Mumbai's Tryst with Insanity!

Another explosion and I thought the operations were over. I hit the bed, only to wake up by a loud honking. It was 7 a.m. and the battle wasn’t over yet. I was in state of stunned disbelief and before I could realize, there were noises reverberating from the lane below.

Meanwhile on the ground opposite my building, there were several decorated horse carriages surrounded by 50-60 cars. A crowd of over 300 people, dressed in fineries followed these carriages, while groups of men, women and children danced in front. At Taj, people were still trapped and helplessly waiting till eternity but below, the procession blocked buses, autos and residents from moving.

The battle at Taj intensified and so did the music. Soon our commandos killed the dreaded terrorists and the channels beamed the final journey of our national heroes. Unlike the procession below, people at the funeral marched slowly, silently with the bugle playing in the background. The mood was somber; the screen reflected multiple emotions – shock, denial, sadness, despair, frustration, and outrage. The officers and people around were shattered and humiliated. With lump in throat, we paid respect to our valiant martyrs. An ex- police officer summed up everything, “Karkare did not become a victim to the terrorist, but a victim of the system.”

The sea breeze had yet to take the stench away but young girls, like some princess were engrossed in throwing rice and clothes from the carriages. The procession seemed never ending and further aggravated my anger, disgust, and resentment. Like politicians, everybody in the carriages was playing brinkmanship. Against the hazy light, doctors struggled with X- ray reports, while people in the carriages blatantly flaunted wealth and held designer necklaces against steel dishes. Across the city, there were funerals but in the lane below, infuriating scenes of happiness and revelry.

The terrorist managed to inflict maximum damage to maximum city, but the crowd below was equally determined to have maximum celebrations. Every community has a right to celebrate but the scenes below appeared diabolically ugly. While the electronic media shocked with their sensationalism and insensitivity, the procession and politicians continue to prolong our tryst with insanity. Hopefully the procession was an aberration, unless it was organised to belie the terrorist’s objectives and perhaps to remind life in Mumbai doesn’t stand still. If indeed such celebrations manifest our resilience and the so called spirit, then we definitely must be numb and accustomed to devastations. Come to think of, we have even forgotten to grieve honestly, display compassion, observe restrain, and be sensitive.

Terrorism will continue to damage democracy, disrupt normal life and instill fear. It’s time to introspect whether our resilience emanates out of compulsions to earn our livelihood or due to our abominable insularity and growing indifference towards our countrymen. Let’s hope and pray that our resilience and resolve truly arises out of courage and because we are a tolerant society! The question is for how long?...