Tuesday's Terror

Tuesday saw the worst attack I have been consciously exposed to in my lifetime. And it hurt. And it was scary. And depressing.

I went through Santacruz, Khar, Mahim and Matunga between 5:00 and 5:30. It's so scary. I've travelled by those trains more times than I can count. I've spent countless hours at every station that had a blast, I know all of them inside out (except Mira Road).

My mom used to take the First-Class Ladies compartment on a Borivali fast. She would leave office and catch a train around 6:00 pm. She wasn't there on Tuesday.

My friends swear by those trains. I could've been in office (viz. between Mahim and Matunga) yesterday, and I could've taken the train home from Matunga Road.

And yet, the day after, it was back to the grind. Over 190 people dead, over 700 injured. And nobody even winced.

The "Spirit of Mumbai" is much talked about. It's completely and entirely true. People helped each other out wherever they could. The blast site saw people come together irrespective of religion, caste, creed or class and do whatever they could. That is brilliant. The designs of these offenders fail when they see people come together, rather than become divided.

The morning after the blasts, the trains were full again. The *same* trains going through the *same* stations were full again. Schools, Colleges, Offices were open. The stock market even had it's biggest gain in weeks.

The resilient spirit of Mumbai is there for all to see. But that doesn't make it entirely right.

I got irritated at the constant media shouts of "The Spirit of Mumbai" and I didn't know why. Then I realised. To quote the smartest person I know (who also happens to be extremely attractive and extremely unavailable):

"I agree totally the resilience, I agree people help, a lot. I have seen it myself. So in that sense, we are lucky, we have support of the Mumbai junta. I love the city, it makes me feel safe at some level, I know I will be fine.

But, where is the anger? where is the sense of shock? where is the agitation?
isn't that required too? I don't know if I am right."

You are right. Where is the agitation. I want to see Mumbaikars get out and say "Fuck You". The people, the Government, everyone. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. And this deserves that reaction.

My sentiments (although I don't *entirely* agree) are much better communicated through this column on Rediff:

Enough is Enough! by Saisuresh Sivaswamy

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I also have a theory. I was much agitated by media coverage of the perpetrators of these blasts.

According to popular belief, these blasts were carried out by members of the Student's Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Lashkar e-Toiba (LeT).

I always wondered how these people are motivated. They are not fighting for a country. They wear no uniform. They are citizens of the world. Their full time occupation is probably something normal, even mundane. What huge psychological factor motivates these people. They do not come out into the open and they make no demands.

Hijackers of planes, kidnappers etc. of the past have made demands. They say "We want X,Y,Z and in return nobody gets hurt". These were people who were just like those that carried out the blasts on Tuesday. But they were humane. And they played on the humanity in all of us. They were ruthless, yes. But they were first and foremost humane. If all their demands were met, nobody got hurt. They got what they wanted and nobody got hurt.

Tueday's activities were inhumane. Nobody made demands. Nobody got any sort of obvious leverage from it. Nothing, other than the killing of scores of innocents (across religion, caste and creed), was achieved.

So what did they get? I think, more than anything else, they feed off the media frenzy. Their 'cause' is given a sense of romance by the way it's being covered. These are people who are completely deluded. Their sense of right or wrong is entirely shifted from that of you or I. They wanted to spread terror and panic. And even though Mumbai bounced back to normalcy almost instantly, the media coverage made them feel successful.

If you watch Formula 1, you'll notice something. Everytime a streaker or protestor gets on to the track, the TV crew do not give him any airtime. The commentators do not mention what banner he's holding up or what he's yelling out. It is merely mentioned that a 'madman' (or even an 'idiot') has invaded the track and he shall be removed shortly. They completely ignore him. Why? They reason that if these people don't get the media attention they crave for, if they're ignored when they do it, then they will stop doing it. I completely agree.

Although you can't apply the same theory to this case, I think it should be applied in some spirit. Obviously, it is of HUGE public interest, and it should be covered entirely. But my theory is simple:

Take the romance out of it.

The members of LeT are called 'terrorists'. If you notice, my entire post so far has refrained from calling them that. The word has such a strong connotation. By just calling them a 'terrorist' you're giving them a sense of fulfillment. Their sole aim is to spread terror, and calling them a 'terrorist' gives them half a victory. We need to stop referring to these people as terrorists.

The coverage of the members of SIMI has been even worse. They're being called SIMI 'Activists'.

ACTIVISTS?

An 'Activist' is such a positive, powerful term. It is used for someone who fights for a cause that is just and correct. Calling a member of SIMI and 'activist' is more than losing half the battle, it's almost endorsing their cause!

My theory is that they should not be called 'terrorists', and certainly not 'activists'. Their whole existence is based on a deep psychological belief in their activities. Fight them on that level.

It is virtually impossible to detect any of these people. They wear no uniform, they bear no signs. They are weaved into the very fabric of society. You cannot attack someone you cannot see. But, via media, you can attack their thought.

Mock them. Insult them. Give them neither importance nor leverage.

Newsreports should have read like this:
"Tuesday saw an attempt by the members of a deluded organization to break the peace and civility that makes the very fabric of our society. This was merely a pathetic route taken by cowards who have no courage to stand up and speak out for what they believe in.

Mumbai will not be terrorised by their activities. We stand together in the face of such cowardly attempts to divide our society. They have not succeeded in breaking our spirit and they never will. Their existence is futile and they will remain pathetic cowards of the highest order until the end of their days. Mumbai is divided yes. Between civil society and a group of deluded persons who don't have the guts to face the world. They remain hidden in our society physically, but mentally, the reslience and courage of the Mumbaikar seperates us from them.

We will not stand down and be affected. We will not be terrorised."

I believe it would work. It may be media or political suicide by whoever says something like that- but I believe it would work.

So to all the SIMI, LeT and other supposed 'terrorist' losers. Speak up and speak out you cowardly bastards. You're nothing but pathetic losers.

Scare me once, shame on you. Scare me twice, shame on me.

Fuck you. Bring it fucking on.

Note: Since posting, SIMI has categorically denied any role in Tuesday's blast. They have also gone so far as "condemning" this act. I truly, honestly believe that they had some role to play. But, in the great country of India, you are innocent until proven guilty. I will however not edit my post. I stand by my allegation.