As I write this, 2009 has dawned. 31st December came and went and there were parties in all the cities of the country. The newspapers of 1st January 2009 carried headlines like 'People celebrated 31st December putting aside the terror'. Yes we all welcomed the new year with a dance party, food, drinks etc. Yes we all. Except the families of people who lost their loved ones in last month's terriorist attack.
Is public memory so short? Is there no value of life in this country of more than 100 crore people? So what if 200 people died? We still have a lot more. But ask the mother who lost her son, ask the wife who lost her husband, ask the children who lost their parent. They will tell you how helpless they feel. At one or other time in our lives we all have gone through this feeling and I feel we Indians have more than our share of helplessness.
We live in a democracy which boasts 'By the people, For the people'.But do we really matter? The people who died in the Mumbai terriorist attack died just because they happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.And what did our Government which is by the way 'By the people, For the people' do? NOTHING. They just looked at 'Big Daddy' America to scold Pakistan. Why are we so helpless? Do we have no self respect? As a common citizen, why do I feel so helpless? Where do I vent my feelings?
There is anger. Lots of anger. Towards the terriorists who killed innocent people for money or religion, towards the government for not retaliating, towards God for making such twisted people. Is religion that important? We are all fighting for a God none of us has even seen. Have the Hindus seen Ram or Krishna or Shiva? Have the Muslims seen Allah? Have the christians seen God? No. We have not seen him but have we all not felt God in a baby's smile? In the beauty of Nature? In small everyday miracles?
When a baby giggles, it brings a smile to everyone's face. So does it mean that when a Muslim baby smiles,its Allah and when a Hindu baby smiles, its Bhagwan? Why can't we see the God inside Humans? So what if I fold my hands in Prayer or open my hands inBandagi? Does it matter? What matters is the God inside me, be it Ram, Krishna, Wahe Guru, Allah or Jesus. God forbid if there is a Nuclear war, the bomb will not distinguish between Hindus and Muslims. It will kill all. It will also kill or affect people in other countries. Even countries who are funding and fueling this terrorism for their own selfish benefits. Where the wind blows, it will spread destruction.
I do not have a solution to this problem and it makes me feel helpless. I do not know how to stop this hatred. I do not know how to make my Government value my country's citizens. I do not know how to save my loved ones from this mindless violence or war. I do not know how to make my prayer reach the ears of Ishwar, Allah or God. I feel helpless when I think that tomorrow it might be me or one of my loved ones who will be the target of such a mindless violence. And then what will happen? The Government will do nothing and after a few days a festival will come and the whole country will get busy in the celebrations and my loved ones or I will become a statistic. Is there really no solution to this helplessness? If you have one, please let me know.
