this time, let’s remember - all the bloodshed, the pain, injuries, loss, everything... It’s my moment of thought, few questions running through my mind constantly, in pursuit of some answers....
