We paid with 178 lives to realize the fact that no more can our policemen protect us with Lathi's. Our policemen are still trying to learn how to tap multiple mobile phones, while the terrorists are already using satellite phones. Why does bad always need to spit in our face for us to realize that times are changing. Only when a plane crashed into a building did we realise that important buildings need to protected from air attacks. Only when they came by sea, did we start taking coastal security seriously. Suddenly we are guarding the sea, as well the airspace. But bad, meaning the terrorists will next find another ingenious way to hurt us.
All of the above makes me think, is bad always ahead of the good? What is victory after losing hundreds of lives and orphaning thousands of families. We are trying to equip our police with AK-47's while next time the terrorists will come with better machine guns. Is good always ahead of the bad? May be, good does not weaponise itself until bad strikes, If thats true, lets anticipate the bad, lets prepare for it . Let's be good, but lets think like BAD. Lets guess where all are we weak, which can be the probable targets. Lets not just be the good, lets be the best! Is good always ahead of the bad??? Hopefully, not again, never again!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Noise gives rise to one Voice!
Its been more than a month since the horrific attacks. For once, from a varied mass of rich, poor, corrupt, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh individuals, a WE has emerged. A WE, which was made possible only because the attack created panic, chaos, pandemonium -basically a lot of noise from which a VOICE has emerged. Its funny but for something good to happen, a LOT of bad is always neccesary. This voice is the voice of the stupid, scared and angry comman man. May be this time, we can change India. But after 30 odd days, we should ask ourselves, is the noise lessening, is the voice fading? I hope not, but it really is.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
NO VOTE. NO DIFFERENCE!
Last few days I have seen a flurry of emails, communities and SMS'es which talk about using 49-0, an option through which we can cast a ' No-vote'. These emails state that if a certain percentage of people dont vote, the election will be cancelled. This is completly untrue, please read 3rd Dec's DNA main supplement, page no 8. It clearly states that a person can cast a No-Vote, but in no circumstances will the election ever be cancelled. So, this option basically doesnt make any sense. It would be great if all of you spread this messgae around that those emails, SMS'es are false.
Assuming that they were true, what would we really achieve by getting a election cancelled. Here is a list of things, which we can achieve by casting a No-Vote
1) Wastage of public money for getting one election cancelled and arranging for another one.
2) Stressing out our security forces as their duty hours double during elections.
3) Endangering our security as the police would be more busy with the elections.
We as commoners only matter to a politician when he knows that we, I and YOU are going to vote. When he knows that I and YOU are goign to vote, our problems become his problems, our grievances become his, our issues become his, at least for the time being. But the moment politicians know that YOU are not going to vote, YOU dont matter to them anymore. Hence, your problems arent their problems, your issues arent their issues anymore and hence OUR security isnt their CONCERN anymore. Hence, NO VOTE. NO DIFFERENCE.
Assuming that they were true, what would we really achieve by getting a election cancelled. Here is a list of things, which we can achieve by casting a No-Vote
1) Wastage of public money for getting one election cancelled and arranging for another one.
2) Stressing out our security forces as their duty hours double during elections.
3) Endangering our security as the police would be more busy with the elections.
We as commoners only matter to a politician when he knows that we, I and YOU are going to vote. When he knows that I and YOU are goign to vote, our problems become his problems, our grievances become his, our issues become his, at least for the time being. But the moment politicians know that YOU are not going to vote, YOU dont matter to them anymore. Hence, your problems arent their problems, your issues arent their issues anymore and hence OUR security isnt their CONCERN anymore. Hence, NO VOTE. NO DIFFERENCE.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thoughts
Here are a few of my thoughts on the terrorist attack which rattled Mumbai....
You cant fight AK-56 rifles with lathi’s. Empower the police.
Terrorists are trained to kill, so they kill.
Politicians are there to protect us, but they don’t. So, who is the bigger enemy?
Just 10 terrorists killed 183 people and injured 294. Should we say more?
350 commandos protect Mayawati. 150 commandos protect Sonia Gandhi. Who protects us?????
We love our soldiers, but we want to see them alive.
Take my salary but PLEASE buy bullet-proof jackets for our police and save them.
We know who they are, where they came from, who financed them…..what are we waiting for? A nuclear attack??
We saved the parliament, we saved the Taj. Enough of saving, lets talk about prevention not cure.
Strength: Soldiers
Weakness: Politicians
Opportunity: Ourselves
Threat: Terrorism, everywhere!
There are many thougts, many emotions, but just not enough words to express my gratitude to all those bravehearts who risked their lives to save the lives of people they didnt even know. Brave Commandos, I dont think my words can do any justice to your courage. But to do my own small thing, I SALUTE YOU!!
You cant fight AK-56 rifles with lathi’s. Empower the police.
Terrorists are trained to kill, so they kill.
Politicians are there to protect us, but they don’t. So, who is the bigger enemy?
Just 10 terrorists killed 183 people and injured 294. Should we say more?
350 commandos protect Mayawati. 150 commandos protect Sonia Gandhi. Who protects us?????
We love our soldiers, but we want to see them alive.
Take my salary but PLEASE buy bullet-proof jackets for our police and save them.
We know who they are, where they came from, who financed them…..what are we waiting for? A nuclear attack??
We saved the parliament, we saved the Taj. Enough of saving, lets talk about prevention not cure.
Strength: Soldiers
Weakness: Politicians
Opportunity: Ourselves
Threat: Terrorism, everywhere!
There are many thougts, many emotions, but just not enough words to express my gratitude to all those bravehearts who risked their lives to save the lives of people they didnt even know. Brave Commandos, I dont think my words can do any justice to your courage. But to do my own small thing, I SALUTE YOU!!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
The Dark Knight
The number of blasts and attacks in India over the last few moths make me bleieve that we are living in some under-developed South-African country where bomb-blasts and mass-murders are a daily reality. I just cant resist myself from comparing the current situation in our country to the one that was shown in the batman movie, The Dark Knight.
In the movie as the mafia mounts a war against the city, everyone expects someone to answer the mafia in its own language-violence. But, there is one man, who tries to hit the mafia through making tougher laws. He is the fair knight, the one who tries to fight violence through laws. That is fine, I think the Indian law book might be one of the biggest books in the world. But today, we need someone like the Batman, a dark knight who kills the killers. One who answers to them in their own language, who gives an eye for an eye, one who does tit for tat and does boom boom even before the mafia can start its work.
May be we need a dedicated hit squad to tackle this menace. A dedicated group of officers, whose only job is to track such elements and kill them at the first possible oppurtunity. Give them the best weapons, the best training and a license to kill ala James Bond. Today, I so wish that superheroes were for real then I guess our beloved Taj Mahal Hotel woudnt have to be raped left, right and centre by these terrorist. We could have saved the Oberoi and Nariman House and all its residents from the ordeal that they went through. I wish a man would come in his batmobile, blast through the window like superman, thrash the terrorists with the power of He-Man and then finish the them with the ferocity of Joker. I know, the human rights guys wouldnt like this, but what would you do with human rights when the most basic right of innocent humans, the right to live is being snatched away by mindless terrorists. have a look at this......
Jaipur Blast: 80 dead. 100 plus injured.
Guwahati Blast: 67 dead. 50 plus injured.
New Delhi Blast: 30 dead. 100 plus injured
It's been more than 25 hours, my beloved city is still in fear, we have lost many bravehearts, more than 127 are dead and more than 300 are injured, hundreds of families have been orphaned. I am waiting for Mumbai's Dark Knight or rather Dark Knight's!!!!!!
In the movie as the mafia mounts a war against the city, everyone expects someone to answer the mafia in its own language-violence. But, there is one man, who tries to hit the mafia through making tougher laws. He is the fair knight, the one who tries to fight violence through laws. That is fine, I think the Indian law book might be one of the biggest books in the world. But today, we need someone like the Batman, a dark knight who kills the killers. One who answers to them in their own language, who gives an eye for an eye, one who does tit for tat and does boom boom even before the mafia can start its work.
May be we need a dedicated hit squad to tackle this menace. A dedicated group of officers, whose only job is to track such elements and kill them at the first possible oppurtunity. Give them the best weapons, the best training and a license to kill ala James Bond. Today, I so wish that superheroes were for real then I guess our beloved Taj Mahal Hotel woudnt have to be raped left, right and centre by these terrorist. We could have saved the Oberoi and Nariman House and all its residents from the ordeal that they went through. I wish a man would come in his batmobile, blast through the window like superman, thrash the terrorists with the power of He-Man and then finish the them with the ferocity of Joker. I know, the human rights guys wouldnt like this, but what would you do with human rights when the most basic right of innocent humans, the right to live is being snatched away by mindless terrorists. have a look at this......
Jaipur Blast: 80 dead. 100 plus injured.
Guwahati Blast: 67 dead. 50 plus injured.
New Delhi Blast: 30 dead. 100 plus injured
It's been more than 25 hours, my beloved city is still in fear, we have lost many bravehearts, more than 127 are dead and more than 300 are injured, hundreds of families have been orphaned. I am waiting for Mumbai's Dark Knight or rather Dark Knight's!!!!!!
Helplessness!
Watching the terrorist operation last night on my TV screen, there were only 2 emotions I could feel. One being so strong that I just wish that I could begin this blog with the choiciest of expletives begining with m, b,c and everything else. When the terrorists continued to hold the whole city to ransom, all I could think of was helplessness. The sheer thought that even 38, 000 policemen could not make you feel secure was nerve-wrecking.
I was watching the TV till 2 o clock in the night, there was a lot to see in the middle of the screen, but there was a small column to the right of the screen, from which I just couldnt take my eyes. The column showed the number of people who had died in the attacks and every few seconds, like it happens in a typical Hollywood movie, the figure kept mounting......57, 63, 70, 100, 120 as i write this and who knows how much by the time it gets over. We have seen numerous blasts in the last few years but just one scene where policemen were walking on the road with pistols in their hand is something which no one would ever dreamt of even in their worst nightmare.
We dont know how many fathers, mothers, daughters, sons and friends might have died in these attacks and may be even if we do come to know, we wouldnt be able to do much for their families. As one place after another was targeted, as a citizen of Mumbai, who loves to eat at Juhu beach, loves to hang-out at Bandra, admires the beauty of South Mumbai, all I could feel was helplessness!
I was watching the TV till 2 o clock in the night, there was a lot to see in the middle of the screen, but there was a small column to the right of the screen, from which I just couldnt take my eyes. The column showed the number of people who had died in the attacks and every few seconds, like it happens in a typical Hollywood movie, the figure kept mounting......57, 63, 70, 100, 120 as i write this and who knows how much by the time it gets over. We have seen numerous blasts in the last few years but just one scene where policemen were walking on the road with pistols in their hand is something which no one would ever dreamt of even in their worst nightmare.
We dont know how many fathers, mothers, daughters, sons and friends might have died in these attacks and may be even if we do come to know, we wouldnt be able to do much for their families. As one place after another was targeted, as a citizen of Mumbai, who loves to eat at Juhu beach, loves to hang-out at Bandra, admires the beauty of South Mumbai, all I could feel was helplessness!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Well done MATE!!!
Every human activity which involves a team needs a lot of team spirit to suceed. The Aussie over the years exhibited team spirit which made it into the best team into the world. they called it mateship. it simply was being happy for, helping, feeling for and standing up for your colleagues, in this case, their team-MATES. I clearly remember that whenever an Aussie player was shown aggression, at least 3-4 of their players would surround and intimidate the opposition player. An Aussie always knew that his team would back him to the fore, come what may. He always knew that his team would always stand by him, be it in good times or in bad. In fact even before anyone could raise a finger, his team members would rise and form a wall to protect him. In fact through this wall, they would hurl such volleys that the opposing team would definitely back-out.
Be it among friends, in the coprpoarte world, in sports or even in politics, mateship is of utmost importance. Mateship comes from a leader and thats what we see from Dhoni. When Dhoni gave Sourav the honour of captaining India for the last 5 overs, it showed the respect Saurav commanded among his team-mates, seniors as well as juniors. What it also showed that Dhoni is a great leader, who not only knows when to step ahead and take charge but also knows when to step back and let someone else enjoy the respect. His was and I think will remain one of the greatest gestures in world cricket for a long time. I always beleived that one thing missing in all the Indian teams of the past was the mateship-standing up for each other, enjoying each others sucesses and praising each other perfromances in public. But now , with what Dhoni has done and with the way his team is playing. I think we finally have the element which we always missed the most. We had a good team made up of fantastic players while the Aussies had a fantastic team made of good players. It was a great sight to see the respect given to Saurav and Anil by Dhoni, this can only augur well for the Indian team, all I can say to Dhoni is, '' Well done MATE''
Be it among friends, in the coprpoarte world, in sports or even in politics, mateship is of utmost importance. Mateship comes from a leader and thats what we see from Dhoni. When Dhoni gave Sourav the honour of captaining India for the last 5 overs, it showed the respect Saurav commanded among his team-mates, seniors as well as juniors. What it also showed that Dhoni is a great leader, who not only knows when to step ahead and take charge but also knows when to step back and let someone else enjoy the respect. His was and I think will remain one of the greatest gestures in world cricket for a long time. I always beleived that one thing missing in all the Indian teams of the past was the mateship-standing up for each other, enjoying each others sucesses and praising each other perfromances in public. But now , with what Dhoni has done and with the way his team is playing. I think we finally have the element which we always missed the most. We had a good team made up of fantastic players while the Aussies had a fantastic team made of good players. It was a great sight to see the respect given to Saurav and Anil by Dhoni, this can only augur well for the Indian team, all I can say to Dhoni is, '' Well done MATE''
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