14 years on...

It's been a little more than 14 years since the dastardly attacks of 26/11 in Mumbai.

While the world has moved on to other stories, other tragedies too, the memories of that horrible night continue to haunt the nation. I was nowhere near Mumbai that day. I lost no one from my known circle of  family and friends. Still, it was a day when one felt the entire nation lost someone or the other.

Perhaps a lot of the angst has come from the fact that the people being targeted were hapless, innocent civilians, and many foreign nationals identified by citizenship and religion,

It was made worse by the satellite channels which beamed live and "exclusive" coverage of the attacks and our counter-operations in defense.

We keep recounting the horrors of that night and the ensuing days but what will remain etched in my memory is the valor of our armed forces and the resilience of our citizens. It was a tragic day but it was also a day to ensure that we do not let any of the perpetrators rest till we bring them to justice. Most importantly, to Pakistan, as the nation being the sponsor and mastermind, orchestrating the entire series of attacks that day across Mumbai.

I am confident that we will always remain united and will continue to defend the motherland, and if need be, even go on the offensive to defuse and/or pre-emptively extirpate any sinister plans by anyone against our country. 

To the martyrs of 26/11 - Jai Ho!

Jai Ho!

Remember the date: February 26, 2019.
The date when India did what it had not done for years and years, despite multiple provocations and reasons.

Among many other dreadful episodes of direct Pakistani involvement and complicity:

• In 1999: We got Kargil for our peace initiatives, 
• In 2001: We suffered the Parliament attack, and 
• In 2008: We also bled through our people and our souls during 26/11.

Obviously and unfortunately, this is not even an exhaustive list. But these 3 instances stood out amongst even the other cowardly yet dastardly acts which merited an appropriate and commensurate armed retort.

Yet, despite every such instance, our only response was a condemnation. At best, a strong condemnation.

Every time Pakistan hid behind the veil of acting as victims themselves, or sought evidence or more evidence. Dossier after dossier of evidence was provided for 26/11. Yet, more than 10 years after the incident, no concrete action has been taken. Nor does it look likely that anything would change for the better.

So when Pulwama happened on February 14, the nation's collective rage was only natural. As always. What was not-like-always (or unlike all the reactions in the last 50 years) was our military response, in as much as even crossing into the LoC was concerned!

Finally, we did that on February 26. Finally, we have a leader who has the gumption to talk with the Pakis in the language that they understand. (Oh yes it could be well-timed and strategically aligned for his own poll prospects but did no other leader have polls earlier?! Was there no provocation earlier? And why did Surgical Strike 1.0 happen, despite no such polls on the horizon then?)

Even as regards the extend of the damage (at the time of writing, this is still being speculated).
But, you may like it or not, you may accept or deny the efficacy of the strikes, but what you simply cannot deny is the fact that the Indian Armed Forces - in this case, specifically the Indian Air Force - showed how, despite all the preparedness that an expectant enemy can come up with, again displayed brilliance of strategy and execution.
The fact that for the first time, we could - even if not kill as many as India claims it has (because it is still debatable) - but what is absolutely incontrovertible and has been accepted universally, including even by the Pakistanis, is that our jets entered well inside Pakistan and if nothing else, surely showed them their place when it comes to the strength of our forces.

For the first time, someone showed the gumption from an Indian perspective.
For the first time, we made a huge statement to the Pakis and to the world that while we love peace and try everything to maintain sanity, if our good nature is perceived as our weakness, we can make the Pakis pay, very very dearly.

Well done, and more power to you, always!!

To our armed forces and our leadership: Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey.
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey!!!!

Jai Ho!!

Remembering the Unforgettable

Today marks 10 years.
One, full decade gone by.

As one looks back, it now seems that even the attacks were not the most cruel part.

I wonder what has killed us more: the attacks themselves, or the apathy and languid pace of investigations and closure?
Unfortunately, it's not even a close call.

We are still at this stage.

And, at this stage too.

We can keep writing, keep venting our frustrations, year after year after year.

Every sane and fair person is tired of only waiting and being subjected to some or the other tokenism instead of concrete action and results.

India and Indians have waited far too long, only to see nothing but empty rhetoric.

As we mark one decade of those dastardly acts, I just think that there is perhaps one sure way we can make a difference to the sorry state of affairs: let us just remain steadfast in our approach and quest for justice.

They say public memory is short.
Short it could be, but given the enormity of the tragedy, given the sacrifices made by our bravehearts, the least we can do is to neither forget nor resign ourselves towards bringing the perpetrators and masterminds of 26/11 to book.

The US had one 9/11 and they ensured everything in their capacity to not only avoid a repeat but to also hunt down the terrorists who dared to raise an evil eye on their soil and their countrymen.

Let's ensure Pakistan does not get any leeway or elbow room to wriggle out of this. They cannot be mere victims of terrorism if they cannot act on terror emanating from their soil, funded internally and exported to Indian soil.

Till then, we will continue to remember the unforgettable date, and continue to push on, till they ensure that justice is delivered.

Jai Ho!

Rest In Peace...

As Indians, we have heard a lot about demonetisation, its effects/affects (as per your political leaning).

However, for me, November marks the anniversary of 26/11, more than any other world event.

The Mumbai attacks of 26/11 are well-documented, and we still await justice being done, the perpetrators being brought to book.
This, when the world has seen the rise of similar attacks in France, Brussels, along with the rise of the ISIS.
Despite all the cacophony, the international consensus has been more about being mute spectators and about doing nothing more than making perfunctory noises and condemnations, time and time again.

Yes, we have done better than before, in retaliating towards Pakistani strikes.
Yes, we have been more firm, but we still need to do a lot more.

Let us keep ensuring that we isolate Pakistan completely - both strategically, diplomatically as well as militarily with enough quid pro quo.

My thoughts go out again, to all those who lost their lives or loved ones, to the cowardly and dastardly act of terrorists.
Rest In Peace to them.

To all of us here - let us not rest in peace - till we get the culprits and make sure justice prevails.
Jai Hind!

So glad!!

Many (mere) condemnations ago, I had written about the predictable futility of just empty displays of restraint.

September 29, 2016 ushered in a paradigm shift from that hackneyed and impotent approach.

So glad to finally see that we have an administration that believes in making the enemy pay for his misadventures and transgressions.

So glad to finally witness a day when our armed forces were NOT on their (by-default) perpetual defensive state.
For a welcome change, they not only attacked, but did so by going for their kill, even into PoK.

So glad to finally see that when a rogue state broke the threshold of our patience, it was not followed by mere rhetoric but actions too.

So glad to see an unequivocal message from this action: you go after us, our army, and our people...we will not sit back, we will hit back.
 
To all the terrorists and their Aakaa's: You have nowhere to hide, and you know that now.


Kudos to our army, our government.
For displaying that statements work, but work when it is seen as not without muscle.

They are not meant to be dished out as platitudes or ceremonial condemnations.

So glad to see a statement from the other side, for a change!
So glad to see rogues being paid back in the same coin, in the language that they understand best.

Jai Hind, Jai Jawaan!!!

On tolerating intolerance

The last few days and weeks have been a sad commentary on seeing a nation getting divided.

Like it or not, want it or not, only two words have dominated all the headlines of late:
असहिष्णुता and Intolerance

You know there is something seriously amiss if, despite what's going on with our (and the global) economy, the Paris attacks, and umpteen other far more important things, we seem to be hellbent on fighting about where there is tolerance or not, in our country.

The only thing we seem to be doing, is to make intolerant attacks against each other - making it an us vs, them ugly spat fest, where we simply can't tolerate any remark against our side!
If we can leave aside and forget our respective political affiliations or camps for a moment, what does that do or say about us as a nation?

Irrespective of whether one likes it or not, we are today at a state where we, as citizens of a nation that prides on its inclusiveness, are taking positions on which side of the fence they are.
I mean, what are we achieving by doing so?

I understand politicians jumping over each other to make a killing and score points for themselves.
Unfortunately, practically speaking, why should one expect any different or any better from them?

However, what bemoans us?
We, the people of India?!
What stops us from being impartial and objective, at least when it comes to national interest?
Are we doing a good job of uniting the country in our own little way by doing (or not doing) whatever we can or are our actions or inactions creating fissures, negativity and divisiveness within people, within the nation?

I am sorry.
I am sorry I cannot relate to either of the two positions:

Not the Hindustan Hindus ka hi hai nor the India ab (hi) intolerant ho gaya hai!

I don't agree that those who think India has become intolerant need to be thrown out to Pakistan, nor do I believe that intolerance has come to be only now.

Doesn't the fact that people are talking about intolerance, debating it, protesting against the perceived lack of it, convey something in itself?!

Also, if India is truly as tolerant as it always has been, why are we getting so touchy about each other's camps?
Are you pro-Kejriwal or pro-Modi?
Are you "sickular" or "communal"?

We might have a preference or bias towards any of them, but how better are we than those who are milking people like us, to talk and fight amongst ourselves?
Look at your social media feed today.
Look at any lunch/coffee table discussion.
Look at any news channel's coverage.

Aren't we running each other down too much for too little?
Isn't it time that we stopped such divisive talk and talked meaningful stuff?

Today is 26/11.
If there is anything I would like all Indians to not tolerate, it is our unfortunate experience(s) of terrorism.
If there is anything we should not tolerate, it is inaction against those who are still unaccounted for, even 7 years after that horrific day.
If there is anything we should not tolerate, it rather be something we all stand for, it rather be something that units us, and not divides us.

For everything else, there must be tolerance and mutual respect for every opinion and for every point of view, if it already isn't there, that is.
If we have to consider, then let's consider objectively and dispassionately.

Let us choose to not tolerate anything other than:
No appeasement of ANY religion, no pandering to the vote bank of core/extremist Hindu or core/extremist Muslims, not making selective references to intolerance, keeping the same benchmarks, remembering the reactions and sense of outrage from the media, the intellectuals, and the public at large, during all time periods and not just after May 2014.

And once we consider all the opinions and still find some people at a divergent opinion, on the diametrically opposite side of whatever our stand/view/conviction may be, let us learn to co-exist peacefully, happily, and lovingly.
Without any hatred or ill-will while also ensuring its merits are made known, instead of it being misinterpreted as appeasement or weakness.

It seems like a funny irony (almost like an oxymoron) to say so in the same breath, but the only thing we should not tolerate, is intolerance itself.

What A Wednesday!

Year: 2008.
Date: September 5 (Teacher's Day)
There came a movie, which truly taught me a lot about a gripping, thought-provoking story without being too preachy about terrorism.

Unfortunately, a few months later, there came along Ajmal Kasab, on November 26, unleashing terror on the streets of Mumbai, in one of the deadliest and most horrific terrorist attacks.

Year: 2012
Date: November 21
As luck would have it, Ajmal Kasab has been hanged to death, on yes, A Wednesday.

While there is never any joy in celebrating any individual's demise, this day is a day for some (mind you, only some) recompense for all those who have suffered through the hands of terrorism.
This is a day that shall help us believe that even if we were a few years late, justice was served, finally.

Let it be known that even if it is late, we can bring the perpetrators of such dastardly acts to book, through the oft-circumvented legal route too.

Most importantly, let it be known that India is not to be seen as a convenient, free-for-all place for any mischief-monger to wreck havoc on our soil.

Goodbye Ajmal Kasab, and Goodbye to all the Biryani jibes, and the Thankyou-Dengue-Mosquito jokes!