Never before in its history of facing some of the bloodiest terrorist attacks has India felt so collectively crippled as it does today.
As the astounding and the heartbreaking images of Mumbai attacks and hostage drama played out on television and splashed across newspapers and websites, the country and the world reacted, first with a mix of shock and horror and then, erupted in rage.
The Internet gave many a platform to reach out – to help, to console, to pay tribute but mostly to express their emotion.
At IBNLive.com, it was an overwhelming experience sifting through thousands of posts, pictures, videos, messages and e-mails sent to us by people from across timezones. The predominant emotion seemed to be a mix of anger and helplessness – a reflection on the collective sentiment of the country.
Could more have been done to prevent the Mumbai massacre? Will the country come together? How long will the cycle of terror last and what will it take to put an end to it? Starting Monday, IBNLive.com starts a Campaign against Terror. Voice your opinion, suggest solutions, send us blogs, videos and participate in opinion polls.
LEADERS? WHAT LEADERS?
Some of the readers have been doing just that for the past four days. Richa Sharma wrote in to urge more people join the armed forces. “No, I am not calling for all of us to join the army or the commandos but do everything in our might to protect our country. We definitely need more people to join the armed forces. If you cannot join the army, we need to step up and unite in revamping the political system of our country. I request the youth to face the reality today and ask our educated and skilled youth to contribute our sophisticated training and brilliant ideas in serving our country and making it visible to the world are not just the country with brains but also the country with loins,” she writes.
While intelligence failure is being blamed for the terror attacks, most readers have lashed out against politicians and the political system. One of them, Radha, writes, “We are crippled at the roots by the impotent and opportunistic political system that will blow our country in flames if we do not step up today. How can the current representatives be leaders and how can be trust such people to lead us when what they really have been doing is dividing our countrymen and using our emotions to their selfish pursuits,” she asks.
Kavitha feels Indian politicians are in a habit of sacrificing the men in khaki to remain couched within their Z category security. “The so called terrorists need to realise that their leaders are no different. They need to realise that their sacrifices are meaningless,” she wrote, sounding surprisingly optimistic.
Speaking of leaders, a number of readers also wanted to know what Raj Thackeray – a headline hunter of the past few months and the self-procliamed saviour of state – was. Sheetal asks, “Where were the brave MNS men when Mumbai was burning three days back? How come it is always the local, innocent Indian who falls victim to these attacks and never such a politician? His men should have been sent in to fight the terrorists”.
INDIA SALUTES A FEW GOOD MEN
While Mumbai was reclaimed and the brave men in khaki and black stood shield to city’s pride and security, it did not happen without the sacrifice of some bravehearts.
Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Chief Hemant Karkare, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar, Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte and National Security Guard (NSG) commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan died in the line of duty as did eight other policemen and commandos.
There was a mass outpouring of tribute on IBNLive forums [PAY YOUR TRIBUTE] and as many as 30,000 candles (and counting) were lit in the memory of these brave men. [LIGHT A CANDLE]
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Ramu made a pertinent point. “In the end, it is the extremely poorly paid policemen and army/navy men who came to the rescue. These are the same men who were being grudged a few rupees in their pay and allowances by the babus and the politicians just a few weeks back,” he writes, ending on an emotional note, “Pay them! Don't grudge them their due! Not one of those who saved the Taj could have afforded to have a meal there, forget about staying in a suite there! The babu and the politician will not listen unless enough people talk about this cause,” wrote.
Cornell’s response and suggestion was that of peace. He writes, “It was some mother's only son, some happy woman's husband, some ones brother and last but not the least some ones loving father. Imagine that some one is just a one like us a good Indian. And what we can do for them is not to think of a war with our hostile neighbour Pakistan. But ourselves love one and another whether we are North Indian ,Marathis, Tamilians, Bengalis or Gujaratis”.
Deepti, an armyman’s daughter said what perhaps is a sentiment echoed by most Indians.
” I would like to ask the so-called NGOs and the "human rights groups" that bleat on about the rights of hard core criminals as to whether they can sacrifice their life or whether they would let their sons enroll in the forces for the nation?”
CAN WE FIGHT BACK?
The bloody siege of 26/11 - as it's now being called - is being compared to America's 9/11 and not without reason. But the question remains: How do we fight back?
Importantly, the politicization of a tragedy is adding to readers’ anger. Rajeev, a citizen journalist, writes in to say, “The NSG, MARCOS, army, fire brigade, local police - all were working sentinel for about 60 hours risking their very lives. And it was so sad that Mr. L.K. Advani rushed to the scene (where he shouldn't have come) and started blaming the UPA government. I'm sure that, the 'politicization' of the event will be debated much”.
But Nethra feels peace must be given a chance. “We will be able to fight anything from terrorism to war if we remain united as Indians. If we feel the importance of the lives of our friends, family, neighbours, we will face success,” she writes.
You can also have your say, join the IBNLive Campaign against Terror and help bring a change that India needs. More now than ever before.
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERROR
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