Mumbai - resilience or sheer indifference?

I live in Mumbai. It has been almost 48 hours since the latest terror attack hit Mumbai. The terror drama is still unfolding, there are gunshots and grenade blasts every few minutes at the three buildings where the terrorists are holding hostages and engaging the security forces. Over 125 people have been killed and well over 300 are on the injured list, some very critical.

Every single time that Mumbai gets hit by a terror strike (and there have been many in the recent past) the resilient spirit of Mumbai is lauded and the media goes to town about how Mumbai never bows down to such calamities and that the terrorists shall never break the spirit of Mumbai.

I am sure the terror masterminds sitting in their safe havens where ever, must be having a smug smile on their faces when they hear this predictable line every single time they strike. They possibly know exactly what the reaction would be as well as they fact that if they bide their time (typically there would be a huge hoo-ha about security for a few days) they can come back and strike again, almost at will.

Terrorists target the city with impunity and all we get is the usual posturing from the political class about the foreign hand, and how no one can shake the foundations of our great democracy. Politicians will continue to posture callously because they do not get affected directly and they also know that the common folk in the country do not rise up in unison and demand accountability from the leadership. In fact the indifference with which loss of human life is treated in our country is truly appalling. True, we may be a country of over a billion people but should that make every single citizen’s life a mere statistic in the political maze of this country?

Politicians of all hues have been descending on Mumbai since yesterday and making hay while this troubled sun shines… Mostly mere posturing, to earn brownie points over their opponents and to get prime time coverage in the media. These insensitive “leaders” also end up putting unnecessary pressure on the totally stretched security framework with their “Z” category requirements. The valiant security personnel who are putting their lives on the line to get the situation back in control can surely be spared this unnecessary distraction.

Why don’t we get to see actual leaders emerge in this country? Leaders who put country before self and actually deal with such scenarios dynamically? Why can’t the opposition and the government put up a unified face, at least during such crisis?

Well, we don’t get great leaders because we don’t deserve them!

Just look at the way we respond during such crisis.

Where is the anguish, the hurt and the resilience that we should be showing as a city/nation? Where is the unified cry demanding action from the leadership of this country?

Why is it that the media seems more inclined to discuss live, every step that the security forces are taking, also claiming every other minute that they have “exclusive” footage about the action? Is the need for TRPs so overbearing that they don’t care about the fact that their telecast is possibly forewarning terrorists regarding the plans of the security personnel and hence putting the life of the hostages/ security personnel at risk?

The Politicos are at fault, but not more than the common citizen because it is the indifference of the common man that is allowing the politicians to get away with rank bad leadership.

But for a few Mumbaikars who have plunged headlong into crisis management at the ground level, the rest of the “janta” is just not perturbed. They are off course thankful that they were not in Nariman point when the terrorists struck, and the fact that their family is safe as well. Beyond that off course, the action that is unfolding on TV is, I guess, no different for them than watching a Hollywood action thriller…Gripping, suspenseful and something that will sort itself out.

The insensitivity with which we deal with such scenarios may not find parallel in any other country. Many have lost their lives, Hundreds of people are fighting for their lives, security personnel are fighting a tremendous battle to get the scenario back in control, the drama is still very much on in our own city, but what is the “resilient” Mumbaikar’s reaction?

Anguish? Anger? Rage?... well, beyond the mandatory clucking of the lips and cribbing about the attack, its is actually a reaction that reeks of plain inconsideration!
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We keep calling Mumbai the city of resilient people… Which resilient people are we talking about?

My colleague who is extremely upset that the two remaining one-dayer’s with England and possibly the Champions League have been cancelled?
The neighbour who is worried that she may not be able to watch the latest movie this weekend as movie theaters are supposedly closing down for 2-3 days for security reasons.
The friend who immediately planned a beer party at his place yesterday evening since most people were not going to office and justified the party saying “what else but a beer party to pep up the spirits?”
The colleagues who are upset that the organization did not declare a holiday yesterday and the fact that they will have to apply for and waste a day’s leave?
People circulating not so funny SMS’s which say “people who don’t achieve their sales targets this month will get for a 2 nights stay in Taj or Oberoi Trident absolutely free?”

Are these the resilient Mumbaikars who represent Mumbai and its spirit? When will we learn? when we actually get caught in such a scenario personally? well, by then it might be too late!

If we continue to respond with such indifference, there is no hope on earth that our leadership will change. Terrorists will continue to make inroads and create mayhem if all we do is pay lip service to security issues.

There are exceptions off course…The one category of Mumbaikar, who really stands up to be counted in such scenarios, is the common man who is in the vicinity of the action. This time, like countless other times, we have seen this Mumbaikar do selfless service to injured people and supporting the security personnel in any which way possible. They need to be saluted for the grit and heart that they show. I am sure each and every Mumbaikar who has been through such crisis scenarios have one such faceless messiah to thank for being alive. These messiahs are the real Mumbaikars… resilient, brave and willing to stand up to the evil forces that plan to damage the country. Unfortunately they are a minority and cannot make a difference beyond the few lives that they save. The day the indifferent Mumbaikar sheds his callousness and joins the chorus for accountability & action from the leadership, things will change.

Then there will be accountability from the leadership, not mere rhetoric. The Leaders will make strong decisions, not just politically correct decisions. There would be proper security measures to protect the ordinary citizen, not just a few days of escalated action followed by the usual lowering of guard. There would be the fear of God in the minds of the “terror masterminds” if they plan to attack India, not the smirk that they possibly have now. There will be a feeling of real patriotism and national pride in every citizen’s mind every single day, not just limited to the response that people show when the Indian Cricket team wins.

Let us hope that the every Mumbaikar sheds his indifference and stands up to be counted. Let us hope that this dastardly attack is the last one ever on our country and that we will ensure action and accountability from our leadership which prevents the possibility of any such incidents in future.

We live on, in Hope.