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.”
As an Indian and a Mumbaite, I thank you for your kind words, solidarity, sympathy and compassion. Mumbai has always been targetted by certain extremists and regardless of the damage, it has carried on because it is a city of the people for whom it is a city of their dreams and which has always taken care of them; it is a city which is synonymous with its people and their struggle in life. Hundreds may be killed but Mumbai will never die. We will fight back, but not with weapons and hatred but with carrying on with our lives peacefully and honourably.
Thank you again
Whether the terrorists who carried out this particular attack came from boards that set sail from Karachi is besides the point… the point is that unless we ruthlessly and brutally purge our country of terrorists, our name will be dragged through the dirt, and justifiably so, more and more… perhaps Manmohan Singh’s references to “neighbors” was an attempt to steal the BJP’s thunder, but next time, there may well be credible proof of an attack having its origin in Pakistan…
It pains me to say this, but far too many people in Pakistan are in denial of just how easy it has become for terrorists of every hue to use Pakistan as the launching pad for their heinous acts… crying hoarse at drone attacks is all good, but so many of us (Pakistanis that is, not the posters here at ATP) are being hypocritical at not condemning the terrorists enough, or supporting the government when it attacks the terrorists… It is also instructive and eye opening to stroll through the average street in Pakistan or ride public transport and have your worst fears realized: that there are a lot of people who are actually jubilant at such attacks… unless this mindset changes (and even suicide bombings against Pakistanis has failed to change it), we will remain Terrorism Central, and we will remain an international pariah and laughing stock…
thanks, adil.
A Prayer for Peace in Mumbai
Messages 1 – 1 of 1
Message 1 – posted by dilnawaz (U8191) **, 5 Minutes Ago
In the darkest of times one has to look for some silver lining, hope for future. communal harmony.hindu muslim india pakistan asian western brother/sisterhood can defeat the terrorist. let us lift up our hands in prayer together even those who do not remember the wordings. any prayer hindu muslim sikh christian or agnostic for dead and injured and their families and their countries. love and peace to all
http://dilnawazinqalabi.blogspot.com/2007/01/peace -tourism.html
Rambo,
This is my last word on this, as I’m unlikely to change your mind.
Religion, not just Islam, is anti-intellect. So to claim that ‘intellect’ is Islam’s sword is an incorrect argument. This is a discussion for another, less tragic time.
Muslims ruled India for centuries thanks to the political and administrative acumen of the Mughals. And even the Mughal Empire was established thanks to the ruthless violence perpetrated by Babur and his army. Don’t believe me? Read Babur’s own book! Further, rule in India was not consolidated because the indigenous folks decided that the Muslims are angels and will lead Mother India to salvation. There was a lot of political intrigue, alliance-building and marriage at the royal level.
It is telling that when Aurangzeb decided to actually implement Islamic laws in India, the decline of the Mughal Empire began with indigenous non-Muslims (and even some Muslim princely states!) rising against the Empire. You would be well served to consult texts other than CSS textbooks for your history.