From Earthquake to Bomb Blasts

I was on train this Saturday, moving from New Delhi to South of the country. Due to cell phones these days we get to know news even on the move. And what terrible news it was. The news of blasts in New Delhi in places full of shoppers preparing for Diwali, the festival of lights, left me aghast. And the other news was about a full train getting washed away in water. It turned out to be a very ‘manhoos’ (dreary) Saturday.

It pains me so much so see these random acts of killings, all over the world, metro in Spain, metro and buses in the UK, and with so much frequency in various parts of India. It gives me a feeling that all of us are sitting ducks.

Today, I started reading news and usually I never agree with The Times of India, but today I found myself nodding in agreement with its editorial.

“We can either dismiss what happened in Delhi on Saturday as just another in a long line of terror attacks on Indian soil, and pray that there’s at least a decent interval before we are hit again. Or, we can send out a hard-hitting, unambiguous message: that we are not willing to accept such outrages as part of our fate, and are determined to do whatever it takes to protect our citizens. This is no occasion to be genteel and ‘civilised’ in our response. It’s time we got angry. Not a blind anger that lashes out at everything in its path—for that would play into the hands of the very people who perpetrate such acts of terror, and be self-defeating. But an anger that builds resolve, that ensures we do not forget the mothers, fathers and children who went shopping for Diwali and Id and whose pictures poured into newspaper offices a few hours later, except that they were disfigured and charred beyond recognition.”

The whole editorial can be read from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1280277,curpg-1.cms

I was also reading BBC and as usual they have the pictures of their devastation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/south_asia_delhi_grieves/html/1.stm

I was also reading their talking point

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4388352.stm

And of course I can identify with the relief expressed there by various people (after all, many of my family members are in Delhi and safe), I also have a foreboding that if we do not do something next time it could be anyone else, you, me anyone. I cannot even imagine the grief of the families.

For perspective, I again quote The Times of India

“NEW DELHI: The figure is startling. Since 1994, over 50,000 have died in terrorist-related violence in India. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), 23,955 terrorists, 19,662 civilians and 7,320 security force personnel have been killed in such incidents between 1994 and June, 2005.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1280322.cms

It is time we woke up to the reality, even if it may have escaped by many of us personally.