A fortnight later- impact & peace march

The events of last week seem to be an eye opener for most of the people like us. Before this, we so called educated middle class were apathetic to the situation and seemed content to be satisfied with their cozy life. Not to say, we have not seen attacks on us before. In fact we have seen repeated bomb attacks in major cities but the aftermath did not see that outrage. This is something which is as important as the questions we are asking as a citizen which is reflecting our outrage.

They are two separate questions but need to be reflected by the society at large if we are to fight the various menaces facing us.

The outrage post the attacks are spontaneous and are justified in many ways. The reasons are well documented and discussed. Probably this was long overdue. More so, it has been because it was a direct attack on symbols of prosperity which we identify with and the manner of this incident. It has almost shaken the belief of any more and hence there seems to be seething anger which has come out.

There have been protests, appeals, citizen’s forums, online petitions on which we have received

However, the above cannot justify the fact why we have to be jolted like this to be able to do wake up. The only palpable reason is that it did not impacted and hence the indifference with the surroundings remained.

One such positive initiative happened on the December 3, 2008 at a Gateway of India. It was a protest march which was a spontaneous- organized by somebody who we do not even know and just by word of mouth, SMS’s and social networking sites led to a huge outpouring of the Mumbaiites. The mood of somber and subdued but at the same time there was an expression of anger against the political class and a vow to continue this citizen awakening was also very clearly visibly.

However, the fact that it has happened now has to be channelised in a positive direction and also very importantly, indifference has to go if we are to achieve something positive.

Since the attacks, the effects are still very much to be seen on the streets and public places. The theatres are running empty, malls have less people visiting and eating joints have seen drop in sales. There is still a sense of fear all over and is the talk of the town. On the face of it, we have started to lead a life as normally as it is possible but only to the extent that it is necessary.

I have watched tow movies since the attacks and found hardly any audience to watch the movies although both the movies were really enjoyable and would have had very good responses had it been released some other time. Oye Lucky Lucky Oye is a comedy flick based on a protagonist who is a Delhi thief, and is a wonderfully made comedy directed by the maker of “Khosla ka Ghosla”.

The debates on the television are still dominated by the terror attacks and all other things are incidental. The England cricket team is in India and they also concede that the results at this time would be irrelevant and the fact that they are here to play cricket is what counts. There are questions raised by a few quarters as to whether they coming back have to do with cricket or commercial interests since India is a dominant economic power in the game of cricket. Whilst I believe, it may have a small part to play; it is because India is still perceived to be safer than the neighbor where the cricket tours have been cancelled over the past year for fear of security.

Elections results in the five states in India which were out on Monday, December 8, 2008 where in Congress did fairly well would give some comfort to the Central Government but they would do a mistake to read too much into it and at the same time it is a bitter reminder to the Opposition BJP to stop polarizing terror and fight united with the government as this is a national issue and not a political issue. The challenges facing us on the terror angle is a big one and all of us must together to get our house in order and at the same time, use all means possible internationally to bring the perpetrators to book.

Whilst all of this continues, I await to the day when I go to bed without fear and have a peaceful nap with no fear in the dreams and so does the society at large gets back to work normally without we forgetting and continue to question everything which went wrong on 26/11.

Mumbai- a day after 26/11

Eventually the terror saga came to an end on Saturday at 0830 am, 60 hours after it began but for many, the tragedy had just begun when it started to sunk in as to what had happened. It has left a very deep scar on the entire nation, and is likely to be a melting point for years to come on the war on the country.

While we are in office today, the mood is pensive and angry. It has been a heart broking experience for people who have lost their loved ones, but even for those who did not, they first felt shattered and stunned, and now are enraged beyond belief. The anger is palpable on many counts be it be terror politics, grave intelligence failure that led to the ghastly act of terror or be it the lack of sensitivity from the political class on the grief of the common man.

The resentment is so acute that this time, there can be no assurance that will work with the people of this country. People cannot and should not mistake the compulsion as resilience and forget a few months from now. I am sure this is not going to happen this time. This is an attack on every Indian where a common man from rich to poor, a elite or a common man. The terror started from a railway station, then spread to hospitals and then ended at five star hotels. It hit places which are jewel and pride of the city for all of us.

The manner of this attack was unprecedented and the fact it went on for close to 3 days itself has left a scar which will be very hard to erase on the conscience of the people.

I ventured out on Saturday from my home, and while driving, it was sadness and fear and many times, I felt as to how can this happen and why could it not have stopped? The responses of a few politicians with usual mud slinging and not participating in an attempt to discuss at a common forum by the opposition BJP has left people enraged. Then if that was not enough, the insensitivity of the government leadership in the state to go on a disaster tourism with a film producer and his son and the deputy leader calling this a small incident in a big city has crossed all the limits of how low these politicos can go.

They better understand that this is it. They are testing the patience of all of us and its high time that they pull themselves up. The time is too short and the task huge. Also urge all the people to come together to ensure that this time we do not accept and forger at the pretence of being "resilient". Lets be demanding.