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.”
@Arjun,
My friend your acknowledgement of the venom being spewed in India against Pakistan is appreciated.
As far as your assertion that “i’m sure its the same over there,” (ref. to the distrust of India), well this blog is evidence that it is not the case at least on our side of the border.
Pakistani’s have demonstrated in scores that they condemn these attacks, and yet the Indian does nt seem to register any of it, and keeps beating the war drums.
We are first to recognize our own flaw as far as terrorism goes, the recent past has reminded us only too gravely of that, but one would’ve certainly thought that Indian democracy being 60+ years mature would have coughed up a press that demonstrated at least a shred of editorial supervision and integrity.
It honestly seems like the whole Indian media has reverted to a plot in a bollywood classic, forgetting that diplomatic norms force us to engage one another within certain parameters.
I m sorry if i sound like i m toeing the party line on this one, but i swear a glimpse of the clamour on Indian tv would force one to conclude that good heavens, everyone in Pakistan, from the shopkeeper selling ski gear in the northern areas to the fisherman netting salmon in the arabian sea, was involved in orchestrating the attacks.
anyone interested in seeing what naked propaganda looks like in the 21st century, flip on an indian channel now.
My deapest condolonces to the poor people whose loved ones have died.
What worries me are the calls to teach Pakistan a lesson across the board on indian media. I am not worried about Pakistan’s security that much cause at least India can not actually attack us. But I am very much worried about the prospects of friendship and cooperation between india and pakistan. And unfortunately this thinking will only hurt india. We already dont have any interests in india except regarding security. But it seems indians will totally avoid looking inward and just call for Pakistan bashing which ofcourse does not help anybody. I see BJP back in power with a hard line agenda, and more divisions within india. And that will definitly not help india’s progress.
You have, in a very few lines, conveyed a very loving and touching message.I never expected to read such emotional words from Pakistan.I am an Indian, a Mumbaikar.Thanks for those heartfelt wishes.
We can also understand that you are facing similar terrorist attacks in your country.In such times, we need to stand by with each other.
Dear Adil,
Thank you for these beautiful words in such dark days. It is so heartening to know that every Pakistani I have spoken to feels the same pain, and you have represented our feelings of sympathy and solidarity with Indians so well.
I have never been there, but I stand beside you as a Mumbaikar today.
Thank you.
Abbas
As an Indian I thank you for these sentiments and pray that everyone on both sides of the border will have this sharing and sentiments for each other. I realize that some of my countrymen have reciprocated by being angry at you and not appreciating the gesture. I hope you will understand that their anger comes from the intensity of the events and years of having been taught to distrust all Pakistanis. I am sure it is the same on the side. But let us please build bridges of understanding between us.