Time to Ponder

How does one react to a terror-attack that makes one’s country the focus of international news for three days when the capability of the country to handle the attack hangs in balance? How does one react to the news of death-in-the-terror-attack of a distinguished batchmate, Hemant Karkare, the ATS Chief?

The whole nation is angry. The anger is generated by a sense of helplessness and a widespread belief that nothing much may happen in the wake of the attack. The nation feels helpless because the strings that move the terrorists are beyond our borders and located in a country which does not feel contrite about the blatant nature of the terrorist act and whose leaders by their glib statements inspire no confidence of greater control over the terrorists. Statements by our national leaders that a fitting reply will be given for all terrorist acts are not taken seriously by the citizens, because such assurances in the past have not been followed up with “appropriate steps”, and, what is even more serious, the appropriate steps bring in its wake the possibility of a war with a nuclear power which has not shown signs of possessing a conscience. The utter frustration that results finds expression in anger.

A large nation with high-tech capabilities and an emerging economy sits fretting and fuming. Someone questions how a lathi-wielding constable could have matched up with a terrorist. Would that someone like the lathi-wielding constable to carry AK-47s to handle the routine crowds? Another raises questions about the reason for not guarding hotels. One wonders whether business can flourish if all customers from abroad are subjected to strict physical searches. In hindsight such searches may make sense, but would they be considered good commercial strategy before the incident had occurred?

Obviously, the people of India are confronted with a situation where they are not able to think of clear-cut and easy solutions. When one is confused, one feels frustrated and angry. Mumbai attacks have virtually brought trained warriors of a sworn enemy into our streets to shoot down innocent and unarmed people. But should the entire country be turned into a battlefield by arming and training every constable to fight battles with such trained soldiers? For a highly trained and desperate group, the options for perpetrating the terror-violence are limitless. Should the administration start preparing itself for all the limitless possibilities? Would that not reduce the country to a pauper which spends all its resources on fighting terror-wars? Is that not exactly what the enemies of our nation are aiming for? Should the entire police force of a city be taken away from their routine duties of providing relief to the common man from crimes by local criminals and put on endless high alert?

Obviously, this is not the solution we wish for. And yet, right now the fear psychosis of another attack somewhere else, with perhaps more barbarity, is a nightmare that makes people think of such desperate solutions. The planners will have to act fast to provide solutions that give the citizens a sense that the Indian nation can act in the face of challenges.

Meanwhile, what should we as the citizens of a hurt nation do? Is there nothing other than anger and criticism that we can adopt as our individual response to the occurrence?

Let us resolve that we will

work with greater sincerity and focus to achieve better results in whatever we undertake as individuals and groups;

bring up our children as constructive achievers, free of backbiting and petty squabbling;

avoid doing all those acts which might bring us temporary gains but cause damage to the system;

constantly strive to make ourselves more capable and more efficient individuals;

associate with and assist others who are working for the improvement of the system;

reduce our wants and enjoy simplicity of living with high ideals.

Let us become KARMAYOGIs.

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