Adil Najam
I, too, am a Mumbaikar today.
I wish I could reach out and for just one moment hold the hands of the woman in this AP photograph. Maybe shed some tears on her shoulder. But I do not know what I would say to her. I do not think she would want me to say much. The expression on her face matches the feeling I have at the pit of my stomach and in the depth of my heart. I think - I hope - that she would understand how I feel. I can only imagine what she is going through.
And so, in prayer and in solidarity, I stand today with Mumbaikars everywhere. In shock at what has happened. In fear of what might happen yet. In anger at those who would be so calculated in their inhuman massacre. In sympathy with those whose pain so hurts my own heart but whose tears I cannot touch, whose wounds I cannot heal, and whose grief I cannot relieve.
The solidarity I feel with Mumbaikars is deep and personal.
The first time I ever visited the Taj Mahal Hotel was with my wife. We had been married just weeks and were not staying at the Taj but went to the historic “Sea Lounge” at the hotel for tea and snacks during a short visit to Mumbai. We went to the Oberoi Hotel the same visit in the naive and mistaken belief that we would find Bollywood bigwigs hanging out there. In later years I would come back and stay at the old wing of the Taj - down the corridor from where Ruttie Bai Jinnah and stayed - I would even present in the grand ballroom whose pillars, supposedly, had been brought from her father’s estate. Each time I passed through Victoria Terminus I stood in awe of the pace as well as its presence. In awe of the architectural structure, but also of the sea of humanity around me. I cannot hear of terrorists attacking these places without my own muscles twitching in anger.
But my feeling of solidarity with Mumbaikars is much much more personal than these few fleeting visits over many years. Deeply etched into me are the horrific echoes of 9/11 in New York and the string of terrorist attacks on Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and all over Pakistan whose reports have become all too familiar - but never bearable - on this blog. I know what living with terror feels like. I have thought too much and too deeply about what it feels like to be the target of violence propelled by hatred. I know the pain of helplessness one feels as one stands stunned in grief, wanting so desperately to do something - anything - but not knowing what to do. This is why I identify with the expression on the face of the woman in this picture. This is why, like so many others in the world, today I too am a Mumbaikar.
This is why I stand with Mumbaikars everywhere, in prayer and in solidarity. At a loss for words but with an urge to speak out. My words of condemnation will not change the actions of those who have committed such heinous murder and mayhem. Nor will my words of sympathy diminish the agony of the victims. But speak out I must. In condemnation as well as in sympathy. To speak against the inhumanity of hatred and violence. To speak for the humanity in all of us that we all must hold on to; especially in the testing moments of grave stress.
But, today, I have no words of analysis. What words can make sense of the patently senseless? I do not know who did this. Nor can I imagine any cause that would justify this. But this I know: No matter who did this, no matter why, the terror that has been wrought in Mumbai is vile and inhuman and unjustifiable. And, for the sake of our own humanness, we must speak out against it.
And, so, to any Mumbaikar who might be listening, I say: “I stand with you today. In prayer and in solidarity.”
Fellow human beings:
Let us get back to our core values and get real. I am repeating here the comments I made on Page 1 in this Post.
Reading through all that has been said here by way of worthy comments, I felt the need to say it again. Now is the time for reflection and for moving forward. That will be the only way we could recover their dignity and show our respect to the victims of Mumbai and of countless other tragedies suffered by humanity at the hands of other human beings.
Give it some thought. It is worth it.
TOGETHER we may be on our way to prevent the next such carnage.
Here I am reminded of the well known Biblical quote from Isaiah II, firmly engraved on the bare wall across from the United Nations in New York:
“They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Indeed, I do have a dream!
Deeda-i-Beena said: November 28th, 2008 1:48 am
Adil:
Yours is a very apt expression of all of our sentiments.
In my life’s humanitarian work of over 33 years my heart has cried in all parts of the world, whenever precious human beings suffered from man-made disasters.
TODAY, once again is a wake up call for the thinking humanity to come together and do their bit so that this carnage ends forever.
Alas! Mere expressions of sorrow or solidarity would only foreshadow the next such event taking place some place else.
The thinking people of this world village must come together now, stop playing the blame-game and start a global movement that goes beyond the knee-jerk reactions but more importantly, eradicates the causes that lead to such heinous expressions.
This terrorism is not one people’s or any one country’s problem. It is a humanitarian problem and only us, the human beings would be in a position to deal with it.
That is my wish. That is my prayer.
Thank you for your sentiments which are clearly heartfelt.
I think most of us Indians realize that this is not teh work of Pakistan as a country but individuals in Pakistan may be involved. The same people who have been killing and doing terrorism in Pakistan are now also doing it in India. I think the people of the two countries should get together to fight against terrorism. I hope Mr. Zardari is honest when he says that there will be full cooperation.
I have lost faith in governments, both India and Pakistan. IT is now up to citizens and ordinary people. Politicians just make fools of us and distract us from real issues through their blaming tactics. I will join any India-Pakistan citizens movement that speaks against all injustice in both countries. We should speak against all human rights abuses (which happen in both countries) and against all terrorism (which happens in both countries.
Just wanted to second Pakistani’s response to Ashok Punekar. Pakistanis have been protesting against terrorism consistently. Just look at this blog. Or see this recent article:
http://www.sacw.net/article350.html
I would certainly support and join a joint India-Pakistan citizens movement that protests and speaks out against violence and killing and terrorism everywhere, in Mumbai, in Islamabad, in Kashmir, in Gujrat and in terrorism attacks all over Pakistan and India. All terrorists, no matter what religion, should be condemned. It does not matter if they are Muslim or Hindu. If they do terrorism they should be condemned. I also hope that Indians will also start speaking against terrorism (rather than just repeat anti-Pakistan rants) just like Pakistanis are beginning to speak against all terrorism.
Dear Prof. Najam, I saw this article first on Desi Critics and tehn looks for more opinions by you on this blog and google and I am very happy to see that such a consistent voice for peace and understanding.
I am very happy that you are spreading your message of reason and understanding beyond this blog also. I was happy to see your views on the blame game going on here:
http://www.bu.edu/today/2008/12/02/mumbai-blame-ga me
Along with the views here, they show that you are a true humanist and an honest voice for peace and understanding.
Thank you.
For Asho Punekar
Rallies against terrorism happen in Pakistan every week and sometimes everyday. Surprised you do not know about that. Maybe your media tries to hide them or some Indians ignore them purposely.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=61596
http://www.dawn.com/2008/07/01/nat37.htm
http://www.dawn.com/2008/06/07/local14.htm
http://www.dawn.com/2008/01/12/local21.htm
I agree that people should say more. I think what would be great is if the ordinary people f India speak out against thge atrocities in Kashmir and Gujrat just like Pakistanis speak against terrorism. Maybe joint citizen rallies against attrocities in Kahmir and Gujarat and also against terrorism in Pakistan as well as in India. I think if citizens joined to raise their voice together in both countries then it will have real impact. We Pakistanis will keep on speaking against terrorism everywhere, just lie Adil Najam has done. We hope you will also raise your voices in protest against the attrocities in your own country.
Why Pakistani people do not come on street against terrorism
and give support like taday all Indian did.
Since the attacks and widespread outpouring of condolences and condemnations in Pakistan and elsewhere, Indian government and media have started saber rattling against Pakistan. There are even calls for “doing a Lebanon” in Pakistan. Even if any credible evidence is found implicating Pakistanis in the Mumbai attacks, the Indian fantasy of “doing a Lebanon” is completely futile and misguided. Instead of military confrontation against each other, India and Pakistan must be persuaded to collaborate and together confront the terrorists who indiscriminately inflict pain and suffering on Indians, Pakistanis, the United States and the rest of the world. To read more, please read
http://www.riazhaq.com/2008/12/can-india-do-lebano n-in-pakistan.html