Mumbai Terror 26/11/2008 – A Week After

We now know that the US, British and the Australians are helping India, specifically Mumbai Police, to investigate the macabre event. We also know that one terrorist has been captured and he is under arrest and that he is being questioned.

Now I have been thinking as to why snippets of the investigations are being leaked to the media. Who is that person in the government that is giving away this privy information since investigations are not over as yet? I would have expected that after completion of the investigation a joint report that is signed off by the team is made public. It would have been difficult then for our friendly brothers to keep doing the chameleon act and making divergent, irresponsible and deceitful statements. But then, as someone said that after all it’s a failed state.

A lot of people think that War is a solution, but I reckon that’s not the answer. As Ms. Rice pointed out the other day, the world now has to fight this in financial and logistics terms. For doing this we need cooperation from a strong Pakistani government and therein lies the fallacy. The government there is still under ISI and army influence and it suits them from time immemorial to keep trying for an unstable India. The thinking is beyond logic but then that’s what the British did to the sub continent. They made us hate each other so much that this went to our genes and especially when you work for the government or armed forces. When you work with a any ordinary person from that country, you would find to your pleasant surprise that he thinks like you, likes the same music, eats the same type of food and you would completely feel at home.

I have been seeing these candle light meets and most places other than Mumbai or Delhi are quite chilled out and life and mind is normal and as usual. The media of course refuses to go interior, where bulk of the voters are, and find their reaction. So we see the same bunch of faces again and again on Television telling us on how to get together.

As usual, the problems are in dealing with specifics. For change you need leadership. If that leader is the same one who you are cursing now, what else could you deserve and expect? Specific plans and specific implementation targets and how would they be implemented are the questions that need to be asked. Sphere: Related Content

Sounds of Silence ; Mumbai Terror Aftermath

People have gone back to work. Trains, taxis, buses are back on the tracks and roads as per schedules. Radios and televisions have gone back to playing the normal peppy songs, serials and entertainment shows. Comedy serials are desperately tickling the viewers in order to emanate some laughter. Charges and counter charges are being hurled at each other by political parties. Some resignations here and there have taken place. Some grandiose plans have been announced by the government here and there. Debates on televisions by the same old faces continue. Symbolic fights and protests are on here and there. Investigations are on and press keeps reporting at regular intervals some snippets that some stupid source divulges to them. Page 3 people are fighting on words like resilience and strength. Poets are writing poems. Artists are possibly painting some pictures. Writers are writing and Film makers are planning. Bloggers are blogging. Offices and factories are open. The brokers in the stock market are screaming. Its normal time folks!!!

In the meantime there is silence. There is silence in the homes of the men and women of the forces and civilians who died. There is silence at the home in a small village at Uttar Pradesh where a waiter of Leopold Café used to hail from. The village is silent.

Major Unnikrishnan’s house was silent other than some partial disturbance by some politicians, Sabina Saikias children are not asking any questions that her husband Santanu has to answer.
Hemant Karkare’s house is silent.
The police constables who died on duty, their homes are silent.
So many foreigners who died, their homes overseas are silent.
I can hear this silence and its bursting my ear with its deafening noise. Sphere: Related Content