Attacks of 26/11

Ramgopal Verma’s ‘The Attacks of 26/11’ may have failed to be in my personal list of top 10 worth watching movies but still it managed to bring back to me the memories attached to that particular inhumane incident. Though with such a politically, economically and socially unstable neighbourhood,  India has faced many such cross border activities since I reached my adolescence but this particular attack of 26/11, I must admit, is the only one which I can still remember and recreate in front of my eyes. What I need to do is just to close them and instruct my nerve cells to go back in 2008.

            The night of 26/11, 2008 was just another night before the sessional exam and I was as usual busy preparing for the exam sitting inside a room in Vasundhra Enclave (New Delhi). Still remember the intensity with which Pranu shouted- ‘Dadda Mumbai mein attack, jaldi aa, news mein a raha hai’. I ran out and was shocked to see the pictures released on the news of the casualties occurred in Leopold Café, and CST. I was for sure watching such video recordings or real casualties in such a huge number for the first time. Though I could remember the attack on Indian Parliament too, but this for sure was something different. But before I could regain my senses and could have started to imagine what would have happened there or what is different about it, it occurred to me to call a friend and check if she was aware of all this, as aunty (her mother) was posted in Mumbai those days. Calling friends and all went for about a few minutes and that actually helped in curbing the adrenaline running through.

            Though it was theoretically known from Kasab’s statements that they were instructed to keep on ‘firing and running’ without bothering about the number of dead but the incident recreated in the movie made me to introspect that was I able to connect to the atrocities, or the mental situation or the disturbances which would have prevailed in entire financial capital of the emerging economic superpower India. I must admit that no, I didn’t imagine that there were people enjoying with friends after a long hectic day, there were friends meeting after a long time and chilling out, there were business delegates having serious business talks, there were tourists with all of them having somebody waiting for them away from Leopold Café. No I didn’t imagine that there were students waiting for train to catch for going home after 6 months, I didn’t imagine there were people from nearby villages going back after earning a meal for their families, there were families, there were those who were exited to meet their families, there were kids, women, old people, with all them having some unfinished business in this world. I failed to imagine all that. Its palatable that I failed but I still wonder how could the one with AK-47 and grenade in hands failed to see the children and old who can’t even run to save their life. How could he fail to see the helplessness of those dining in Café or sitting/ sleeping/ gossiping on the platform? I still fail to find an answer to how inhumane can a human be.

            Most of us claim to have felt the pain through which those who suffered, went. But only a few, I’m sure would have tried to imagine the pressure under which the Mumbai Police would have been. How difficult would it have been for an officer to take a decision under circumstances when everything was going wrong. I didn’t for even once thought of that. Respect to those who fought bravely and without bothering even once for their life, successfully defeated the anti-social elements.

            Though tapping your back after success isn’t bad at all but not introspecting such incident and failing to check them, is. Its not that whatever actions taken to tackle the terrorists were perfect, its not that nothing better than that can or could have been done. But one thing is for sure, had we learnt something from the previous terrorist attacks, say on Parliament, we would have been able to wipe those terrorists much sooner than 29^th Nov, 2008.

            There have been a few weaknesses which came out in open during 26/11 attacks. Just to mention a few, after the attacks only we realized how insecure our coasts were. Though it was the west coast in 2008, we must now protect our long coastal boundary of both sides. The protection doesn’t mean employing extra guards with service revolver, with arms which even Ordnance Factory feel obsolete but is manufacturing just because MHA is ordering them. It is evident from the Mumbai attacks that our Police is not in possession of modern arms even after having the Ordnance Factories having capability to manufacture state of the art weapons, and that is why even 8 terrorists could successfully dodge our 100s of policemen. We must accept that and work towards showing concerns for the facilities provided to such brave fighters who when duty calls can run with a ‘Lathi’ in hand and fight with armed terrorists. That might look brave in unforeseen circumstances but allowing that to happen again and again is nothing less than foolishness. We must have stock of modern weapons for our internal security forces too so that such incidents don’t project us as foolish and technically backward next time on the international platform.

            That very neighbour of ours which sponsored Mumbai attack of 2008, just a few days back passed a resolution in their parliament for condemning the hanging of Afzal Guru the convict in Indian Parliament attacks. To that loving neighbour- ‘Go Fuck your Resolutions’. We know how to run our democracy. We have a strong constitution and we strictly follow that. Our officers know the code of conducts and have a sense of integrity to their duty. We are stable nation and we will be no matter how hard you try, you will only Fuck your own ass.

            Coming back to stupidity of such anti-social and communal elements who in search of heaven come in the influence of Jihadists and start attacking the people following other religion. Kasab said that it was for Islam that he attacked India as Indian Hindus are against Islam and all such nonsense, but do we really believe that causing such attacks or atrocities is doing any good to any religion? Instead all such activities are doing harm to that religion and making life difficult for its followers. Just an appeal to such communal elements- just in search of heaven after death for yourself, don’t make this planet a hell for those who want to live.

Stop Terrorism!