The following article was written 4 days after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and appeared in The Hindustan Times
Standing at ATS Chief, Hemant Karkare’s funeral, I was struck by the people who had gathered to pay homage to one of the most upright, secular and committed officers of the Mumbai police. Politicians, college students, leaders of the Muslim community, activists, and other members of the police. And then the questions. Why does it take such an immense tragedy to unite us? Why does this sentiment snuff out seconds after the occasion? What is it in our DNA that allows leaders to walk into our rooms, rape us, leave and come back again when the need arises? Here are my thoughts about 26/11 and its aftermath:
This is the greatest psychological blow that the city has received. People say the country, but I disagree, the fall of the Babri Masjid and the Gujarat riots have left deeper wounds. But as far as Bombay is concerned, 60 hours of television have brought the beginning, middle and end of this tragedy into our living rooms. We have seen guns, shootouts, murders, fires, commandos, traumatized survivors and destruction of every kind. And so have our children. My belief still remains that the practical effect of the attacks will be less than the effects the 1993 and 2006 bombings had on the common Bombayite. Then it was a direct connection to fear – should I go back to work in Zaveri Bazaar? Should I send my children on the trains tomorrow? Now those fears are more general – anything can happen in this city, be careful. The psyche of Bombay will take a generation to recover.
The success of a terror attack is determined by our response to it. An angry, uncontrolled, violent and irrational response means the terrorists have succeeded. A constructive, passionate, unflagging response that results in a safer, better life for Bombayites and for Indians, and we have won the battle. So what is constructive? One million citizens peacefully assembled for the day outside Mantralaya? The crowd would stretch from the sea near the Air India building to Oval Maidan. One demand. 90 days for the Government of India to come up with an anti-terror plan. A plan that looks at deterrence and preparedness. 90 days. We overlook for now your neglect of the city. Its floods, its traffic, its filth, its pollution. Just deliver to us a world standard anti-terrorism plan.
Pakistani terrorists do not equal the Pakistan State. This is not the time to rake up old terrorism/infiltration issues with Pakistan. Let us judge the facts coldly and solely on this attack. If the link goes back to state-sponsored terrorism then follow all the diplomatic, international and trade sanctions you want. But if there is no incontrovertible link to the Pakistani government then stop Pak-bashing. Understand that that country is fighting a war within – between moderates and extremists, much like parts of this country are too. Remember that the Pakistan President lost his wife to a terror attack planned and executed by Pakistanis.
Indians have to learn from our security forces. The police, the MARCOS, the Army, and last but not least, the National Security Guards. We have to learn to do our duty without the slightest complaint. We have to learn to be compassionate at all times so that others may not suffer. We have to learn to make sacrifices, of food, sleep, even survival. Listen to how many survivors who tell the tale of an NSG commando shepherding them safely out of the buildings with one laconic sentence of reassurance – ‘Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to you. If a terrorist fires, I will take the bullet.’ We have to learn that the reward for saving countless lives, Bombay as well as the soul of this country is just that. And half a cup of tea in a tiny white plastic cup that I saw these men joyfully sip at 8.20 am outside the Taj on Saturday morning.
The one square mile that makes up the tourist district of Bombay encompasses the area of my sports-filled childhood, my film-and girlfriend filled teenage years, my theatre-and-advertising working years upto now. Buying cassettes at Rhythm House. Eating fish ‘n chips at Wayside Inn. Performing on stage at the NCPA. Getting drunk at Leopolds. Wooing girls at the Taj’s Sea Lounge. Racing cars through Lion’s Gate at night. Rugby at the Bombay Gym. My first film’s, (English, August), premiere was at Regal Cinema. A red carpet went from the road to the hall. My debut directorial venture’s tickets sold at Sterling (‘10 pm crème-de-la-crème show’) for 500 rupees. And then the dome of the Taj burning. A dome I have walked the inside of and marveled at its architecture. Burning, burning. Shots, blasts, chatter of guns, explosions. More burning. Shouts, screams, tears, silence. A big hole in the one square mile fabric of my Bombay. A big hole in the heart of India. Love, justice, hard work and memory will repair it. They have to.
India needs to choose its President and Prime Minister, the way US of A chooses. A strong leader, with strong mind and physique.
Rahul "Love, justice, hard work and memory will repair it. They have to."
India should not look for repair now. It should replace. The whole system need to be replaced. Specially corruption need tobe completely cleaned out of the system.
Love you
Rajesh
"People say the country, but I disagree, the fall of the Babri Masjid and the Gujarat riots have left deeper wounds. "
.. And Sikh riots? 3000 people were killed in 2 days in ONE city!! Babri Masjid and Gujarat combined was no patch on that!
Amazing selective amnesia!
Rahul – sorry but this ranks as one of the most stupid analysis I have seen of Mumbai in a long time!
I recommend you read "Frontline Pakistan" by Zahid Hussain (Pakistan correspondent of WSJ, Newsweek and Observer) and "Deception" by Adrian Levy… .to understand what is Pakistan and what are the "State" and "Non State" Actors!
I am sick and tired of such naive thinking… it SO parallels the stuff dished out during Nazi times when the world was turning a blind eye to the OBVIOUS atrocities and madness by Hitler et al… and the appeasement that went on for that combine.. that it was too late when the voices actually came out of people's mouth!
Pak Army and ISI is one and works as a hub and spoke formation with Taliban and Al Qaeda. To say anything different is patent and utter nonsense!!!
Maybe it will take a few more attacks on us for us to even acknowledge the villain as he is.. by then we will be in complete denial! Worse, some idiots even go to blame the victims for creating such acts… as Antulay types do! Shameless!
Cheers,
Desh
Drishtikone.com
Garima, One Indian leader who come to my mind is Narendra Modi, present Chief Minister of Gujarat.
I personally have experience first hand the corrupt Income Tax Commisioner.
I was working for a Company, one of the Director of the Company was Ex Commisioner / Ex Joint Commisioner of Income Tax in three big states in India. I did not knew at that time that he was suspended and had gone to Jail for 1 month on charges of corruption.
After I left that company, this Ex Income Tax Commisioner came to my house, with 5 goons, one of whom was in police. They started making false charges on me, and were ready to start beating me, they caught my neck. This is one of the method of corrupt officers in India to loot people of crores of Rupees. They almost kidnapped me, asked me to sit in the car and took me to my bank, entered the bank with me and asked me to pay them whatever I had in the bank and then they will leave me. I could withdraw maximum amount of Rs. 86,600.00 at that time. I gave them the cash and they left me.
Now you will say why did I not complain to police. Those goons included a police officer, an ex income tax commisioner, both top level Indian government official. I would like to say more, but these are powerful people, so ….
We have honest people like Khairnar and many more honest govenment official, but corruption is very rampant is our country and it is the biggest loop hole.
When we discuss with people, they say that police officers are paid less so they are corrupt. Nooo, corrupt is always corrupt. A honest person would alway be honest and work for humanity even if they are paid nothing.
Peace, Love
Rajesh
If Indira Gandhi is in no way responsible for her death inspite of creating the monster….if ShivSena is in no way responsible for actions of MNS inspite of pioneering anti-nonstate people politics…then Pakisthan state must be isoated from Pakisthan terrorists
Do think over this for 2 mins atleast…
Cheers
I love reading you! Please post another blog soon!
Good post!
Rajesh
I did not know that something like this happened with you, this is devastating. I feel really sorry at this whole thing.