Many scorn at the politicians, some blame the security failure, Raj Thackeray is scoffed at, the brave are praised, terrorism denounced, TV channels run 24*7 programmes covering the incident, Taj burns and many die.
Everyone's writing about Mumbai.
Mumbai aka Bombay, has truly been a unifier. Everyone seems to realize he is part of a country.
Yes, cricket matches are helpful sometimes.
Public memory is short lived. Mumbai too, will be forgotten.
So be happy!
The Unnikrishnans will die at an age when most others think of enjoying the pleasures of life. The injured will be cured in a few more days and be back with a few scars here and there. Life, very well, goes on. No problems here too.
The Amjads, the Imans, Ramzans and Sultans; they seem to keep coming eternally from somewhere (somewhere?). As long as there is poverty and as long as there is ignorance, there will Suleimans and Multans and Mastans, rest assured!
And now for the preaching:
You know what, we are all humans. And human quality, we should have known by now, we ain't ready to do anything till it is absolutely necessary. Now things seem to be necessary, very much so. And so everyone is frantic, no surprise. Nothing seemingly wrong too.
Let us for once leave the Thackerays and Patils alone. Let us all question our own dear self honestly.
Am I worried about this country, or any country for that matter?
If the answer turns out to be an honest 'YES', then let us ponder over:
Why do I bother? (These are not silly questions, let me assure you. These have troubled me for sometime now.)
If we think we have sufficient answers, then let us proceed and ask:
What can I do?
If you are able to answer that question too, then do that.
Thats all. Don't bother about Bombay. It will be 'business as usual' in a few more days.
PS:
The immediate motivation was one Ms. Sanjana who asked me for 'my take' on the Bombay 'issue'.
Take it.
Posts
Mumbai too, will be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteSo be happy! ---- be happy anta yaako barita idiya.. y shud we be happy?? happy abt what?
injured will be cured with few scars anta plz baribeda.. we dont know how many wud have lost parts of their body..
abt the question to ask oneself.. iam worried abt india but i dont know what to do at an individual level.. but the fact is ppl r bothered man.. y will there be protests against the govt in mumbai.. do the ppl have nothing else to do and they r coming in protest just like that? they r worried man.. but the fact is they also dont know what they can do? that is why people vote to choose a govt. isnt it? but finally i dont know what shud i do? what wud yu do at an individual level?
Well it will definitely not be "business as usual". There is a distinct change in reaction of Indian Citizens thanks to the extensive coverage and awareness created by the media. I hope we see this agitation refelcting in the fourth coming national elections.Lets not push this incident causally. We have been tolerant now i think its time to channelize this anger in the right direction . SO VOTE PEOPLE !
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ReplyDeleteHmmm...voting happens every year. Something else should accompany it henceforth. That is pressurizing those elected to be loyal. Making the VilasRao's and Munde's of the future be on their toes. Not just sitting in our drawing rooms and dismissing everything as "dirty politics". We, the people, shud start acting at watever level possible(locality, town, city, national)and the Media shud stop bullshitting about Himesh Reshammiyas and aliens and help reinstate the diminished importance of a Bulletin and a Breaking News.
ReplyDeleteAbout the questions u mentioned, had Major Unnikrishnan asked the question "Y do i bother?", he wud not have been our hero today. Heroes don't ask, what is in it for me?, why shud i do it?, will i be remembered atleast? Such stupid questions do not make any sense. Do we need to be taught to save our home?? I don't think so.
If I have given an aura of casualty in whatever I have written, let me put the blame on myself. But I surely wanted the sarcasm and latent anger therein to be noticed.
ReplyDeleteNextly, 'bother'. I did not mean not to bother. 'Don't bother' was a way of suggesting meaningful botheration, one which will have a positive impact at some level, not just the usual rumination about all that is bad. Had the Major not thought about(or bother)(or self contemplation) contributing in some way to the country, he, I feel, wouldn't have been the man we now know.
'Asking the right initial questions are essential to a successful path', a great man has remarked. It is in this light of clearing our concepts of what a country means to us, what are we expected to do, that questions were suggested. I have seen people claiming to be international citizens and that they don't ascribe too much of a meaning or importance in 'artificial' divisions. If we are able to argue them wrong, it is only indicative of a strong sense of nationalism. If we are unable, let us all search for answers.
I cannot object to what you say. Asking questions leads to better understanding. But I really don't think we need to ask this question. U may dismiss it as your reader's personal opinion :)
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ReplyDeleteInstead of dismissing(or suspending) readers from their posts, let me answer the question myself to the level of understanding I have attained, certainly not complete.
ReplyDeleteThe important aspects linking people to any country : (1)economic dependence for mutual benefit and existence, (2)social dependence for harmonious living, security of life and personal property, (3) cultural dependence for achieving the higher aspirations of life (4) spiritual dependence for attaining the goal of life.
A country, in essence helps us in leading a meaningful life. Equally, we owe the country a meaningful contribution in whichever form our personality permits us.
As the Gita says, we are the masters only of our actions and not the fruits which they may generate.
The Major performed his duty, not asking 'what I will get' but definitely asking 'what I should do' and 'why I should do'.
Respect and adoration for a country, which have been purified by the fire of self contemplation don't require external stimuli such as the Bombay incident or any other, to be evoked. They stay constantly in the hearts of the devout.
Heartfelt condolences to Major. Unnikrishnan.
No Varun......Mumbai can't forget this...
ReplyDeleteMumbai will no longer be as cute as before
Mumbai will no longer be as safe as before
Mumbai will no longer be a safe haven for foreigners as before....
My grandpa will no longer visit the park overlooking the Taj as before...
Queen's necklace will now always bear a burning scar on her forehead...
My dear Taj Restraunt will now be a remembrance of a dreadful massacre...
No...No mumbaikar is ready to forgive this...
Mumbai has faced everything right from Gang wars to political instabilities with a warriors chest....
But now...This was just too much...
Simply too much....
What Mumbai wants now is one thing..
It wants to pull out those old bastards,who call themselves our Politicians, from their chairs....
It wants to fill in those places with those young minds full of patriotism and bravery and who possess the guts to give an answer to a qs which was raised by those bloody maniacs...
"How will India survive"
yeah...Mumbai wants just an answer...Nothing else....