Finally after combating the terrorists for almost 60 hours, Bombay has been sanitised and peace has been restored back to the city. The kudos for this only goes to the Army, NSG and Bombay Police who put themselves in the line of fire and very strategically went about their work while ensuring minimum damage to the hostages. Still not everyone was lucky to get out alive. And those who lived to tell the tale will surely recall it till they go the grave.

While all of this was happening, there was a flurry of SMSes going back and forth. Some of which I present here:

“Forgiving a terrorist is left to God. But fixing their appointment with God is our Responsibility. Jai Hind”

“There is a poor scared little chooha running all over Bombay, looking for shelter after terrorist attacks. If you find him, please return him to the citizens of the city. He doesn’t give a rat’s ass if you are not a Maharashtrian. His name is Raj Thackeray”

“Where is Raj Thackeray? Tell him that 200 NSG Commandos from Delhi (all North Indians) are being sent to fight the terrorists. So that he can sleep peacefully”

“We need not worry about those who have come by boat, but we must worry about those who have come through vote” – the Patriot

“What a shame and disgrace to every citizen of India that the elite NSG Force was transported into ordinary BEST buses, whereas our cricketers are transported into the state of the art luxury buses. These jawans lay their lives to protect every Indian and these cricketers get paid even if they lose a match. We worship these cricketers and forget the martyrdom of these brave jawans. The jawans should be paid the salary of the cricketers and vice versa”

How true all of these messages ring? While watching or reading the news, I came across many stories where the cops took the bullets to save the lives of the citizens. Did those cops not have families? Did their children not lose a parent? Did their wives not become widows? Why is it then that the people in uniform who take a pledge of keeping duty before self, get such a shoddy treatment? One look at the police quarters and you are bound to turn your eyes in apathy? The traffic policeman who stands at signals come rain or shine most often than not doesn’t have a protective gear. Imaging standing in scorching heat or lashing rains or even biting cold. How many of us have the courage to do it? The havaldar (who we also call pandu), checking drunken driving late at night, doing bandobast during our numerous festivals or new year’s eve, controlling unwanted agitation called upon by our good-for-nothing politicians or sometimes answering the call of duty without a wink of sleep. Does he not feel like spending time with his family? Imagine not being able to be part of your child’s growing up years or holding your partner’s hand when he/she needs you the most or even spending time with your ageing parents? They who protect everyone often are not around to protect their own families.

Iqbal Kaskar (or Dawood Ibrahim as we know him) was the son of a policeman. Why then did he get into the underworld? Such intelligence, such strategic mind wasted in doing harm when the same potential could have been tapped for better things.

But alas these are mere thoughts which is echoing in most minds. Its time for us to stand up and do something about it. Why berate the system when the power liest with us. One finger is all it takes to make a difference. Our vote counts. The black ink on the index finger is not a stain but a reminder that we have done our duty towards ourselves and country in a small way. True they are all bastards out there…but until you and me don’t get in the fray, this is the least we can do.

As the film song goes, “ae dil hai mushkil jeena yahan, zara hatke, zara bachke, yeh hai bombay meri jaan”. We are the commercial capital of the country. We are the face of modern India to the world. We cannot die…we cannot stop…the show must go on.

Jai Hind…Jai Maharashtra…

PS: A fresh SMS with a call for action…I feel we must all support “to the courageous people of Bombay, Maharashtra and India…let’s start something guys. A non co-operation movement. Something to show we are not taking this lying down. Something to tell the leaders and politicians that we want our safety. Let it be started by corporates. A nameless, leaderless movement. Let’s show them how many we are and how angry tired and frustrated we are. Let’s all come together at Gateway of India this Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 at 6pm. Let’s ask for what’s our right. Right to live fearlessly. Let’s devote on evening of our lives to it. It’s worth it. Together we can and we will”.