a week ago -

how do you cope with senseless terrorism - besieging a city you lived in, came to love and reached a semblence of adulthood in? yes Tas , adulthood does not automatically come with chronological age, though we would dearly like to believe it. ur post sais it all -capturing the fleeting suddeness of youth (were we young once or do we now thinjk that we were young sometime in the past?) and truly, a child gives birth to a mother, as a womwn gives birth to a child. while we wish that your lovely daughter (and mine ) inherit a better world, we have to tell them abt one painful tryth abt adulthood - that life is not fair! and it is for them to wake up and try to make it a better, more tolerant, more logical place than the one it is now. The story I want to tell them is of a city set by the sea. It was a sprawling metropolis, dirty and crowded but bustling with life. Every day, it opened its heart and doors to around 5000 new migrants who knocked at her doors in search of the proverbial pot of gold (perhaps like jacks london, its streets were paved with gold?).a young bride arrived there and was immediately bowled over, not by the handsome stranger she had so recently wed, but by the effervescent city, its people, its ATTITUDE and by its gung-ho spirit. this siren by the sea offered an environment that was uniquely its own, where people from all communities, religions and sexes could work shoulder – to- shoulder and acceptance was its mantra ( despite occ deprecatory noises made by a certain ageing lion and his ineffectual nephew). Its streets were safe, even for women, its local mode of transportation fast, meticulous, efficient and incredibly punctual. People went about their businesses with no interference from others and with no wish 2 interfere in others business. if this place had a fault it was its insularity. “ to each his own” was the motto and perhaps taken to its furthermost limit. You barely knew ur next- door neighbour and were proud of the fact. People did not fraternize (except 4 a bunch of loonies calling themselves the – what was it?- SVCians who went 2 grt lengths to meet each other) – they were too busy chasing this golden songbird. The underworld was a peripheral shadow, smuggling entailed nothing more sinister than gold to satisfy some housewife’s avarice or imported liquor to sate some alcoholics palate. The dark underbelly beneath the glitter was conveniently forgotten.
This city spun dreams and created unlikely heroes-luring gangly men and curvy women 2 sell body, soul and perhaps spirit in an attempt to flash their faces and names on the marquee. Yet the city offered the simple pleasures of life to people of every denomination. The queens necklace winked seductively for both the rajah and the beggar, inviting them to enjoy its wind-swept expanse on both foot or in a flashy merc. You could dine like a king in its five-stars on cuisine from ard the world but would probably have a better culinary experience eating off its pavement stalls. Transport meant jostling with the kolins and their humungous baskets, meals arrived at your doorstep, carried enormous distances in an increbly efficient system run by illiterate dabbawallahs who won the admiration of a prince, Sunday feasts were often oily omelettes and pavs doled out from the top of a kerosene stove but time permitting could also mean fresh fish made koliwada style that came wrapped in newspaper. This city was lenient with ur mistakes – you could finish work on ur hubbys bday close 2 midnight, rush down to the lobby florist and armed with bouquet, cake and an absolutely foolish disregard 4 the lateness of the hour travel by the train 2 the suburbs with nothing more dangerous than a few raised eyebrows coming ur way.
Yet this very heart of the nation is now caught in the cross-hairs of the terrorist’s gun. Hard core terrorists sail into her waters, taking advantage of the insular attitude of its denizens. The poor mans underground ( albeit aboveground) is a soft, easy and prime target everytime. weary souls tired out after a long day’s grind, waiting to go home are being mowed down while its police force stands ineptly by with antiquated firearms and totally clueless abt the enormity of the situation.it’s rich have not been spared either- holed up in plush suites, waiting, dreading the knock on the door, hearing the gunfire or trying to attract the attention of potential life-savers from high – rise glass windows.
It’s politicians have displayed utter callousness in this time of tragedy and need – rubbing salt into the wounded psyche and soul of this city and the citizenry. The ex-cm paraded around as if on a Sunday perambulation, with b-grade directors and even more third grade actor son in tow, viewing the bullet ridden walls as if it were the latest art exhibit. Then he stuck 2 his chair and did not deign to apologize, instead reiterating that he had done no wrong. Its then home minister avers that “aise to chote hadse hote hi rahte hain “ and that is no reason he should resign- as if terrorists walking coolly into ur capital on an innocent shooting spree ( come on man where is the famous resilience u showed so far- get up and take this in ur stride!) are not to be hoo-haaed over. Central ministers were not lagging in this pathetic race of putting their grt big foot into their grter big mouths. A certain mr ahmed wanted to know whether it is the grt ministers job to take a gun and guard the countrys borders or else a boat and patrol its waters. No siree, ur job is just to strut ard with black-cat commandos guarding your useless life while the stupid Comman Man should fall meekly to the ground and die like a dog, unlamented and unmourned in its gutters. While one grt bjp leader declares that idiotic women in decadent western attire ( read jeans and lipstick) have no business offering sympathy and criticizing the honorable ministers who have their hands full trying to come to grips with the situation and the terrorists.So Mumbai and ultimately India – is this a wake up call or just a portent of things to come? Will u continue with ur oh-so-famous resilience and soldier on regardless or will you take action? Will u become pro-active, ditch ur chalta-hai attitude and grow alert to the dangers in ur midst? Will u rid ur streets of terrorism and make them safe for ur children?will Mumbai be able to restore the previous law and order situation and once again become the siren city with a large heart? Only we can make a difference .