MUMBAI MERI JAAN

By, Rohan Mathur

     The 26^th seems to be a bad omen for the Indian state. We had the Tsunami on Dec 26^th which was a natural disaster and then we had multiple intelligence failures that led to the massacre of freedom and democracy in India’s shining jewel-Mumbai. As written by a noted Kuwaiti journalist, “FORGIVING a terrorist should be left to God. But fixing their appointment with God is entirely our responsibility”. The biggest city of the world’s largest democracy was attacked and shattered physically but the terrorist failed to crush its spirit. The jihadi terrorist sent a clear message to the free world; they will not rest till they have their way of life implemented around the world. They attacked the very symbols that came to symbolize the success and lure of Mumbai. Lives of all stripes were shattered, some who had come to hotels to enjoy a quite meal with loved ones, some hanging out with friends at a café, some going back to their hometowns at the railway station and then some who had come to India lured by its rich culture and heritage. A rabbi and his family who found secular India to be their adopted homeland and in where they would start a new life. Their only fault being that they belonged to a free society which the terrorist wanted to destroy.

     As reported in the media and corroborated by Intelligence bureau (I.B.), the terrorist used the symbol that welcomed first time visitors to Mumbai, the gateway of India much alike the Statue of liberty or the Eiffel tower to enter and spread the terror. Shocked and horrified people around the world saw how a handful of men could hold a proud city of 15 million hostage. The Indian state looked weak and shattered. Regular condemnations from an inept government seemed to anger the people even more. A horrified nation saw as its symbols were raped. It took 60 hours of brave combat from the elite NSG commandos to liberate Mumbai. If it wasn’t for their heroism, there would be higher casualties. India truly lost its best and bravest that day. As the massacre winds from our memory, we need to take a pledge never to forget the people who did this to us. This was truly an international incident. Citizens from nearly 12 nations lost their lives with the attack on the Chabbad centre looking like a chapter straight out of a suspense novel.

     This incident brought out the best of Mumbai. The people realized that this could not go without demanding answers. No more would India take it lying down. Using public tools like Facebook and Orkut, ordinary citizens organized candle light vigils around the country and the world. As James Carville, a senior CNN contributor said,"We all became Mumbaikars that day." The nation tearfully saluted its heroes who perished defending freedom so that all of us could live to tell their story. Now that the pundits are out and analyzing the incident, passions are running high. The lone terrorist caught is believed to be from Pakistan and this will not be the first time such allegations have come to light. 

     The people of India and indeed the people of the world are expecting solid proof from the Investigators that the plot was hatched in Pakistan.  It will be in Pakistan’s national interest to co-operate fully and nothing less can be expected. The right noises are coming from Islamabad but what we need is solid action. India has the following demands – hand over Dawood Ibrahim to India and close down the terrorist camps that are operating in POK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir). It will be in India’s interest to continue engaging Pakistan and nudge them to take part in surgical strikes across the border in terrorist camps. This would help reduces tensions and avoid the mention of nuclear arms. India should call Pakistans’s bluff and demand the terrorists to be handed over in a definite amount of time. To complicate matters, FBI and soon the Mossad will be involved. This would help put international pressure on Pakistan to act against its demons otherwise nuclear war may not be a part of fiction any more. The people of India have finally woken up from the slumber and our hope is so has the soft on terror Indian government. The resignation of the security chief is a step in the right direction but is too little too late for the victims.

     We are angry and we need to harness that anger in the right direction. No single community should be blamed as that would go against the very idea of India. India has to respond strongly to this act for its own sake and ensure security is even tighter in the future to ensure such a despicable act is never be allowed to violate the sovereignty of our country again. It has also been found that some of the terrorist held British passports. If true, this should be taken as a serious matter with the highest level of British government. They need to investigate the ghettosization of their minority communities. As the horrific London bombings of July 2005 showed, local British Muslims were involved. They need to learn from the US where all minority communities are allowed to hold their beliefs and can still harmonize with society at large. Sooner the British realize this; the better it will be for the world. 

     We now must pick up the remains and take a solemn pledge never to let this happen again. The very existence of the free world depends on what we do now. Telling the terrorists that they will not go unpunished would be a good start. Their aim is to destroy a free society but I am sure that the resilience of our democracy would stand this test. I will end by quoting the British foreign secretary who very aptly said this of the Mumbai attacks - This attack on India is an attack on all of us”. Enough is enough...terrorism must end!”