The Beginning

Our new found unity and fight against terrorism by conducting rallies is going to be yet another failure. Knee-jerk rallies have never won a battle and the impact of a rally is directly proportional to the number of people and length of the duration. The recent events of Mumbai would not have made this big an impact, had 130 lives were lost in a car bomb blowing off. It took almost 72 hours for the army to bring down the terrorists. The whole world stayed grooved to the happenings for a longer time than usual. The people decided to speak so vocally against the government because the happening left a deeper mark. We need to pay back these terrorists in their own coin. By making our protests longer and forcing Governments to reply the terrorists in bombs and bullets.

However, it has been almost two weeks since the Mumbai bloodshed and we have already started to move on with our life. I am afraid that the Mumbai episode will now stay in our memory just like one of those several instances of terror attacks this country has faced in the past. The front page of newspapers are devoted to news other than terrorism and when I write this, it's the state elections that are being covered by the news channels. One cannot blame the media, because media is an industry, a business that has to make profits. Hence it is obvious that they will stay opportunistic and cover what is current or what will sell. But, how good are we? Why are we so resilient? We only suffer rude awakenings to sleep back again into this rut of a society.

Terrorism is already a world problem; while we hear Governments announcing a fight against terrorism, we don't see the governments of less powerful nations doing anything worthwhile in the fight. Powerful nations are just using this as a catch phrase to gain entry into nations rich in Oil. It is time that nations, powerful and otherwise for once join hands as citizens of the world for the betterment of human race. Let strategic alliances be made not for some economic gains, but to eliminate terror from the face of earth. For once UN should act responsibly and bring together nations, send troops to selected areas that house terror camps and bomb them. Nations should keep faith in the world order and open their borders for an UN security operation.

In times such as these, I strongly consider it foolish that a handful of people rule over 6.7 billion citizens of the world. Be it democratic or autocratic, this looks unacceptable because the Governments have failed in protecting the 6.7 billion people who belong to planet Earth. We might all look different in color, speak different languages and practice different traditions but after all we belong to humankind. Each life is as dear and important as any other. For God's sake can Governments please take this a bit serious? But they won't because we have not made enough sound to fall on their deaf ears.

The time of the hour is not a mere rally but a march never dreamt of in the history of human civilization, a march of indefinite length and unprecedented participation and a march not just across cities and states but across the nation and south Asia, a safe haven for terrorism. I am reminded of the Dandi March of 1930. It was a powerful march and a powerful register of protest against the British and shook the entire world. Starting on March 12th and ending on April 6th, 1930 it showed tremendous organization and sustained for a long duration ending with the breaking of Salt Law. For any movement to create an impact, it should run for a longer time and end by delivering a message of civil disobedience. In India, to make an impact right now, we will have to march to the parliament, motivating people all over the country and perform a total boycott of elections, until our demands are met. Out of this whole struggle, I expect some real leaders to arise.