Hello Friends,
First of all, apologies..! This has been such a long time since I wrote to you last…! No excuses…! The turn of events was such that I could not hold on to one of my favorite hobbies. But, no excuses…!!
It is so ironically and unfortunately coincidental that my last post was regarding the terrorist attacks in Ahmedabad and this time also, I felt like writing when Mumbai burnt…
Much of the print and electronic space has been used, rather abused, to explain, to evaluate, to analyze, to describe and to condemn this ghastly of all attacks…!! We have seen our talkative news channel reporters doing overtime all these days… Celebrities coming up and showing their solidarity with the people of Mumbai…F***ing politicians coming and giving their stale statements and practicing age-old tactics of announcing compensations to the remains of the shahids… Nothing much to say… We all have seen this maha-natak…!
But…but…but… As responsible citizens of this great nation and largest democracy in the world, have we ever given an elaborative thought to our own role in this massacre…? I am not here to give any sort of lecture to anybody…!! Just read on the following piece written by Yours Truly and tell me to what extent you believe in whatever is written…!!
I SLEEP WELL
I slept when Kanishka was blown up! I slept when Hindus killed Muslims, when Muslims killed Hindus – regardless of age, gender or region! I slept when Sikhs were gutted and killed! I slept when Kashmir burnt! I slept when an airplane full of passengers and crew was taken to Kandahar! I slept when Biharis were targeted by a handful of sons of the soil in Mumbai! And so did I do when Mumbai once again burnt, and burnt well…! I am an Indian… I have a constitutionally approved fundamental right to sleep! This is democracy… So, I sleep…!
My country has been taken hostage not by terrorists... No! Not by terrorists, but by people within it… ruling it… and laughing at it... My country and my countrymen are held hostage and captive by its incompetent, uneducated, dishonest, exploitative, impotent and inefficient politicians, government and all its administrative machinery. But, I sleep well…!! It is me who sent them into the power, because I was sleeping while voting…!
Efficiency is shown in bribing and buying votes and seats. Competence is expressed in bringing down other parties. Expertise is demonstrated in bringing discord and playing divisive politics. But, I do sleep well…!!
Regionalism has reared its ugly head because I am sleeping… Reservation is still strongly advocated because I am sleeping... Corruption is deep-rooted because I am sleeping…
Raj Thackeray targets poor, unarmed north-Indians but sits snugly under tight security when terrorists strike. It is easy to hound the poor laborer from Bihar/U.P. than it is to raise your finger, leave alone your voice, against the organized terrorism. Crime and lawlessness are second nature. Criminals go free, breathing easy under a distorted system with hell lot of loopholes that protect their rights. Human rights activists will fight for the rights of the terrorists. But, I sleep well…!!
Every politician looks out for himself and himself alone. We have a Defense Ministry which defends only itself when it is found sleeping... When I do rouse myself it is only for me - to target the neighbor’s dog because his nocturnal barking is disturbing my beautiful sleep. No, a handful of 530 barking dogs in the parliament cannot wake me. Because, I sleep comfortably…!!
Criminals are made ministers because I sleep. Rapists go free while an eighty year old is penalized for smoking! Smoking is banned, bombs are allowed. This is democracy… Freedom of expression is birth-right…!!
I do not fear the terrorists from across the border. I fear the terrorists lurking within the country who wear Khadi and who always come in the guise of the unqualified politician, begging at my door with folded hands, a hypocritical smile on his smug face asking for my vote. Damn it…But, I sleep well…!!
Who do I vote for? The rapist or the religious fanatic…? The murderer or the underworld don…? Which honorable criminal is worthy of my esteemed vote…? See, I have so many choices…!! It’s democracy…!!
My heart bleeds but I will sleep on my soft mattress under my warm blanket. When I see movies like Krantivir or Rand de Basanti, the blood in my veins starts boiling. But, that is all of it! I am the long suffering, resilient Indian who has somehow lost his identity among Biharis, Marathis, Gujaratis, Tamilians, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Brahmins… The list is endless…!!
Do I care? Do I need to care? I don’t think so… As long as my sleep is not disturbed, I will stay calm and composed…! Please bear with me. I am an Indian. I love to sleep. And I will enjoy sleeping until and unless one of those flag-bearers of death will come into my house and start shooting and bombing here and there with their assault rifles and grenades killing my dear and near ones…!!
Huh…! That’s what I feel today. Every Indian would have felt the same after witnessing this tandav-nritya of terror and death. What should we do as the citizens of this country?
If anybody has something else to share, write your reviews in terms of comments. And yes, please give your opinion to the above poll.
Post your precious comments. Do send in your raves and rages as always. See you in the next post. Till then lead a safe and secure life.
Astalavista…!!
