The War

Evening Time – the usual Rush hour. Souls moving back home after a long day. A very normal day in a normal person’s life. Not on 11th of July in Mumbai. I can’t even imagine the horror which people went through. In our routine, even if see some accident on the roadside – some scooter fallen or some car scathed, we tend to think about it for some time- trying to forget but still mind wavering for the affected person. And when following a similar routine, if you happen to see body parts flying, deafening bombs going off and there is mayhem and bloodshed all around – I guess that transforms the being of the person.
But again, I wonder - in amazement and in disgust, that what kind of lives will be of those who think they have a right to change others’ lives. What is the motivation that is so strong that they are willing to be responsible for this kind of genocide? It is generally the case that such attacks are carried out by illiterate people who are coerced into it by the lure of money or the brain wash of freedom struggles or some other personal reasons.
But the ‘real ones’ whose identity is seldom revealed – the ones who plan and fund such kind of operations – it is really intriguing that what motivates them to do such things. It is hard to believe that everyone involved are religious fanatics – that doesn’t explain the attack on Mumbai where the diverse crowd from all over India is mingled together. So are these politically motivated? Again such kind of attack which lack religious, communal or caste flavor would hardly benefit any political party. Moreover, if there comes out any sign of its involvement, it won’t do any good to its image.
The option that remains is the notorious “foreign hand”. But still what a foreign nation would gain from such an attack. The motive is the most important factor of an action. And trying to figure that out gives me a headache.
Is it to disintegrate the people of the city, the nation? I don’t think so. Most of the times, tragedies have brought people together instead of disintegrating them. Be it 9/11 at US or 7/11 at Mumbai.
The ubiquitous news channels, who are many a times critically analyzed for the way they bring news to people, have to be lauded in their effort in this case. Despite the grief of tragedy, a positive energy seemed to be getting out of every news channel. Because, the media continuously reported about how in the time of need, people were helping each other at and around the site of tragedy. On one hand this motivated many others to do the same and on the other it didn’t let the spirits down as the focus got more on the surviving rather than dying. Who knows how many lives may have been saved by such initiative.
There is some strong, unknown motivation that is driving these terror cells. That may be unknown to us. But what is known to we – the people, is that it is an attack on our nation, our freedom. We fear for ourselves in our own street, our own city. Is that not a good enough motivation to unite together – not only in abnormal phases of tragedies but normally too. When we fight within ourselves on petty issues like caste and color and religion, we project ourselves prone to be attacked.
Are we safe from such inhuman activities in future – not at all!! We may not be able to fight the faceless terrorists who come with bombs packed to their belts. But we ought to fight the war which we can doubtlessly win – war against illiteracy. Against directing our energy at irrelevant issues (I had a group called Shiv Sainiks in mind while writing the last line). Against the demagogues who try to mislead us. Against forces that prevent us our freedom and the right to live in an atmosphere where we do what we deem is correct.
If we win these wars, then the war against terrorism is a miniscule acting of just blowing away the opposition.