Before you start reading this, i would like mention that what follows is just what's going on in my mind right now..it is hardly clear, concise or structured..in fact it is just the opposite..it is as random as it can get & I am just penning(if thats a word) my thoughts as they zooom across my cluttered mind full of unanswered questions. I hardly know if what I am about to write is right or wrong..what I do want to tell you is that it is an honest honest attempt.
'Wednesday..26th November 2008'..
Terror Strikes n how! Group of Fidayeen terrorists..the number is still not confirmed hold an entire city to ransom by striking at the very heart of the financial capital of India..The Taj Hotel, Trident-Oberoi Hotel, Nariman House, CST Station, Cama Hospital..the list goes on..
Its been more than 48 hours since it all started & it still aint over..thats how ghastly it all is!!
All this despite a herculean effort by the Mumbai police, NSG guards & all concerned security forces. Our sincere & heartfelt 'Thanks' (Thanks..mere words..but I dont know what else to say) to all those brave men who have fought valiantly so that insignificant people like me have the privilege of sitting here & writing my blog.
The past few days will forever be etched into the memories of Mumbaites & haunt them for the rest of their lives...in fact..Lets hope they do! Because there are lessons to be learnt, questions to be asked to the powers-that-be, tough decisons to be taken..You just get the feeling that life will never be the same after this. I mean..yes..there have been bomb-blasts, communal riots but never has the city felt so helpless with a handful of armed terrorists holding up an entire army task force for more than 2 days..The message is loud & clear...It is as Naseerudin Shah says in wednesday..The message to us is 'Hum toh tumhe aise hi ghuske maarenge..Tum kya kar loge?'
Mumbai is known for its resilience. You have bomb-blasts one day..still Mumbaites are up & about the next day..business as usual..thats the great spirit of this city..agreed! Life moves on & it will..with or without you..
But how much more can you take? How many more bullets, how many more bombs-grenades, how many more innocent lives will it take for you to say..'Enough is enough'. Or have we become so immune, so callous to everything that goes around you that unless..god forbid.. someone in your family... frightening thought..isnt it?
'What can we do? We are not into politics..We do not have power to act' thats the general feeling that each one of us have after all such cowardly acts of terror. It is precisely here that I beg to differ & mind it..I dont proclaim to be more patriotic than any of us..because believe me even I am confused as to what can we do! But the difference lies I believe in the intent..lets atleast try & think collectively as to what can be done in our individual capacities rather than resigning to the fact that 'boss..kuch nahi ho sakta'..
Here is where I need your help! Please please let me know your comments on the same irrespective of whether you agree or disagree with me.
(To be continued..)
8 comments:
if this incident doesnt wake us up and take action......i suppose we deserve it
if we donthelp ourselves no one else will,....
this is not just a terror attack..give them back...
let them realise the pain...
Well - Not everywhere Diamond Cuts Diamond works Rohan!!!
Couldn't help saying that before we can think they act - why is it ? They seem to prove all our efforts towards Security and Safety Futile!! Again why us? Well we talk of being cosmopolitan but yeah the fact remains as always - some of us are obstinate souls and never learn from past that unless we are united, nothing will work. But ne..igh!! we are hell bent on fighting amongst ourselves.... When we are ruthless enough to burn our own Infrastructure over communalism and religions and provinces... need I say more? Instead of thinking "where are the taxes invested" we think "Beat them who pay less taxes" ...Instead of thinking "How we can spend on improving cities sanitization we think how we can spend to rename Stations and Airports.." Need I say more... as to Why us again ?? We probably need to focus on ‘WHERE’ to improve before 'HOW' to Improve?
Rohan,Good start to your blog but I beg to differ... When you say This event will remain forever etched in the minds of mumbaikars... Average memory span of this attack will be not more than 7 days and then we all will conveniently go on with our lives...I am getting sick of all this..
nice blog patkar... enough is enough... its been 50+ years and we are so insure and vulnerable vulnerable... need to seriously start thinking else our integrity identity respect is all at stake...
Hey very well written. I really think you have absolutely captured the thoughts that are there in the minds of most mumbaikars post the terror strikes of 26/11...but i also feel that after 7 days we will all conveniently forget the attacks and resume day-to-day affairs as though nothing ever happened and continue to remain divided as a nation.
Good post by you, Rohan. But for few points I have some different thoughts. Terrorism has again shown its new form of terrorism to the complete World. What is done is done we can’t change that. What next we need to think is, First to give reply for such act & second how we can improve the situation, so that we have Zero to minimum effect because of such incidences in future. There are lots of such ideas which are been shared in media & news papers. We need to see what all is been agreed & implemented.
But here also we can’t do much, as OUR GOVERNMENT (the one whom we elect) has the power to select & implement it. So I personally feel it’s responsibility of each one of us to ask & follow up with our elected government about there next action plan on the incident. And if they don’t have any, then as a group (we all) bring the government down & elect someone who can promise to do so.
One more good action from our government
An Olympic Shooter Wins Gold (onlyy a game) and Gov gives him Rs 3 Crores + Awards.
Another SHooter dies, fighting with terrorist (saving our country and our lives) Gov pays his family Rs 5Lacs. Truely Great ! or ?
Change mangta hain is the cry of the hour but who will decide what will be that change ...and what have we done in the last 1 week to bring that? Standing in 2 mins silence and pretending to be mourning the deaths is not going to be a consolation to the families of those who have lost their lives. To start with , have we even put up a single banner honouring the policemen who died fighting for us in our office ....no ? why ? did we even question that ? To make a concrete difference , we do need to start and that start needs to be from areas where we spend most of our time. Our homes , creating awareness in our buildings , offices etc. Lighting a candle one day , shouting slogans and then carrying on with our lives from next day is not gng to bring any change....v will be as unprepared and vulnerable next time as v were now ....Harsh stmnts but basic truth . Kudos for atleast starting the movement.
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