“The important thing is not the action done but the reaction it evokes.”
These very lines marked the beginning of the special section of last Sunday’s Hindustan Times. The section tried to cover all aspects relating to the one of the worst tragedies this nation has seen in recent times. The commentator was Amitav Ghosh, no need to put adjectives about him, made complete sense of the current situation prevailing in Mumbai and as well in other parts in a complete measured way. His write up was followed by many fine literary pieces each one stirring emotions among the readers. The fancy and eye catching headlines were worth of their words. But I not here to do a publicity of Hindustan Times. The issue, here at concern, is quite grave and much above the catchy print lines.
The beautiful Wednesday evening was quite soothing for many elite Indians and international visitors dining at THE TAJ, overlooking the beautiful
The clattering sounds, outside TAJ that evoked quite mixed responses some as obvious as celebrations of having won a cricket match, were the last sounds for many people.
The audacious and sophisticated attacks at Mumbai not only outsmart the security establishments but also shook the whole polity and national mood. It was the brave efforts of the NSG commandos who kept the true Mumbai spirit alive which has also started to dim anyway. This is the 8th attack on an Indian city in this calendar year itself, defying all the so called claimed robust security checks. So the million dollar question is now what shall we do as a nation.
The attack has evoked quite a strong reactions from public, politicians and as well as the international media. The attack has once again evoked the suppressed rage simmering within the “majority” against the “minority” even though this time there has not been any communal backlash. I would just concentrate on this one aspect of the whole big picture. Friends around me who hail from the dominant majority clans are of the view that the time has come to countervail and teach the “community” a fitting answer. They argue that why does every time an attack has a perpetrator hailing from the “community”.
This is quite true but half true can’t be hailed as complete truth. A deed of certain fanatics can’t be hailed as an attribute of the whole group. A major point to be noted here is that the history of Indian Moslems is quite different from the Islamic world outside. They came here as invaders but have settled here quite stupendously completely embracing the Indian culture (which in itself is an another ambiguous topic to be discussed as the variety is mind boggling to be found in this country, no culture, language, religion, caste can be tagged under the group “majority”). They have been completely accepted as “the sons of the soil” over the centuries.
The weakness lies in the leadership of this country, the politicians who for their self seeing interests have often staked this country. With the economic boom this country has witnessed over the last 2 decades, the only basis of distinction would have to be as “haves” and “have nots” and nothing else. There is a vast population who has stood as a mere audience amidst these “
The time has come when we rise above these petty machinations employed by our leaders and let not be divided once again on issues which ,I think, are very peripheral to our existence. Let there be riots and agitations for education, proper sanitation facilities, better living conditions and for our right to exist as honorable individuals rather than on who worship which form of god. The world is looking towards us, expecting something out of us. Let us grab this opportunity to show our real mettle. But how could it be possible in a state vulnerable and parochial like us.
A question that demands an answer and an immediate action..
