I am in Mumbai right now, have been here since last Friday (November 23).
I am watching and listening to news reports and analysts around the world talking about how different this terrorist attack has been from the previous attacks in Mumbai. It’s curious how everyone takes a cue from the first authentic-sounding observation and then repeats it, till everyone is convinced of the obvious ‘truth’.
I’ve been watching 10 Indian news channels and 2 western channels and they are all tom-tomming a similar stance. The difference is in the systematic and coherent coverage of the BBC and CNN as opposed to the random-access, incessant, incoherent babble of the Indian media.
Meanwhile, I’ben waking the streets of Mumbai and from where I stand, this is no different from previous terrorist/fundamentatlist attacks in Mumbai and other parts of India. And here’s why:
Yes, schools, colleges and some offices were closed (mostly in South Mumbai) where battle was raging on. In most western and central suburbs, shops opened, did business and closed as usual. There were buses and rickshaws on the roads, people were out and about, and cop vans did their usual rounds. South Mumbai too will be back on its feet as soon as the immediate danger is dealt with.
Like in previous attacks, the Indian government was taken unawares, the PM, opposition leader, and sundry politicians ‘condemned’, ‘strongly condemned’, and then promised to do everything they can to contain and resolve the issue.
Then, the administration announced its initial suspicions, the opposition parties pointed fingers at the ineptness of the present governmement, and the media pissed all over the coverage – anchors, reporters, camerapersons without exception.
TV channels got together its usual list of celebrities for panel discussions. Newspapers listed the names of the bigiwigs who lost their lives in the three-day (so far) battle. And a few imaginative channels ran stories on the unsung heroes. There was some token, intermittent coverage of the common Indian men and women who were unjured or killed.
In all this, the police bravely went in and held fort. The firemen did their bit and more, unarmed. And then the NSG and armed forces (which should have been called in first), came and took charge.
To me, as a citizen, one thing is painfully clear after watching various goverments deal with terrorist situations/attacks these last few years: Our politicians do not seem to understand that terrorism is not a law and order problem – it is a military matter, a security matter.
And, as one politician said (and many scribes echoed): how can anyone stop terrorism? This quote will be the real enemy because scores of politicians will use it to hide their inefficiency and lack of foresight in planning.
So how is this attack any different? The media is running its coverage as haphazardly as the administration is handling our internal and external security. The Indian political cartel will now begin its dance of deluding the citizens. The media will milk the ‘story’ for all its worth, sanctimonious scribes will come indignant, emotional, and fatigued to our TV screens for a few weeks before moving onto the next big story. New laws/acts will be passed, new big budgets will be allocated, sanctioned and spent in the name of security and infrastructure. And within a few months, our votes will be solicited on the planks of rooting out terrorism and internal security.
Meanwhile, the real common Indian has already conquered his very real fear of being on the streets, will come to terms with the pressures of his life without any help from the government or the media, and life on the streets will be back to normal within the month. My life, as a common Indian man, will be as insecure as it has been these past two decades. And take a look at the list of things that can derail my life (or end it): road accidents due to lack of traffic discipline, political activists rioting in public places or offices for political mileage, insurgency attacks, terrorist attacks, petty thievery, burglary, crime in general, pollution-related disease, overzealous financial institutions, religious fundmanetalism, politics …
No, this terrorist attack on Mumbai was no different from previous ones.
