I have had the urge to put pen to paper. Every time I cajoled myself into procrastinating it. I knew that whatever would have flowed would have been less objective and more emotional. Hence off target. Letting the dust settle was my mantra to ensure objectivity and avoid the path of almost all, most notably the TV channels. Even seasoned campaigners like Barkha Dutt fell prey to emotional mudslinging. Rather sad and unfortunate. Why the rush?? Things have happened. No way we can rewind and relive. Can we? Then why the sudden haste in all matters? And that brings me to the one in maximum hurry. The otherwise reticent and cool, MM Singh-the PM, wasted no time in pointing a finger in the most obvious direction. Why?? We were still amidst the drama being unfolded. We were still fighting the enemy. We were still capable of apprehending the callous terrorists. Why, even before we could really say we have hard core evidence, did MMS go to the nation and cried foul against the obvious nation? Indeed, we believe that this time we will certainly nail the scrip writers to their coffin-Lock stock and barrel. But somehow I get the feeling that the haste by MMS was perhaps more out of political frustration? The prospect of loosing out on the assembly elections??
Anyways, what hurts me most is that we have been blasted as a nation. Not just Mumbai. I feel distressed to see that almost all the voices seem to be talking about Mumbai being jolted. Indeed yes. But I see as my nation being taken to ransom. My nation cried. My nation bled. Not just one city. Indians cried, not just Mumbaikars. Let's mourn for India.
Now the other moot issue. How did it happen? And this is where the public anger and disgust is most visible. And rightly so. How come such a huge operation is unknown to our intelligence agencies? "Alex Neill, head of the Royal United Services Institute's Asia security programme, reckons up to 100 terrorists would have been involved in the planning and execution of the attack and said it was surprising they had managed to keep it a secret." Strange but true. Incompetence or corruption leads to ears and eyes being closed? Regrettably, we wait for an event to occur and then we galvanize into action. We cry over spilt milk.
Emotions are running high. The "aam aadmi"( common man) is shell shocked yet he realizes that something is bizarre, totally wrong. Indeed, violence is a part of the world today-Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq all have learnt to live with violence. But we Indians have always been the "seedha saadha innocent aadmi" types. Each very happy in his own small world. And suddenly bang bang and the dream is shattered! Who does this to us? Realization has dawned that some one is taking us for a ride…Someone has not his duty for which we have elected him. Someone has a rather casual attitude since he is safe and protected. And then the 'Aam Aadmi" responds….and this anger will be felt across the nation. Believe me, what one is seeing just now is just in the Metro cities. This will engulf the entire India. Where will you run away, Mr. Politician? The Goliath has finally woken, albeit after a huge price.
But let me briefly touch some very sensitive issues. I am reminded of a lovely and beautiful house which has many neighbours. Some good, some unsure, some jealous, some envious. The we have a Joint Family living inside this wonderful house. Unfortunately, this family has difference of opinion between the family members. Sometime, these differences get accentuated and the internal affairs become public. This goes on over a period of time. Most of the neighbours pay no heed and go on with their own chores. But some envious ones start relishing the discord. And one day, one of them throws a small stone in the house. This does not do too much of a damage just breaking some small items. No family member really takes exception. The neighbour realizes that there is no unity in the house. After some time, he throws a huge stone. This not only shatters the external glass but also the exquisite historic chandelier that adorned the living room. Still none of the family members approach the neighbour as a family. The family is badly split and infighting resulted in them not realizing the loss that they have incurred-the exquisite historic chandelier has breathed it's last. Gradually, the beautiful house is battered from all sides. The only sound one hears now is the shouting and hurling of abuses between the family members. This house is doomed. Will we allow this?
Anger managed is resources harnessed. Let me become "Angry Young Indian". Each should feel this way. Let the movement permeate into the rural India. We need to save our house, our own very beautiful house- from within and from the neighbours-near and far.
I narrated this story as I felt we as Indians need to relook at our huge joint family. Tom Alter and many more sensitive Indians have expressed similar anguish. Our family seems broken. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs need to be reassured that the family cares for each other, feels for each other and hides no animosity towards the other.
I wish to end with a note for Hemant Karkare. Reading the way he was shot, all does not seem OK. Seems that some one was actually waiting for him and the other top shots of the ATS. Moles in the ATS? People had threatened to blow up his house. They actually blew him up. Heavy price for honesty indeed.
By the way, any idea what happens to the Malegaon enquiry after Karkare?
