subject: Terrorism in India [print this page] Terrorism in India Terrorism in India
Naked I came to this world,
naked I shall go out of it.
And a very good thing too.
for it reminds me that I
am naked under my shirt,
whatever its color
-E.M. Forster
Interpretation is another appellation for comfort and generally is confused with truth. Truth having transparency like water can never be interpreted; its subtlety goes unnoticed. To appease some sects the theory of Equality of Men is used on an ad hoc basis. All men are equal - such statements are even considered being said out of sarcasm. Bogus are the talks of equality and fake is the approach to it. But truth doesn't need any inscription to get recognition.
Old enough is terror to deal with, but have we acquitted satisfactorily to curb this recent scourge of terrorism which percolates down through the loopholes in the common ethics of a society. Terrorism in India being more perpetual than permanent, more actual than conceptual and more accurate than precise, has awakened the nation from its long slumber. It serves as an eye-opener for the corruption submerged political system and despotic administration. They say terrorism hits the democracy but what kind of democracy we are in, where one has to explode in order to get heard. Those who hold discordant views about this themselves perpetuate its cause. People often clap at the conclusion of a show and when they get its echo back, they call it terrorism. Its simply the reflection of their ugly deeds.
Potty it will be not to talk about the dimensions of terrorism. Terrorism in Kashmir is the length of terrorism. In UP, Bihar, AP, Assam, etc. it is the width of terrorism. And terrorism on the part of state is the height of terrorism. Further, like others terrorism has its types. Two are of familiar nature and the third being clandestine one. Outrageous, state sponsored or more accurately self harbored and defensive form of terrorism are its attributes.
To quote Mahatma Gandhi - To answer brutality with brutality is to admit ones moral and intellectual bankruptcy.
This is something exactly what we are displaying. Coming across such an irresponsible and insane behavior was never a moment of comfort for an Indian. But alas! The scene has changed drastically. Those who claim to be messiahs of the general masses have amassed enormous wealth and weapons by means of terrorism. A Chinese proverb says, "Those who ride tigers end up in their bellies". These people should take a lesson from this. It is blind of us not to see the social and political milieu in which the terrorists lived. In no sense, I am casting a slur on the integrity of my people but at the same time, truth cannot be denied of its liberty. Better it is to go for the causes and then for action, instead of being falsely optimistic and acting in a way that culminates in its further promulgation. Why not give it a thought?
Past the Golden Jubilee of Independence, India is self sufficient but Indians are not. Those who proclaim she is poor have crores of rupees concealed in their toilets. Political gurus conceive after coming to power and nine months past give birth to a scam. Official records show development but whom do you feel is developed? They talk about India as a futuristic giant. Who is India? Stock market is not India neither is Atomic Bomb. Multi-millionaire entrepreneurs are not India nor is the government which represents India. India lies in the country, in the culture and in agriculture. A farmer is India, common man is India and so is a tax-payer. But these hardly come into picture when India is in irony. There has been a sudden spurt of activity in the financially upper class society for the last one decade i.e., they talk of terrorism. When these people need a change they criticize terrorism. It has become a fashion now. "Condemn none", says Swami Vivekananda, "If you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers and let them go their own way". We may perceive the thing right from our side but on the other it may look wrong. It may be hard to concur with my ideas but it is too early to cause discord.
Mis-governance in most parts of the country served as the ladder for anti-social elements. Corruption contributes a lot to the cause of terrorism. It is rampant in government offices and departments. And whenever an undeserving candidate is selected out of nepotism, a deserving one undoubtedly envisages something hammering. Dishonest, insincere and morally corrupt persons have no right to cry when they fall prey to terrorism.
Terrorism in recent years has touched unprecedented heights. Governments come and go, hardly any difference is felt. Every time a stronger condemnation is heard. The dastardly terror-acts rarely go punished. And whom do we expect to do this for us. Only truth can tighten its chains. For those who are true to the spine can do this. But expectations always lead to disappointments and as far as public representatives are concerned they themselves are supporting its cause for their vested interests. In troubled waters only one is a friend of oneself and rest is all delusion. Political and business rivalry first fan the bon-fire of street violence, then give rise to sectarian violence and anti-social elements. These elements get into the dirty trade. Gradually, in the hunger for power and money barbarism is given a chance. And, thus, slowly it takes the shape of terrorism.
Indifference towards a particular sect, religion, region or community is not a new phenomenon and so is rebellion. Prejudice against a particular community or sect prompts the youth of that community or sect to go anti-social. Such youth fall easy prey in the hands of mischief-mongers. Coercion as a means of achieving the stated goals is used as a weapon. Frustration is the cause of this lunacy. It is unreasonable to blame any particular community or a religion for terrorism. Terrorism itself is a religion now and for those who own this religion nothing exists like Hindu, Muslim or Christian. A bomb or a bullet never asks your identity before killing. There is only one thing in this religion that is me and myself.
Why need for a separate land for each religion or community when you have the country yours? This is the question to ask ourselves. If one is offered the whole earth and the entire sky, why do they go for a home over a small portion of land and a bit of ether? The answer lies in the fact that we all want tranquility and security. And in the contemporary times it is not just security but social, political, financial, legal and personal safeguard. All the claims about development and growth fall head down even if a single person in the country feels cowed by the government itself. Law-enforcing agencies like police or defense agencies like army have never really won the trust of common masses. Where law-keepers are law-breakers, such nation is sure to drown. The unabated Pakistan sponsored terrorism in Kashmir and other parts of India has really become a bully. And people are still perplexed for whom to support.
The ravages of terrorism are no secret now. Brutal killings of innocent men, women and children are ridiculous. Bomb-blasts, high-jacking, kidnapping exists now as if accepted withoutbeing suspected. Small organizations have amalgamated into a single organization. Although, still under different names. And the strategy has also been changed. The target is not the common man but the security forces of the country. And for august operations Fidayeen (suicide squads) groups are used. I feel pity on these terrorists because of their ignorance.
To quote Don Marquis. "Ours is a world where people don't know what they want and are willing to go through hell to get it".
Terrorism has affected foreign currency reserves of India. It has crucified the tourism industry in India. Also, ever year thousands of crores of rupees is spent as defense expenditure. If India were a terrorism free state, a part of it would been used for the developmental purposes. Terrorism has arisen between India and Pakistan and an arms race is being nun in South Asia presently. Even sports are not free from its clutches. Many sporting events have been cancelled in the past few years due to terrorist threats.
Terrorism in any form is condemnable and I don't justify it for any reason. But I just want my fellow country men to have a heart for their bewildered brothers. These men are no different from ours. The colour of their shirt may be different but underneath they are naked. We all are equal. These have been brain-washed or some traumatized for one or other reason. In a run for our life we should not forget our moral responsibility. We should positively help them to get out of this phase and live peaceful for ever. They have been misled if we do the same as they do, how can the problem be solved. Terrorism in any way is not acceptable. There are other ways also to make people hear you. Violence is not the last alternative. A pen is mightier than a sword. so I would appeal them to opt for pen instead of sword.
Terrorism is a disease and has remedies also. The remedies are love, equality and education. What we provide is literacy but not education. You spread education and smell its fragrance all over. But literacy has a property of inertia of rest. Thus, unlike education literacy is never expanding.
Concluding the subject, I would like to say that terrorism is not a problem but terror is. Terrorism lies nowhere except the hearts of people. Don't hate and don't envy any - this is terrorism. We all have a terrorist in our heart but few have guts to practically do what they perceive. Love yourself and even person you come across. Terrorism will die its death soon.
An eve for eye only ends up making the whole world blind - Mahatma Gandhi.
