Through the window of Mumbai blasts...

Too many people have condemned the Mumbai attacks for me to join to bandwagon. However I would like to point out a few other observations.

"Smashaan Vairagya". A term, which literally means acquired temporary renunciation or de-materialization during a funeral. At any funeral you will hear people acquire some insane sanity they were never known to possess. You will invariably hear stuff like '"He kept making money. Nobody takes money to heaven. He should have just enjoyed it while he had time", "He was always tense about stocks. I tell you, one should just give up worries in life to live better. I will not lose my soul in stocks from now on", "Cholesterol killed him. I take a resolution to avoid fatty and sweet food."' Yet as soon as the funeral gets over, the same people will go back to their sweets, pickles, stock market and sleepless nights. The temporary fit of sanity that had hit them, was shed at the funeral itself.
How is it related to Mumbai blast? I say it's what we always see after any crisis.
"We must fight terrorism from the roots" "I guarantee people shall now live in peace" "We are putting our whole police force behind this to find out the culprits. They shall not be spared" "We will make sure that law and order is maintained. Every person, every building, etc. shall now confirm with rules and regulations"
And then, as soon as the sensationalism of the crisis has ended, its back to the same old carelessness and irresponsibility. How long are we to witness it?

We make a hue and cry over India 2020. To become a superpower, a nation not only has to develop, but has to have that confidence and that belief that it is a superpower. It has to send signals that it can face any competition. But when it comes to weeding out terrorism from our own states, we succumb to dubious debates of religion and diplomacy. We have never shown any kind of firm determination when it comes to fighting our own evils. Our failure of intelligence agencies even in our own backyard, exemplifies our lack of fortitude. If we aren't so meek, then why is another smaller nation having a better intelligence network, not just in its own home, but also in our territories? The biggest super power of today's times is not a super power by doing a lot of charity, but by developing and maintaining its foothold in all the strategic parts of the world. And it never hesitates to weed out its opponents, even if it goes against general world opinion. When will we learn that being stern isn't an act of oppression when it comes to protecting our own interests?

Police is always blamed for being late, rude and non-active. The general public helps some victims and then as soon as the newsmen interview them, they glorify their efforts and degrade the efforts of police. Yet when it comes to testifying, they never go to the police. The police are blamed for not being present when a theft takes place, when a murder takes place, as if they are omnipresent like the air. And yet, when it comes to informing the police about any hint of wrong activities, they will shy away. An example will be the person who informed the police about a dialogue he over heard between the terrorists, long after the damage was done. Who is to blame, then?

Policemen aren't off the hook yet either.  A lot of them aren't on duty, or not performing their duty. But if one observes closely, their work culture reflects that of whole of India. How many of us Indians don't procrastinate, or blame others for our lapses, or indulge in eve teasing, or promote bribery, or succumb to orders from the top brass, or try to complete any assignment without any conviction, or denounce the standard of life without making any effort of uplifting ourselves?

And it is important for the so-called leaders of the country to visit any place of crisis. But must they have 50 other people around them, choking the relief work as well as crowding the place? How can we talk of being a super power when either our politicians haven't the guts to face the public, or our public isn't ready to settle matters through frank dialogues, or when the our public gets scared out of its wits everyday?

It's so easy to destroy. And just as hard to construct. The day when we Indians learn to be constructive in everything we do, think or say, that day we will realize our vision India 2020. Till then, we can either make efforts for the same, or sit back on the couch with a cola in one hand and enjoy the drama of everyday hypocrisy unfold before us.

Cheers!!!