The protest rallies across the countries, the outburst against the political class and a surprisingly persistent sense of outrage of what happened to the innocent citizens in the heart of the most elite urban community in the country with such brazen brutality. It seems finally the veil of cynicism and callousness has been lifted from the usually cynical middle class India but at what price is the question before us.
If I had to imagine the carnage of the 26/11 terror strike, I can imagine a pack of vultures circling in the sky above seeing the destruction and the dead. I term them vultures all of them have an agenda in this senseless devastation. I saw four maybe five vultures in the sky and they were:-
Media
The TV channels vitually competed in 59 hours terror courage with exclusive shots, giving out tactical information and zooming on the commando locations. Thursting mikes into harrowed rescued hostages, asking a man who lost 6 members of his family with complete sympathy with most gycerine tears "Kaisa lag raha hai aapko". It was the most voyeuristic reality TV scenario come true for the journalist brigade. The deaths at Cama Hospital and CST train station was sidelined in order to focus on the more elite Taj and Oberoi Hotel victims.
Bureaucrats
Before going to the favourite and obvious punching bags the politicans, there is a huge, inefficient, corrupt, bourgeois class of bureaucrats who are complict with the politcian class who undercut the quality of bullet proof jackets, arms and ammunition. The intelligence failures are as much the responsibility of the national security advisor and the home secretary as much as the ruling ministers. But the bureaucrats have perfected the art of stealth and the public doesnt hold them as accountable as they should be.
Politicians
I would not like to add much, they have been maligned in most cases rightly so. The former CM of Maharashtra taking Bollywood directors for terror tourism trip, to ruling CMs saying dogs would not go to a martyr's house and the reappointment of deputy CM who was discarded from the cabinet for alleged role in the Telgi Stamp paper case. The main opposition party did not leave the opportunity to exploit the terrorist fears for electoral gains. It is heartening to see the people who went in for the state assembly polls gave a fitting reply in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram.
Neighbouring Countries
It is well know that Pakistan, Bangladesh or atleast elements in these nations have a role in the terror strikes in India. The volte face by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan about sending the ISI chief to India and the "stateless actors" statement by President Zardari shows the utter lack of sincerity these countries have towards the so called war against terror. Although a direct miltary strike is not a viable option, a strong economic and diplomatic campaign must be launched by India to keep these nosy neighbours under check.
Earlier in this piece, I said I see four maybe five vultures, so what constitutes the fifth vulture ?
All of Us
The reason, ironically I put the common people who sufferred from the terrorist attacks in the same bracket of conspirators who failed the country is because of the indifference which was seen by the middle class when bombs burst in trains, buses we just acted like ostriches burying the head in the sand. When hundreds die in Kashmir and the North East, we never bothered about those lives or even the riots in Gujarat.
Ending on a Positive note
But it is hearting to see that indifference melt away and there is some channelising of that outrage and politicians have been pushed into a corner and some accountability has emerged. The people should continue to keep pushing the system to take action and make India a safer place. The spirit of Mumbai is not just picking up the pieces and going to work the next day. The Spirit of not just Mumbai but of entire India lies in taking up onus and becoming the change We seek.
Excellent Post.. very well written..
ReplyDeleteWell, as for the blasts go, terrorists chose Mumbai only bcoz v tend to ignore the blasts in Kashmir ..
bt, personally i feel speechless.. its confusing.. what shud v do? do v hav correct guidelines for politicians? even if they tighten up the security n everything, yet is it gng to stop terrorism in any way ?
Thanks sandeep for your feedback... I meant the point about the even the older blasts in mumbai were ignored by all of us ...
ReplyDeletewell there are no short term solutions unless the root causes of terror is not addressed there will be strikes ... the objective is take some preventive action tats all
I think u missed one more....US, its not affecting us directly but is taking full advantage of the situation to extend its reach in Indo-pak territories.
ReplyDeleteWell, rather than blaming 'us' I would think of categorizing them as the elite. Face it, it was the elite that the media caters to that was attacked this time and the media vultures blew it beyond proportions and in a way almost belittling the values of the lives lost in other blasts. Kashmir has become a forgotten battleground, its a news we have heard too much and seen too much, just would not arouse our interest enough, middle class mumbai in trains, naah they are too 'resilient' and they'll bounce back and forget it all. Had there been no foreigners involved and had this happened in some obscure place like a chawl in Nagpur I am sure there would have been no NSG commandos no media circus, maybe some sparse reporting about it like as if they were reporting weather changes. People in the media may not like it, but they are suffering as much from a colonial hangover as our stodgy old politicians.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kirthi for your comments ....
ReplyDeletewot i meant by 'Us' is that we are the middle class and upper middle class who have been consistently cynical and never shown any kinda activism. I know i have felt so bad personally so calling other's elite would be wrong.
Media is worst, cause we still dont know the tragedies in Cama hospital and VT station in that detail. no comparison but VT station is as great a landmark as hotel Taj.
It is collective responsibility we all need to take up against these vultures.
thanks Mayank ... yeah I did not mention US because i feel it may be on our side this time around. but i think it can be clubbed with China whose nation interest does not see india as a super power, good point
ReplyDelete