26th November 2008 Mumbai terror attack was a very brazen attempt by a handful of single minded bunch of jihadists to show the impotency of the Indian state. This was probably the worst moment in Indian history in my lifetime, Kandahar hijack was nothing compared to this. The very fact that about dozen terrorists could hold the siege of the Taj, Trident and Nariman House for 60 hours was totally demoralizing to me as an Indian Citizen. I must admit that I had found it difficult to deflect my attention from the updates and the live transmission by the news channels. I was so glued to the news updates that I had forgot to find out how many parents were doing while they were marooned in Chennai.
The NSG commandos, the Hotel staff, the ATS and the Mumbai Police who fought valiantly to exterminate those mean creatures (I cannot call those *#@!ers humans) deserve to be congratulated, feted and admired for the exceptional show of bravery and determination. When the first videos were shown across the new channels the image that struck me was that of the captured terrorist Kasav, the swagger, confidence and the smirk on his face was a voilent slap on the face of the Indian adminstration. I felt violated. The amount of planning and the ease with which the terrorists moved around South Mumbai was scathing critique on the state of our inadequate intelligence and our inability to counter terror attacks. Terrorist attacks on the country are not new and Im not confident that they are going to stop. I find it absolutely indigestible that these are being attributed to the status of the Muslims in India. Nowhere in the world can Muslims live in a more free and opportunity rich environment. There is no point in rewriting what the news channels and the experts have already said about the lack of will of the political class or the non-existent defense systems that India has to counter such terror attacks.
The state of Pakistan is a rogue state much like N.Korea and Iraq period. There are no two ways to think about it. I think we had enough from this indoctrinated, illogical and irrational state for many years. Dialogue can suit only when the parties involved are atleast in agreement to listen to each other and evaluate the matter. In my opinion Pakistan does not befit this kind of approach. India should stop assuaging American fears of a breakdownin the sub-continet, rather hold up to them the same spirit that they had shown when they attacked Iraq and the Taliban. Why should India be any different?. Havent we suffered more than they have in the last 60 years?. Did they wait for a thorough investigation to implicate either Iraq or the Taliban before attacking them ?. Non-violent methods can be applied to an enemy that is rational, sensible and understands human suffering, but not to a state whose subjects have only one unifying factor, thier hatred towards India. All the talk about Muslims suffering everywhere in the world is just a ruse avenging Pakistan’s war losses. If infact the Pakistanis are really worried about the suffereing of Muslims in world why dont they go ahead and fight the war against the Israelis or Russians or for that matter even China. This is just a stupid excuse.
I sincerely hope that this national shame would unite the hitherto indifferent middle class of the country to exercise their right to a safe and secure environment. The middle class has been dormant for more than necessary and its time that it rises and has its say. If this doesnt get them moving then I am sorry to say that we deserve to be annexed by the rogue state. What is required is a total revamp of the current political class to ensure that we are not taken for granted by countries like Pakistan. Even the neighbour whose very existence because of India is exporting and abetting Pakistan’s machinations. In my opinion the responsibility for this squarely lies on the indifference of the educated class which allowed these illiterate and absolutely inept political class to take center stage. How many of the politicians in the country are really qualified to handle what they are doing now?. Why should we suffer for their incapacity?. Infact the middle class owes an apology to the lower class for not exercising the right. It is those poor people who are already neck deep in trouble in trying to eke in all these adversities that are most affected by this indifference of the political class. Its very sad to see that they are ones who suffer the most in these terror attacks, to the extent that have taken for granted as gun fodder.
The wake up call to the middle class is not to just exercise their right to vote, but to actively take part in politics and take up the responsibility to change the country for the better. The middle class is a vote bank of about 40% and they can definitely sway the politics if they are determined to take up the responsibility. The middle class should demand that every election is fought on issues of developement and policies not in the lines of caste and religion. They should force debates in national and regional media about the policies, force the candidates to answer questions and prove thier credentials. The country needs it and the middle class has the obligation to stand up now for the sake of the other downtrodden half of India. Lets elect the best candidate on the basis of his ability and credentials rather than on party, cast and religious lines, even if he happens to be an independent. The responsibility doesnt stop with just electing him, the citizens need to make sure that these elected officials are there at out beck and call to sort out issues and answer our distress and put in place measures to impeach him if he doesnt deliver on these promises.
If this unfortunate blot in India’s history doesnt galvanize the people across the country and bring about a revolution then I guess we do not deserve a democracy and we should abdicate our faith, culture and all that we pride ourselves with. India then deserves to be plundered, raped and trampled on. When a nation like American can shed its race bias and unite behind a Obama who promises change why cant India?. It is the responsibility of the Indian middle class to now seek and find India’s own Obama and not hope that someone will spring sometime. I only hope that a situation like the one depicted in the movie “A Wednesday” doesnt happen.
Posted by sbcmouli 
Ruminations at Random 