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.”
I am an Indian.I wonder how pakistan can be so callous & casual in their terms of expression.Zardari says no proof of pak involvement,will not handover terrorists,need proof against dawood,masood azar!When the whole world stands in desperation to do something to combat terror,how casual seems your lands comment.Adil,hats off to you & thanks for feeling genuinely for the henious act.To be honest you are the only one among the pak lot,who reflected our pain.How many like you are there in pak? Why should we blame without reason,has it been thought anytime?Why everytime we look at you with doubt?Don’t pak feels the anguish & shame to looked upon that way but not just us,but whole world community?We are tired of our politicians.Aren’t you??Can’t civillians do something to help us by helling yourselves for your own safety?WHY SUCH CASUAL RESPONSE?Don’t you understand our pain?our anger?our suffering?Aren’t you human as well?WHY???Can you answer yourselves atleast?
Great a song as an answer..good input Tariq.
You do not have to say that you agree with me. My original post was in response to the question: “what will Pakistan gain out of the Mumbai attack?” (By an earlier blogger)
I replied by listing what they would gain.
I just answered the question.
My list is being proved to be correct.
Current events agree with me. Also your response is proving that what they were to gain is being gained.
Possibly a little complex for some.
P.S. I am happy with the reasoning and love that is being projected by most posts here. Thanks, maybe all is not doomed.
@S.Bones
I never said I agreed with you. Where did I say I agree with you. Have I used the words “I agree with you”. No. I haven’t. I don’t think you have read my post properly.
You and a lot of other posters here remind me of a popular song by Madonna. Frozen. The lyrics are below if you haven’t heard this song before. Please read carefully this time.
“You only see what your eyes want to see
How can life be what you want it to be
You’re frozen
When your hearts not open
You’re so consumed with how much you get
You waste your time with hate and regret
You’re broken
When your hearts not open
Mmmmmm, if I could melt your heart
Mmmmmm, wed never be apart
Mmmmmm, give yourself to me
Mmmmmm, you hold the key
Now theres no point in placing the blame
And you should know I suffer the same
If I lose you
My heart will be broken
Love is a bird, she needs to fly
Let all the hurt inside of you die
You’re frozen
When your hearts not open”
I sympathized with all indian. Looking closely to this attack i my self feel that it was not a terrorist atack it was traget killing. three important encounter specialist including one who disclose one of the indian army officer as well as Hindu extremist involvement in the past terror attack.
One more aspect there were more than 200 foreigner in both these hotel if the terrorist really after foreigner why did they kill only few although they have a chance to do the maximum damage.
If it was a terrorism why some of the minister resign by considering the fact that terrorism happend in high profile and well know intellegence equiped country like US and UK. The govt of india is not sincere, they come up with the same blaming game and turn the direction of media as well as inocent people.
If we assume that all terrorist came from outside, is it so easy to do with out internal help? We did not sea any action from indian govt to find out internal supporter of these attack.
To me this was all drama written and played by India Agency and force to kill the three specialist including Hemanant Karkary who really stood against the extremist in india.
I wish if Hemanant Karkary alive he was the person who can disclose the truth behind the whole scene.
This is unbelievable….
http://www.foxnews.com/video-search/m/21551970/poi nting_fingers.htm?pageid=22978