13.07.2011

So convenient it has become for us to blame the politicians for the terror attacks in Mumbai on July 13th, that we ourselves aren’t bothered about it and have within 48 hrs of the horror switched over to praising the movie “ZNMD” on Facebook – Anyone wanting to reply with “Indians shall remain undeterred by such heinous acts of crime” or “That’s the Mumbai spirit”?

The point is that if we can so quickly become oblivious to such issues of national importance, what right do we have to question our politicians at a later date? Is it not a hypocritical behavior on our part to raise a hue and cry for a few days and then leave the rest to the politicians and the police force and then when the cases do not get resolved for years together, create another uproar, call for fasts, attract the media and make a fool of the country in front of the whole world?

Many might argue that this is anyways the best the common man can do. True, but just for a moment try to recall the last time the whole country had united and had cheered for a team that detected and defused a series of bombs before the potentially disastrous mishap. It is human nature to have a desire for getting praised for an exceptional achievement. And it is the same human nature that will pay heed to criticism by someone only if that someone had ever acknowledged its effort.

In my view, when you and I will never want to see our peers getting injured or killed, it has to be the same for the politicians as well (in fact more so in their case since it is their “job”). Let us give them some breathing space, for it has been as shocking an incident for them as it has been for us. Let us contemplate for a few seconds before making a remark, not just in this case but for all the events that will pass by in the future.