The sound of those wailing cries hadn't yet died in my ears. It was still very fresh- a cacophony that I wish I could avoid. The irregular thumping of heart still loud and clear as if it will rip out any moment. The pain of losing still visible in eyes no matter how hard smile and courage tried to conceal it, and then there were questions that I was asking myself. Why didn't the police do anything? Why are the Indian investigating Agencies always finding ways to evade their work? It was just another incidence for them but they did not realize that his entire family had virtually died with him. Even as he took his last breath he went unnoticed in the sea of bodies and pools of blood that hadn't been there just a moment ago. Dreams were shattered and hearts were broken in a matter of minutes.
The time has fled but WE still stand there...
I was in Mumbai attending a party when I heard the news. The party of course then came to a sudden halt and joyous,festive faces started to spell expressions of fear and confusion. My friend turned the tv on and the breaking news was that Mumbai was under attack, and it wasn't just those low intensity time bomb attacks that other Indian cities had endured throughout this year. This was much bigger, unprecedented and something that would be known as India's 9-11. As the reporters explained that terrorists had entered and shot many people inside some of Mumbai's most posh and luxurious hotels, and were holding many hostages, I knew it was going to turn out to be a very long night. Little did I know, that one long night was going to stretch into sixty very long and unforgettable hours. As the news story unfolded before my eyes, I found out that the bloody rampage was carried out at multiple sites around the city -10 in all. Some of the early pictures showed the massacre at the Leopold cafe and the CST station which were merely a diversion for the authorities as the main targets were the Taj and Oberoi. They had come with the intention of causing maximum damage and to kill till the last breath. Soon the host asked us to go home as soon as possible as there had been blast at Ville Parle as well, which was the place where we were attending the party. We hastily moved to the cars escorted by the security guards. They checked the cars before having us seated and then we left for home. I tuned into the news channel once again and found similar expression on the faces of many Mumbaikers that possessed me and my relatives a few months back; the expression that my heart still wears but one that I have learned to conceal. I am sure with time even they'll learn to hide their true feelings. I could see their apprehensions, their doubts and worries of what the future holds for them and their loved ones. Hundreds of people were dead, hundreds others injured and many more went missing. After three sleepless nights...news after news...hard news as well as soft news which was even worse than the counterpart...more appropriately 72*60 minutes of uncertainty, doubts..and when they found out the results, it only added to their disaster. Some people survived but with a wound that would perhaps never heal. The rest who died left their relatives in an unending pain. They live and yet 'die-thousand-deaths' every second. Who can better relate to them than me- a commoner...like you.
There was a time when I thought that pain can not touch me, and that it was made for people of another world. I guess this is what millions of Indians think, but I think its time to wake up because failiure of police and investigating agencies are now touching the lives of commoners...of YOU, The PEOPLE....
Its you and me who is Arushi, Hemant Karkare, Salaskar,and the list goes on...
"Politicians are corrupt... but it doesn't make any difference to me...keep feeding them and keep getting your work done." If this is the way you think then you are forgetting that today it was me who was affected; tomorrow your children can meet the same fate...SO WAKE UP people, because it does make a difference...
The problem with us Indians is that we are pachyderms, and our memory is short-lived. People we buy all the time, coax us with the same money at the time of election that once purchased them. We hate them, slang them, mock them, gibe them, and yet vote for them because we forget the pain that our fellows have been through. We forget that our country is suffering, and we forget that people in white khadis are selling it bit by bit for their own selfish reasons. I wonder what our politicians are made of. Even King Ashoka Changed his ways after witnessing bloodshed but these coldblooded animals only know how to pass apathetic comments on the deaths of people..
We see army fighting for our cause, police officials losing their lives for saving our lives, and these shameless, callous khadidaris glued to the chairs finding ways to mint more money even if that means playing with the lives of people, bringing in faulty bullet proof jackets, using obsolete defense weapons and public helicopters for their own benefit. Do you still trust them?
If you do...it means either you are one of them or you are still living in an illusion that you are safe.
Well If you ask me I am disillusioned. For me there is no difference between a terrorist and a politician. Actually, perhaps there is. Terrorists have motives beyond money and a politician's thinking starts with it and ends with it.
That being said I cant stop wondering how can we entrust the lives of 1 billion Indians in the hands of these money making buffoons. Why not snatch away the power they have been abusing and taking for granted? Why not privatize police? It took me 4 to 5 days to be able to understand and give a definition to my thought...
Well I know the moment I use the word privatize... a lot of you are going to ask...How does it make a difference? Well netas will just be replaced by businessmen that are as atrocious as netas... but here is what I think about the concept...These are the pros and cons of a privatized police:
Pros:
1) The Indian police will get better salary packages. Resulting in the erosion of corruption overtime.
2) They'll receive better training.
3) They will get better and latest weapons and perhaps technologically advanced equipment.
5) Last but not the least they will be accountable for their actions to more responsible people...
There will be more transparency as company is bound to tell shareholders..i.e public... in detail about its working in the annual meeting
I am sure though that there are many other positives that I am not being able to put down here..
Let me jot down the negatives that I have thought of...
1)The rein of safety of Indian population will go in the private hands...and they can use it to their advantage though this can be corrected by having few people from the govt. in board of directors..
2)The Netas can join hands with the company's top seat holders who may not be any better to sweep their deeds under the carpet..
3)It may not be in the interest of the lower class... However I think that certain provision can be made to safeguard their interest...
4) It might require a huge change in the original constitution laid by the constitution makers....How is it any better now... it anyways require a change before our country moves in anarchy...
Well I know the concept is novel and ambiguous but I also know that it will be more administratively sound than what it is now....
The deaths of so many people do call for the action because it's now or never...
P.S. The write-up still needs editing and contemplating... this is simply jotting down of random thoughts... kindly drop in your views on the matter at arpita181983@gmail.com
