Mumbai terror attacks: India will never forget

A thanksgiving break that was going to be utilized well as a study break turned out to be something that was far beyond imagination. On Wednesday morning I turned the tv on to catch up with some of the day's headlines. The breaking news (on NDTV) was that Mumbai was under attack, and it wasn't just those low intensity time bomb attacks that other Indian cities had endured throughout this year. This was much bigger, unprecedented and something that would be known as India's 9-11. As the reporters explained that terrorists had entered and shot many people inside some of Mumbai's most posh and luxurious hotels, and were holding many hostages, I knew it was going to turn out to be a very long day. Little did I know, that one long day was going to stretch into sixty very long and unforgettable hours.
As the news story unfolded in front of my eyes, I found out that the bloody rampage was carried out at multiple sites around the city -10 in all. Some of the early pictures showed the massacre at the Leopold cafe and the CST station which were merely a diversion for the authorities as the main targets were the Taj and Oberoi. They had come with the intention of causing maximum damage and to kill till the last breath. After killing a couple of the terrorists, arresting one and losing some of our own top officers, the attention of the nation turned to three major sites where these terrorists would wreak havoc for the next sixty hours-The Taj Mahal hotel, Oberoi and Nariman House where many people were held hostage.
Amongst the first ones to report were the local police authorities, the army, MARCOS (naval commandos), and RAF (rapid action force). As the authorities realized the severity of the situation, they also summoned the elite NSG (national security guard) commandos who are trained throughout the year for tackling situations like the one at hand.
The courageous men from the army, the commandos and the Mumbai police force fought with much bravery to save the lives of innocents caught up in the horrific ideology of these terrorists. These men carried out their duty well and some of them even laid their lives down in the process. After rescuing hundreds of hotel guests and staff members, they went in to confront the terrorists and only emerged after neutralizing every single one of them. Not to mention they saved Mumbai's most precious and iconic symbol-the Taj from being reduced to rubbles as planned by the millitants.
As for me, I was glued to the couch with my eyes on the television for the length of the entire operation. Switching back and forth between four news channels I tried to make sense of what was going on, and why it was happening. Somewhere in the middle of the operation, the whole thing started to look surreal. It seemed more like a bad movie with no end in sight. There were times when I felt bursts of anger and sadness. At times I wanted to yell out, how dare they! I wished I was there to help people somehow as those who did by donating blood and those who came together in this time of need and served refreshments to policemen and firemen working nonstop to save lives. While other times I just looked helplessly into the eyes of my clueless dog. In the final hours of the operation as a part of the Taj broke out in intense fire, tears welled up in my eyes.

India watched in horror as innocent lives were lost and as shameless, callous politicians played the blame game and used the tragedy as an opportunity to propagate themselves. We applaud and salute the martyrs who sacrificed their lives; the commandos, the police and army personnel, firemen, the hotel staff, and other civilians who acted valiantly in this time of terror.

Mr. Terrorist: I am alive. What more can you do?

Mr. Politician: I am alive despite you.

I am a Mumbaikar.

-a placard held by one of the persons at the Mumbai vigil

Sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hain

Sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hain
Abhi ishq ke imtehan aur bhi hain
Tahi zindagi se nahin ye fizayen
Yahan siakdon karwaan aur bhi hain
Khana’at na kar aalam-e-rang-o-bu par
Chaman aur bhi aashiyaan aur bhi hain
Agar kho gaya ek nasheman to kya ghum
Maqmat-e-aah-o-fughaan aur bhi hain
Tu shaheen hai parvwaaz hai kaam tera
Tere saamne aasmaan aur bhi hain
Isi roz-o-shab main ulajh kar na rah ja
Ke tere zameen par makaan aur bhi hain
Gaye din ke tanha tha main anjuman mein
Yahaan ab mere raazdaan aur bhi hain

Beyond the stars there are worlds more
Our quest yet has more tests to pass
This existence alone does not matter
There are boundless journeys more
Do not rest on what you have
There are paradises more to explore
Why worry if you have lost one abode
There are a million addresses to claim
You are the falcon, your passion is flight
And you have skies more to transcend
Lose not yourself in the cycle of days and nights
Within your reach are feats even more
Gone is the day when I was lonesome in the crowd
Today those who resonate my thoughts are more

Mohammed Iqbal
Naujawaan ke Naam, Bal-e-Jibraeel, 1908

Happy Independence Day

"At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance..... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again" - This is what Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had said on India's most significant day.

Okk..here I go preaching again...bare with me as I need to get it out of my system...

They gave their lives without any indecision...
They raised their voices with righteous indignation...
Their sole purpose in life was to attain 'freedom'...
And they brought us our India in a palanquin- They were our freedom fighters. They had many aspirations for this country, for their country.
It's been 61 years and we have come a long way...or have we? Look beyond the glitzy malls, and the slums are bigger than ever. Look beyond the private schools for the elite, and we have underprivileged children working arduously just to make ends meet everyday. Look beyond the fake countenances of politicians and you will see charlatans in disguise. Look beyond the jazzy eateries and you will see impoverished, famished and emaciated individuals without a ration card, look beyond the female leaders, professionals and the glamorous babes of Bollywood and you'll see female foeticide.

We are in a funny, and contradictory position. Seems like we have achieved a lot and yet nothing. We took one step forward and two steps into the past. We would gain independence in true sense when we clear away our societal flaws. That is the 'freedom' we need to obtain as the upcoming generation; play our role as the offspring of those freedom fighters and give something back to our society. We are at it.... just need to keep on trying...harder.

Tell me she is joking...

She has been the chief minister of India's largest state four times in a row. She tops the highest tax payers list, organizes lavish birthday parties for herself, loads herself up with expensive bling, and is now eying the highest position in the political kingdom. Yup...the 'Dalit Queen' has expressed her desire to become the future Prime Minister of India.


I am proud to have been born in a Dalit household.
Above all I am ‘Bharat ki beti’. I would like to ask the casteist leaders that if the daughter of a Dalit could become Chief Minister of the biggest state in the country four times, is capable of providing a good administration and working for the uplift of the masses, why can she not become Prime Minister of the country? she says

But this post isn't in acclamation for Mayavati's impressive rise in power (and bank balance) over the years, nor it is about wishing her good luck for her transformation into the leader of India. The mere thought of her coming into power is frightening. If she becomes the PM, she will be the weapon of mass destruction for the nation. This flagrantly corrupt and power hungry politician is one of many politicians on the current Indian political scene who have no intention whatsoever of serving the nation and it's people, rather they think of politics as a means of accumulating immense wealth, authority and a higher status by defrauding illiterate and poor people and leading them into believing that their days of glory are around the corner.

She claims that she is capable of running a country. But is she even capable of running a state? She wants to divide up UP because she thinks it's still too big, even after the creation of Uttarakhand. If she cannot run a state properly because of its size, how the hell does she suppose she can run the seventh largest country in the world; a country with so much diversity and people from all backgrounds? How many more divisions do we need? Everyone knows she favors the Dalits. Her voice wouldn't be the voice of all Indians, her voice is and will be the voice of her kinfolk. A good leader is wise in his/her words and deeds. A good leader has an unpretentious demeanor, thinks of the 'junta' before oneself and doesn't rape the public of its money. Wouldn't we all like our leaders to have these qualities? Maya...who has petty thoughts, clearly does not have any of these traits. She makes preposterous accusations at Rahul Gandhi; says that he bathes with a special soap after meeting with the Dalits. She installs her own statues all over the state capital, and throws expensive birthday bashes for herself. She's just a chief minister yet she has crores in her bank accounts. I don't think that a government job in India pays that well. Come on Maya, be a little humble. You were appointed to do 'junta ki seva' as opposed to your own 'seva.' Now tell me...can you really imagine her as the next PM?

This wasn't supposed to be a Maya-bashing post. But I guess I got a little carried away with the heat of the topic. We have our hands full with corrupt, unscrupulous, even criminal politicians, and the last thing we need is another one of them as our next Prime Minister or President. I beleive we all are created equal; be it the Dalits or the Ambanis. We need a leader or leaders rather who think of India and its people as a whole and who do not segregate or show favoritism towards certain casts, creed, religion etc. We need leaders who would work with each other and not against each other. We need leaders who would work FOR the country and not just to fill up their pockets. We need diplomats and ambassadors who will be able to represent India at an international level (I don't see Mayavati being able to do that). We need young politicians like Rahul Gandhi with new, fresh ideas and who will become the voice of this new INDIA, but most importantly we need politicians who actually want to do something for their country and for their fellow countrymen. I know... I know.. this whole post sounds so preachy, but I have been feeling very strongly about this whole thing for the last couple of days. I also know it's easier said than done, but I guess you've gotta start somewhere...someday..

Some customers don't deserve a service...

This is for unreasonable, petulant, and demanding customers who try to take advantage of the service being provided to them. There are some who try to dish out a whole new definition for the term 'customer service.' It does not mean that the employees have to be subservient to you. STOP treating people like serfs and STOP taking unfair advantage of the term 'customer service,' because whoever said ' customer is always right' didn't come across customers like you. Some customers are just plain wrong.

Don't mind me..came across two uncivilized apes today at work...