It is almost a frontal attack on our country. Around 25 terrorists entering in the heart of Mumbai and indiscriminately killing more than a hundred people and injuring almost a thousand is shocking and reprehensible to say the least. With many top cops dead in shootouts and grenade attacks this is no less than urban warfare. It is a moment for us to stand together as One irrespective of our differences.
Just the fact that even after 24 hours some of the terrorists are engaged in cross-firings with the best police and military capabilities proves that these are no normal people. They are well-trained and executing a well planned and coordinated attack. We need to get beyond the Hindutva conspiracy theories and ‘Blame the Muslims’ mindset. This is beyond such accusations and cross-accusations.
For a change the political class is showing the maturity of standing together and not trying to get a mileage out of this. We can hope that the same maturity is shown by all, once this calamity subsides. The dead and the injured in itself reflect that a terrorist strike does not differentiate any. A city of 19 million of which more than four million are Muslims, we are part of any such attack. The victims include HIndus, Muslims, Indians and non-Indians alike.
The frequency of the terrorist strikes in our country has been increasing and it gives a scary feeling of what lies ahead for the country and particularly for the Muslim community. If these people are from the local community then we can try whatever is possible. But if these people are coming from outside – as the latest reports inform - then it is an unfortunate situation as there is no way to control them from inside.
From the local perspective at least, recent attempts, creditably by the religious leadership, has shown the way. The recent conference attended by 6,000 Ulamas in Hyderabad to condemn terrorism, separating Islam from it in unequivocal terms and acknowledging a Fatwa against terrorism has reinforced the move that had already started early this year. The anti-terrorism Muslim rally attended by tens of thousands in Delhi a few months back and a major conference in Deoband attended by ten thousand Islamic clerics has almost started a movement of separating our religion from the despicable thought process of the violent extremists.
Yet it will be a naivety to expect that we will not be asked to prove ourselves above and beyond the rest and the whole 160 million community questioned by some (definitely not all) after every such strike (as by these 25 terrorists). We need to keep our minds in place and continue to genuinely voice our condemnation of any terrorist act and take all actions possible to root out any remnants of local terror and work hand in hand with our government for any external threat.
This particular situation is scarier than any before as the initial signs show that the perpetrators came from outside the country in boats contrary to the claim by one ‘Deccan Mujahideen’. If that is the case we as a community cannot do much on our own and we need to assist our government in how we are ready for any such future eventuality. Let us provide our help in whatever way we can to our government and the wider society. I pray to God that we get back to normal life and hope that the political class and the common man (both Hindu and Muslim) continues to show the maturity and agree that it is not about religion or a religious community. It is an attack on us (the Indians).
The terrorists cite Hindutva terror as their provocation. Of course, the Muslim community does not need terrorists to speak for them.
However, the Babri Masjid destruction, the riots thereafter, and the Gujarat riots of 2002 were very traumatic incidents for the Muslim community.
The fact that the Hindutva extreme elements justify this barbarity and yet roam free like birds is the most damning indictment we can have of our effete administration.
Milind
If rebuilding the Babri Masjid, punishing the riot perpetrators will make all the Muslims satisfied then I think there is no problem at all. Its a single Masjid and we need to hang only maybe 500 criminals. Will that solve all problems ? Will Muslim leadership stop opposing America, Israel who are critical allies and rather hate Pakistan that has attacked India thrice and now sponsors terrorists; will they openly address the backwardness of society and direct their efforts at education and welfare?
I find it an effete argument that in all the traumatic events that India went through including Kashmir insurgency, Kargil conflict, economic downturns, bomb blasts across the country, people dying of starvation, several natural disasters and the fact that Muslim leadership has only protested vigorously against Salma Rushdie/Tasleema Nasreen – you remember only those episodes that are stoked to drive fear amongst muslims. What about the fact that in the past 16 years India has emerged as a economic powerhouse, that we made so much progress and the fact that we had a Muslim President.
Sikhs emerged out of traumatic Punjab insurgency and today have emerged as the most progressive minority. We even have a Sikh Prime Minister who inspite of all his faults identifies himself as leading whole of India. He was never identified as a Sikh leader. We have globally recognized muslim personalities emerging from India. SRK/Aamir are not called “Muslim actors” and Kalam was not called a “Muslim leader”.
Are muslims of India going to wallow in the excuse of self misery for so long? What about better education, economic progress?……..India did not see a Hindu ruler in India for nearly 700 years, but from Day 1 the majority community in India decided that we will have a secular state. You speak about a Babri Masjid in 1991, the VHP talks about the absolute absence of large Hindu temples in most of North India – a repression that stretched for 700 years often sighted as “Islamic Rule”. Eack visit to the Qutub Minar in Delhi reminds us that it was build over demolished Hindu temples. Not to mention the countless other sites. We dismiss these as acts of despots and not sanctioned by Islam.
Whatever has happened is in the past. If we keep driving by looking at the rear view mirror then we will keep crashing. The Babri Masjid demolition is a shame for all Indians – not just a matter of grief for Muslims; the Gujrat riots is another case of that. If we work together we will solve these issues.
Sudie,
If India has progressed, Muslims have surely played their role in it. Whether it is in statesmanship, education, entertainment or business, there are enough and more Muslims who have contributed.
Inspite of all this, housing and employment IS a problem for Muslims BECAUSE they are Muslims. There are MANY Muslims whose interviews with prospective landlords have gone off excellently, only to have negotiations fall through when it was discovered that they were Muslims.
Destruction of Hindu temples took place in a barbaric age when might was right. On the other hand, the Babri Masjid demolition took place when we were edging close to the new millennium. The Gujarat riots took place in the new millennium.
Now, anybody defending the Muslims is dismissed as “pseudo secular”. We need to get out of this mindset. All creatures are equally creatures of God. When He grants sustenance to them and answers their prayers without discrimination, who are we o make this difference?
We have to all work together for the glory and progress of our great nation.
Milind
Please understand that Babri Masjid was not a reaction to what Aurangzeb did! I think we need to re-look at it. Not at the culprits but why it happened. I believe the Bhagalpur riots of 1964 and 1989 were far worse that Gujarat riots of 2002. Not only that Gujarat has faced riots even before 2002 and 1992! Please understand at many places there are unreported riots, conversions and rapes.
BABRI MASJID ISSUE – We need to critically analyse first the situation of UP and Bihar. The history of that place, the effect of Bhagalpur incidence itself because I believe Bhagalpur incidence has got to do something with bricks being carried for Ayodhya from there! What was the effect of politics of Indira Gandhi, Naxalism and rise of regional parties and the on-going terrorism in J&K. REGIONAL HISTORY and Hindu-Muslim equation there is more important here than Aurangzeb, BJP and Congress…
There are many smaller villages and districts where suddenly there is a change in the demographic nature of religion. Which fool will demolish a closed age-old Masjid? The resentment of the Hindus is, when they suffer at the hands of minorities especially in cases of conversions and land-mafia-ism no one reports. Something (land-mafia) that even Hindus did with Muslims in Bhagalpur in 1960s. Look at the way J&K from a land of beauty turned into a land of blood-shed and some people still talk about Kashmiriyat! It is us, Hindus who have voted BJP to power and it is again us who have stopped them from building temple…
All I am trying to say is Babri was wrong but it was not a reaction to Aurangzeb! Please re-look at Kandhamal again (starting from 1970). And tell me if it were to happen with Muslims or Christians do u think the reaction would have been different? Whats wrong is wrong but lets look at it un-biased. One Masjid fell and there were blasts in Mumbai. 51% increase in Christian population over a period of 20 years due to un-reported conversion to save Dalits from Hindu caste system, who continue to live as Dalit Christians was no doubt to produce the death of a missionary. Wrong but lets have the same logistics.
2002 was not the first time riots happened in Gujarat. Religious riots have been a part of democratic India. And all the morons have roamed scott free because Hindus voted Modi the way Muslims (and Hindus too) voted back Congress after Sikh militancy and now a days Sikhs as well. Will Muslims of Mumbai vote BJP this time? Will they not flock to vote Congress back to power? HAS TO STOP but then again have the same logistics. I am not playing blame-game. I am telling u the psychology. Why have double-standard our self and call others hypocrite?
Gujarat riot has replaced Bhagalpur riots. Mumbai attack has replaced Mumbai Train blast… These people Hindus and Muslims will not stop. It is us who needs to stop thinking blindly. I am going to sound biased but let me tell u something the way as a race we Indians are very tolerant, Bengalis are more self-critical, similarly Hindus are more ready to accept their mistakes and change for betterment. There are many issues on which we do not need to seek religious approval. But as a non-Muslim I feel Muslims get caught in finding out if or not that is permitted in Islam.
Milind I am trying to express a frank opinion. I may be wrong or tried to explain it in too simple or confused words. Unfortunately u and I are living in a world where we did nothing wrong ourselves but are merely suffering because our past generations took their freedom for granted. Lets leave a better world for our children.
Before you comment do read my blog…
http://nilanjanasomalbum.blogspot.com/2008/12/mumbai-attack-and-i.html
Nilanjana,
Saw your blog. you seem to have put a lot of emotion and energy into what you have written.
Coming to the riots. Gujarat 2002 riots saw the highest casualties in any state since partition. and they were extremely brutal. Destruction of the Babri Masjid was totally uncalled for. Both these heinous acts have provided an excuse which the terrorists always use.
Nevertheless, after the Mumbai attacks, I see everybody coming together on to the same platform. I think that surely holds hope for us. If we unite as a nation, there is nobody that can dare touch us.
Milind,
I am not hindu fanatic. But I will hesitate to sell or buy properties from Muslims, because their civil laws are too different and I don’t know a thing about them. That matters. Uniform civil code can solve that problem.
My point is not the henious-ness of the riot. Babri masjid is un-called for but we cannot let it hanging (why it happened needs to be answered).
If anyone thinks Babri Masjid is a reaction to Aurangzeb is wrong. UP has a history or Hindu-Muslim riot whose result we strangely saw in Mumbai blast! Gujarat too has a history of violence and riots and Godhra and the riots after that were a result of that. Babri-Mumbai blast and riot-Godhra kand and Gujrat riot are no way related. These are just excuses. Aaj aga UK main bhi Hindu-Muslim riot ho, they will use the same excuse.
But these needs to be answered so that it can be stopped.
Mumbai attacks has nothing to do with jehad. It was a war on India by another country. No religion involved! Whenever they will try to divide us with terror we will fight back with unity. But how long this unity lasts needs to be seen.
Nilanjana,
I do believe that this unity will last. Jab niyat sahih ho to poori kaynaat aap ka saath deti hai.
I believe in the intrinsic goodness of the Indian people. I am very positive that things will move forward very well.