I was reading a friends blog and he asked what can we do about terrorist attacks.
It is actually kind of funny. Because every time I hear about some attack like this, I hear about security being beefed up and all that. why couldn’t that be done earlier? does it take a disaster to show us what a farce our “security” system is? And if security is beefed up how does it help after the attack has been committed? are they going to attack the same place again?
What is the point in putting security at Bombay airport on red alert? shouldn’t they always be on high alert? If terrorists were going to attack they are going to give us 8 warning blasts and then launch an attack on the airport?
Is it just a sham to make us feel that "the government is doing everything in its power to ensure that the innocent people are safe?"
One common excuse mentioned is that security guards are human. they get bored by the routine nature of work. Then why don’t you do something about it? keep mock drills or something to keep them on their toes. Give incentives for being found alert and punish for being slack. The traditional carrot and stick approach.
This is what the security forces SHOULD be doing in the first place. It is their duty. And if they are slacking it is because we are slack in pulling them up when they don’t do their duty. After a major attack there is the usual transfer of officials, to Timbuktu and other God forsaken places. Is that enough? I feel it is a eye wash. Nobody is asking for how long is the transfer. One week later the person maybe back in another plush job and the public is none the wiser.
We shrink from doing what we should. Come elections and even though a holiday is declared at most workplaces, the turnout at election booths is poor. Elections seem to be won by the lack of ballots ‘against’ rather than that ‘for’ the candidate.
What can we do you ask? I say we have everything to do with it. We are the ones who complain that the system is flawed but are too lazy or scared to do anything about it. We are the ones who think that terrorism is the governments problem and not ours. When the terrorists attacked the world trade centre what did we do? when they attacked the London subway what did we do? Now that it has come to Bombay what are we doing? We are the ones who are not bothered about it, till it affects us. It is this careless attitude of ours that has cost us lives. Their blood is on all our hands, but we prefer to live in blissful ignorance till it takes something dear to us.
Are we ready to wake up?
1 comment:
Dear Terrorist,
Even if you are not reading this we don't care. Time and again you tried
to disturb us and disrupt our life - killing innocent civilians by
planting bombs in trains, buses and cars. You have tried hard to bring
death and destruction, cause panic and fear and create communal
disharmony but everytime you were disgustingly unsuccessful. Do you know how we pass our life in Mumbai? How much it takes for us to earn that single rupee? If you wanted to give us a shock then we are sorry to say that you failed miserably in your ulterior motives. Better look
elsewere, not here.
We are not Hindus and Muslims or Gujaratis and Marathis or Punjabis and Bengaliies. Nor do we distinguish ourselves as owners or workers, govt. employees or private employees. WE ARE MUMBAIKERS (Bombay-ites, if you like). We will not allow you to disrupt our life like this. On the last few ccassions when you struck (including the 7 deadly blasts in a single day killing over 250 people and injuring 500+ in 1993), we went to work next day in full strength. This time we cleared everything within a few hours and were back to normal - the vendors placing their next order, businessmen finalizing the next deals and the office workers rushing to catch the next train. (Yes the same train you targetted)
Fathom this: Within 3 hours of the blasts, long queues of blood donating volunteers were seen outside various hospital, where most of the injured were admitted. By 12 midnight, the hospital had to issue a notification that blood banks were full and they didn't require any more blood. The next day, attendance at schools and office was close to 100%, trains & buses were packed to the brim, the crowds were back. The city has simply dusted itself off and moved one - perhaps with greater vigour.
We are Mumbaikers and we live like brothers in times like this. So, do
not dare to threaten us with your crackers. The spirit of Mumbai is very strong and can not be harmed.
With Love,
From the people of Mumbai (Bombay)
*****************
In all this we must acknowledge the spirit of the mumbaikars. hats off to them.
Post a Comment