As the haunting images of terrified people and cold blooded murderers still float in my mind, I wonder what is happening to the world.
Mumbai is one city with which I have had hate-love relationship. A place which I never came to like since my childhood, had become one of my dream cities lately (It still is!!). As I grew up, my small townish mind understood its vicissitudes and started to respect the city even more. Especially South Mumbai with its historical monuments and serene surroundings (the coloba shore line near the Gateway) are my favorite places. I remember we had made fun of the Taj by visiting Louis Vuitton shop and commenting on the exorbitant (but of course !!) display of clothes. It is a city which I have loved to like despite it being super fast, crowded, cluttered, congested and what not. Because, it is a city which lets everyone their own hero, in their own way. It is a city which taught me that life gives everyone their share of chances.
Well, I don’t have any intention of romanticizing the city and its people and their resilience. I am still horrified. I know some place does not become really unsafe and unsuitable for survival because of such incidents. But I hate the fact that the big shots who supposedly make the calls, are asking people to show their spirits and resilience. If there is someone who needs to show their spirits, its the damned terrorists, who instead of studying at a university preparing for their final exams are on a rampage out there. And those who are brain washing and training these young, impressionable minds need to learn about resilience more than anyone else in the world.
Oh, I know I sound hopelessly idealistic and childish, but I still believe in the better side of people. I know life will be normal in a few days as if nothing happened, because in the end the show has to go on and all that stuff, but that does not mean that we should be taken for granted. It’s saddening that Mumbai’s janta has been taken for granted time and ever again. Will this never end? Does it ring a bell that though others (read the authorities) are responsible for our security, they are being made a fool out of, by being caught off-guard? Last time it was the trains, this time the sea route, what next?
These are questions from a person who values life. I can imagine how a normal mumbaikar who has to face all this must be feeling.
I wish the authorities a ‘get well soon’ and ‘get into action’ . I also wish Mumbai a quick recovery. It’s a city of dreams and it will remain so.
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