Bombay

I have been in Bombay these past many days, I live here now, and work here. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can have prepared me for the sheer terror of living through one of the worst attacks this country has ever seen. There are bigger, more important truths, however, and I am afraid that the fear and panic will erase that bigger picture. Perhaps that was the whole idea to begin with.

This is not India's 9/11 in terms of the scale of tragedy, and maybe it is just a fraction of the symbol that 9/11 was. After all, Bombay has been repeatedly attacked, and it has, miraculously, bounced back each and every time. What could make this India's 9/11 is our response. Are we heading down the same path that the US did after 9/11? Will panic and the haranguing of politicians divide us down the same religious lines again?

Because that is where this is headed. To my cynical mind, there is no doubt that those that will tell you that your Hindu life, or your Muslim life is under attack and you must protect yourself, far outnumber those that will tell you, who really cares what god you pray to? And therein lies the real threat of democracy. People are stupid, and fearful people, far more. A majority of fearful people could put those in power who would go to war with Pakistan.

What is needed is a much more nuanced approach than simply blaming our old favourite enemies, Pakistan, in order to get votes, come the next election. We need to look inward rather than outward, secure our borders, rather than go to war. Create more and better jobs, rather than more commissions to enquire into the petty political differences between this party and that party. We need electricity and running water in every little corner of India. More than anything, we need better education, more education, for each and every kid, that could grow up to be a disenfranchised young person. That is where terrorists are born.

Ideally, what I would like is for politicians and the twin ideas of religion and 'god' taken out of the picture. That is where we must resemble a communist state. Who cares about your god, and your god, and his god and so on? What purpose does it serve? There are times when I truly do not understand why all people don't want the same things. Good jobs, good food, good schools, people who love you and something you enjoy. Or maybe the truth is that they do want those things, but can not achieve them because of their circumstances, their own individual realities and failures. The communist-like state is a mere pipe dream, I know. People would sooner giver up their wives and children, than their religion.

So, here's the thing, we need to create citizens that are eager to better their lives, not more of those that don't really care because nothing could change the way they live. And that can not be achieved by marginalising Muslims, or going to war with Pakistan. Politicians do not control Pakistan, the Army does, and in truth, their reality is much worse than ours. While this unfolds, I wait, not with bated breath, because I have this terrible feeling. I know what is coming.