Only a handful of youth, all in early twenties, did what even Raj Thackeray could not. Of course, the neo-Thackeray regime did not attack foreigner guests in five-star hotels, but took Mumbai to ransom, much like the 10-odd terrorists, by introducing a hate campaign against people from other parts of India for months. But the secessionist force of MNS fell far short of the terrorists in dividing the country.
Raj, the Thackeray, might have been held responsible for the death of Raj, the youth from Patna killed by police on a BEST double-decker bus. Lalu-Nitish-Ram Vilas, the ministers, might have joined hands to rescue thousands of Lalus-Nitishes-Ram Vilases, the skilled workers in unorganised sector, from the maximum city with minimum security for people from Hindi heartland. Jaya, the Bachchan, might have been criticised for not speaking Marathi although many Marathi homes still have Jayas, the housemaids, from Bihar and UP. But all these could not really divide the country rather all guns were trained against Raj Thackeray, the omnipotent Mumbaikar! It’s more a case of unity than what Raj would wave wanted to do.
The terrorists did what they are best at: introducing terror in the minds of millions of Mumbaikars, who are otherwise known for withstanding adverse situations, be it serial blasts on suburban trains or July 26 rains in 2005. Last week, the terrorists achieved what Mumbai has not seen in recent years. On a Thursday morning all markets, including the famous one in Dalal Street, remained closed; schools and colleges announced holiday; thinly crowded suburban trains as office-goers chose to stay at home and give dabbawallahs a day-off; only innumerable pairs of eyes glued to television sets like trillions worldwide. Scenes like a burning façade of a 105-year-old heritage hotel, commandos rappelling on a building’s roof amid gunshots and rescue operations of hundreds would have etched in our mindscape for years but the dent in great Indian "unity in diversity" would probably be longer than that.
The blame game began the moment after NSG announced all-clear after a 60-odd-hour battle with the terrorists. Politicians came under attack and pressures mounted on them to resign from their plum posts. Within a day or two, several of them quit. The legislative head of one of the most socially progressive state ridiculed a martyr’s family. The Indian media, especially TV channels, were criticised by some people who hardly have any idea of journalism, forget live telecast of one of the historical news moments in recent time. Fissures in the society were drawn by the terrorists as meticulously as the attack was plotted.
In a word, it was pandemonium.
Nobody knew how to react: whether the navy or coast guard would have to be blamed, or the RAW and IB for failure to apprehend such an audacious attack; whether the fashionable home minister should go or more such incidents are necessary to change his suit and seat; whether more funds should be doled out for buying modern gadgets for police, or not; moreover, whether an average courageous Mumbaikar would venture out for another day of business. For a moment, the terrorists left the city, and the country, numb.
©Supratim Pal
