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.”
Its clear that you have written this from your heart as it was indeed very touching. I am an indian and a mumbaikar but at the same time as your president said to indian media last week there is a pakistani as well in my heart. I understand how much disheartening it would be for any pakistani to stand this media hype and blame game. pakistani leaders have come up with some very sensible statements.
as an indian and mumbaikar i am upset as this attack exposes how weak is the coastal security preparedness for the financial capital of india, despite the fact that in 1993 dawood ibrahim smuggled rdx to india by sea route that led to the mumbai blasts. not much has been done to upgrade the security since then.
until investigations arent over it wont be clear who was behind these attacks and till then it would be wise not to indulge in any speculations.
yes issues cant be left on backburner and kashmir issue needs to sorted out sooner and a solution should be reached that is acceptable to both india pakistan and kashmiri people.
nothing justifies human right violations by security forces and we need to take measures to prevent those and punish those who are guilty.
i understand that laskar e taiba is a banned organization in pakistan. what i fail to understand is that how can it have an official spokesperson when it is banned. how can it be allowed to function if it is banned. it would be helpful to see that pakistan is serious about the ban that it had placed on it to be enforced in the right spirit till the investigations are completed. what i also cannot understand if why is the government of pakistan not been asked by its citizens these questions.
if we claim that we understand each others grief we should also evolve a consensus in our countries to address each others concerns.
I do not know if this comment will be censored under ATP policy, but I will give it a try anyways. You wrote, “Nor can I imagine any cause that would justify this.” I can imagine several scenarios. How about watching your family being butchered in front of your eyes for starters, or your wife raped by several men in front of your eyes, or children murdered one by one front of your eyes, or watching your house and all your worldly possesions burn right in front of your eyes while you plead to the police to do something and they ignore you. I could go on, but i think i have made my point. And although I condemn this attack just like you, as i hate any sort of violence justified or not, I am also human and can look at this event from the other perspective.
May the souls of those who died in Mumbai rest in peace. I am appalled at the loss of life & violence in that city but at the same time cannot comprehend Indian medias response and blame game. I am pleasantly surprised and cautiously optimistic at the peaceful overtures by some Indians on this blog also but at the same time would encourage the Indians to ask themselves logically, what motive would Pakistan have to do this? It is becoming an old Indian habit now for blaming Pakistan for all of its internal problems. Everytime something like this happens, a perpetrator is arrested in the end and he sings Pakistan’s name like a bird. This theme doesnt carry weight anymore. There were times when the dead terrorists were found with Pakistani ID cards in their pockets and this time it was a determined group of desperados who were so reckless and suicidal and held hostages for several days, killed so many innocent people, fought the Indian security forces and then died in the aftermath -but one lived to name Pakistan? I find that a plot of a Bollywood movie. I think eventually terrorism needs to be solved jointly by both Pakistan and India because both countries are suffering and whether it’s 1 person or 200 people, every life is important and must be protected from those who dont value anything. Logic must prevail.
I think the media in our country has really been bad this time and because they were not given enough access they just went jingoistic and have been fueling speculation and empty theories. Apart from Pakistan, I think the impact on Indian Muslims has been very very bad and this will come back to haunt us.
Meanwhile, I thank you Mr. Najam for these wise and nice words. They are very soothing for those of us who have seen our greatest city being targeted like this.
I am just so angry and helpless. I don’t know if many pakistanis ( even many Indian Muslims) think and feel like you do. I have only noticed denial and self justification and that makes me feel worse. I wish there were more like you. One is not enough.